ION INDIE MAGAZINE February 2016, Volume 21 | Page 21

For me the allure of Rock ‘n’ Roll was the danger it posed. To live vicariously
thru the artist and their music; to be exposed to a different point of view. In
1988, MIKE TAIBBI, Channel 2 CBS, produced a 3-part expose on a “Satanic cult
masquerading as a Rock band”—MISSING FOUNDATION. It was yellow journalism at
its best… complete (bullshit) with dramatic teasers and concerned looks.
For myself, Missing Foundation was the type of music that I wanted to hear. I
was 18, angry, and looking for my own voice. Rather than scare me away, Mike
Tiabbi introduced the world or least to me--Missing Foundation.
Missing Foundation was and still is one of the most compelling bands I’ve heard
to date.
It was the summer of 1988, a Sunday. The day doesn't matter because Sunday's
were always the same. Ride into New York, head up to Harlem to purchase these
really fat dime bags, buy a 40 and head back to CBGB'S to consume our treasures
and to possibly check out the “Sunday Hardcore Matinee”.
This day turned out to be a little different, because
after watching Mike Tiabbi's report, it peaked my
interest enough for me to head to BLEEKER BOB’S RECORDS
to pick up Missing Foundation's Album, 1933. After
listening to the album, it was clear that MF were none
of what Mike Tiabbi had reported-Missing Foundation
were, in fact, a band with strong political opinions,
ranging from gentrification to homelessness to global
awareness and warnings of a crooked government. 27
years ago they were the first band I heard to talk of New
World Order and conspiracy. In a lot of ways very
prophetic, given the present state of affairs.
PETER MISSING was born in Bronx, New York City. He is an artist, poet, musician
and activist. Peter founded "Missing Foundation" in the early 80's. Their
symbol, an upside down martini glass with three strikes crossed out, means
"party's over". The symbol used to be spotted all over New York's Lower East
Side. It was often accompanied by anti-landlord, anti-gentrification, antipolice brutality, anti-corporations and pro-environment slogans. The symbol
was originally designed for a band Missing founded in 1980, called DRUNK
DRIVING, and has grown to symbolize the decline of our planet and a warning to
start something new; time for a change. His artwork, abstract paintings and
installations are created with recycled material from paper, glass to large
steel doors. He has works in over 30 museums in the U.S. and Europe, including
THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, THE WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART, THE GETTY
INSTITUTE and THE STADT MUSEUM in Berlin.
I was introduced to Peter Missing years ago at Missing Foundation/Black Rain
show. For all the bitching I do about Facebook, it allowed me to get in touch
all these years later. I asked him for this interview and reminded him of the
Mike Tiabbi report to which he said, "That's the report that destroyed me, my
wife and kid, got me pushed me out of New York via the FBI, and the band was
basically ordered to stop or get killed...their exact words!"
I am proud to introduce the readers of ION INDIE MAGAZINE to Peter Missing.