Missing Persons are a semi-obscure new wave band, and “Destination Unknown” was their semi-obscure almost-hit. In other words, Missing Persons are probably indicative of what was good and what was bad about new wave: they’re kinda catchy, loaded up on cool, vaguely disco synths and slick 80s production values, and hopped up on hairspray. They’re also pretty forgettable, I guess; just like every other new wave band, except that most everyone has that one particular song they remember for no good reason.
Missing Persons
Destination Unknown
Spring Session M (1982)
Smashing Pumpkins
Destination Unknown
The Aeroplan Flies High (1996, box set)
Well, I guess “Destination Unknown” was the song the Smashing Pumpkins remembered for no good reason, because when the band released the “limited edition” The Aeroplane Flies High box set to capitalize on the success of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, they picked this song to cover along with a number of other retro hits. With songs from Alice Cooper, the Cars, Blondie and the Cure making up the bulk of the covers jammed onto the Bullet With Butterfly Wings single, it’s obvious that Missing Persons are the odd man out. This was a pretty big coup for Missing Persons, who went from being a semi-obscure new wave band with a sorta-kinda radio hit to… a semi-obscure new wave band with a sorta-kinda radio hit that eventually turned into a fairly famous band’s semi-obscure cover material.
Here’s to you, Missing Persons. Perhaps one day, your true genius will be revealed alongside that of A Flock Of Seagulls and Culture Club.