Boosters to Propel Band at Bigger Target

Some people who have dropped into the Marine Room in Laguna Beach and been smitten by the Missiles of October wonder why the band is just a local phenomenon. A few are trying to do something about it.

An English businessman named Keith Barrett became enthralled with the Missiles during trips to Laguna earlier this year. He is paying their air fare and providing lodging for a three-week tour of England next month.

“I don’t even know what business he’s in,” said drummer Frank Cotinola, who handles the Missiles’ business affairs. “He said he’s not a millionaire by any means, but he said he did very well last year and he wanted us to be able to play there.” Another British contact of Cotinola’s is booking and promoting the shows, which will be the Missiles’ first outside of Southern California.

About a month ago, Ray Carolin, a businessman from Mission Viejo, came to see the Missiles on a bet. A friend had promised to donate $1,000 to Carolin’s favorite charity if he did not like the band.

Carolin soon found himself raving on the telephone to his old friend and business associate, Jimmy Johnson, guitarist of the legendary Muscle Shoals rhythm section that played on dozens of great ‘60s soul records (including Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman” and most of the signature hits of Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett).

The Alabama-based Johnson, who still produces records at the famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, checked out the Missiles on a recent trip to Southern California, and now he and Carolin want to help the band find management and a record deal. Johnson, who also served as engineer for the Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses” and “Brown Sugar,” and oversaw some of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s sessions during the 1970s, would like to work with the Missiles as a producer.

“I was very impressed with (Missiles singer) Poul Pedersen and the musicianship of all the guys in the group,” Johnson said by phone from Alabama. “We’re hoping to get a lot of the record companies to go down and listen to them in Laguna Beach in the next few months. If the labels don’t like ‘em or don’t come, we’ll try to get some investors interested. We’re willing to go the extra mile for them.”