Crazy Joe

**Crazy Joe** was an American artist and affiliate of rock band All Business, notably serving as their unofficial manager from 1993 to 1994. Little facts are known of his life, with his age, birth name and state of origin still being unconfirmed. He has been missing since 1994.

## All Business

By 1993, All Business' roster was growing at a rate that would be alarming to anyone not named Vernon O'Shaughnessy. Though the official member count had ballooned past a dozen musicians by that point, not to mention the numerous friends, family members, colleagues and hangers on that came with them, Vernon managed to keep his iron clad grasp over the group. One of the most prominent of the band's recent additions was Manchester Seuss, a synth wizard that had found himself in several suspiciously left leaning circles before winding up with the capitalistic band. Though some other members liked Seuss (notably Ted, who had what he believed to be a record setting 4 day long conversation with him), Vernon certainly did not. He didn't like his loose lifestyle, his free flowing compositions and especially his disdain for authority. He found it hard to keep tabs and keep hold over him, especially compared with other bandmates--he couldn't even figure out if Manchester Seuss was his real name or not, All this came to a head when Manchester brought in one Crazy Joe to their circle. His full name still unknown, Joe was a friend that Seuss had made during his days trying to infiltrate Andy Warhol's circle in the mid 1980s. Vernon at first disregarded him as just another hanger on that would soon lose his grip, however this was not to be.

All Business was between managers in mid-1993. Vernon was a manager for All Business in every way but name at that point, though to onlookers they didn't have a manager at the time. Noticing this, Joe "stepped up" and started declaring himself the group's manager, to the confusion of most everyone else. Vernon was furious, however Ted, still smitten by his new rambling band mate, let Manchester throw his friend a bone. Vernon felt at ease knowing that he still had the real power in the band without the uncool title of "manager", and that he was still receiving a bulk of the glory as their lead singer. Still, the band's new puppet leader couldn't simply be ignored, especially as they geared up for their socially conscious 4th album *Uniting the World*. Like Seuss, Joe was very passionate about social issues, and thus had things to say about the themes of the album. He was usually too spaced out to verbalize anything, though, usually just whispering in Manchester's ear during band meetings. It was around this time that the disheveled looking Joe started making public appearances with All Business, again usually hovering next to Manchester but not saying a word. His appearance alone was enough to raise suspicion from fans about who this gruff new figure was, and what exactly he was doing in All Business. The only time Joe spoke on record was during an October 1994 interview for European MTV in promotion of Uniting the World. Joe uncharacteristically interrupted the band to say they didn't have a new album coming out, leading to this exchange:

> Vernon: "Yes we do."
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> Crazy Joe: "Wrong."
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> Interviewer Rebecca de Ruvo: "I'm sorry, who are you?"
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> Crazy Joe: "Crazy Joe."
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> Rebecca: "Are you, like, a new member of the band?"
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> Crazy Joe: "No, I'm their manager."
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> Vernon: "Well..."
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> Crazy Joe: "I'm, like, the man... I'm the manager this man, this band needs right now."
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> Rebecca de Ruvo: "Can you tell us a bit more about yourself?"
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> Crazy Joe: (Silence)
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> Ted: "He's Manchester's friend."
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> Manchester: "Tell em a bit about yourself, Joe."
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> Crazy Joe: (After a long pause) "God will take care of me."
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> (Silence)
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>
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> Rolly: "Moving on..." (Chuckles)
>
>

Joe's minimal contact with members other than Manchester broke down after this interview. His appearances at band meetings became much more infrequent, much to Vernon's pleasure.