Still no dice on finding that Philadelphia local commercial for Frank’s Soda featuring a then-unknown Patty Smyth and Scandal, but I did uncover two alternate versions of of what’s supposed to be a video demo that got the band signed to its first label deal. As if that old Frank’s ad wasn’t enough! Note one of the guitarists, who would go on to set rock longest (and still running) unbroken streak of inconsequential mediocrity.
Until seeing these videos, it never occurred to me that a video demo could be part of the process for getting signed. I’m cynical enough to believe that major-label bands since the late ’80s must be taking lessons in lip-synching, and I don’t even put it beyond the music video industry to call in stand-in, or “stunt,” musicians to “rock out” or whatever in a more animated way than an uptight band member. But a video demo? Was this practice in place much earlier than the time of these Scandal video demos? Can it be that Scandal was actually “groundbreaking” in some perverse way?
By the way, which version do you think sealed the deal?
I don’t know why I remember this, but I do think I remember reading that Scandal was indeed the first band signed to a major label on the basis of a video demo.