Warren Cuccurullo American rock musician Date of Birth: 08.12.1956 Country: USA

Biography of Warren Cuccurullo

Warren Cuccurullo, an American rock musician, was born on December 8, 1956, in Brooklyn, New York. He was the eldest son of Jerry and Ellen Cuccurullo, Italian-Americans. Cuccurullo started playing guitar and drums at the age of nine. In 1974, he graduated from Canarsie High School while playing in local bands. As a teenager, Cuccurullo became a fan of Frank Zappa and never missed a concert within 500 miles of Brooklyn.

In 1978, Cuccurullo was offered an audition to replace a departing guitarist in Zappa's band. He was accepted and embarked on a tour of Europe and Asia with his idol. Upon his return, Cuccurullo participated in the recording of Zappa's albums, such as "Joe's Garage," "Shut Up & Play Yer Guitar," and "Tinseltown Rebellion," where he played rhythm guitar and provided some vocal parts.

In 1980, Cuccurullo, along with Dale Bozzio and his wife Terry Bozzio, proposed the creation of their own band. They formed the group "Missing Persons" and invited Patrick O'Hearn and Chuck Wild to join. They recorded four songs that were compiled into an EP and performed at various concerts. In 1981, their song "Mental Hopscotch" reached number one on the KROQ radio station in Los Angeles. Through self-promotion, the band sold 7,000 copies of their EP before signing a contract with Capitol Records in 1982.

Missing Persons released their successful album "Spring Session M" in 1982, featuring hits such as "Destination Unknown," "Walking in L.A.," "Words," and "Windows." Their performances at a three-day concert in Southern California had the entire crowd singing along. In 1984, the band recorded the experimental album "Rhyme and Reason" and embarked on a tour in 1986. However, disagreements between Dale Bozzio and Terry, who played drums, led to the hiatus and eventual breakup of Missing Persons.

During one of their concerts, Missing Persons performed alongside the English band Duran Duran. After his band disbanded, Cuccurullo offered his services to Duran Duran as a replacement for guitarist Andy Taylor. Initially rejected, Cuccurullo was eventually invited to complete the recording of Duran Duran's album "Notorious" when it became clear that Taylor would not return. He then joined the band on a worldwide tour and became a full-fledged member upon returning to London.

Cuccurullo's influence led Duran Duran to a more aggressive sound, as evident in their album "Liberty" released in 1990. The single "Ordinary World" became a hit. Cuccurullo recorded ten albums and compilation albums with Duran Duran. In 2001, he was asked to leave the band due to the reunion of the original lineup. After leaving Duran Duran, Cuccurullo pursued a solo career. He recorded five albums, dedicating his debut album to Frank Zappa. Since 2000, Cuccurullo has also worked as a model, appearing in nude magazines. He opened his own website, where he posted his nude photos, although they were removed from the internet in 2004. Cuccurullo has a large following of fans who appreciate his talent both as a guitarist and a model, and his personal website's homepage suggests that there is still more to come from him.