The Tubes - White Punks On Dope - 12/31/1975 - Winterland (Official)

The Tubes - White Punks On Dope
Recorded Live: 12/31/1975 - Winterland - San Francisco, CA
More The Tubes at Music Vault: www.musicvault.com
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Personnel:
Fee Waybill - vocals
Bill "Sputnik" Spooner - guitar, vocals
Roger Steen - guitar
Prairie Prince - drums
Michael Cotten - synthesizer
Vince Welnick - piano
Rick Anderson - bass
Summary:
The Tubes are a Bay-Area band best known for their skewering of popular culture issues of drugs, celebrity, and their namesake: Television. At this Bill Graham-produced show, the Tubes had sold out the Winterland for the first time. The band's stage antics are as lively as ever, owing to the festive spirit of New Year's Eve. Less than 25 minutes into the set they count down to 1976, with lead singer Fee Waybill endlessly insisting that there is another minute-and-a-half to go and feigning a broken watch.
The Tubes had only released one record at the time of this recording, 1975's The Tubes, which was produced by Al Kooper. That record contained the derisive "White Punks on Dope" as well as the disco-rock sales pitch "What Do You Want From Life." Both songs contained ample background noise and bizarre vocals.
We are at some disadvantage being unable to see the stage show (we don't know why exactly the "tube job" during the sketch "A Word From Our Sponsor" is eliciting such whoops, for example); but we can hear sketches like "Sputnik," a sort of interstellar sitcom, and there's no mistaking the live marching band that covers Steve Miller Band's "Living in the U.S.A." after the New Year's firecrackers are done exploding. (Other notable cover choices include the Velvet Underground's "I'm Waiting For The Man," Tom Jones' "It's Not Unusual," and the "Theme From I Love Lucy.")
From their debut record, the Tubes play "Up From The Deep," Space Baby "Malaguena Salerosa," "Mondo Bondage," "Haloes," and the aforementioned "What Do You Want From Life" and "White Punks On Dope." But they had been busy putting material together for six years at this point, and had already prepared a good portion of material that would end up on their second record. From that album, Young and Rich, they play "Tubes World Tour," "Slipped My Disco," "Stand Up And Shout," and "Proud To Be An American.
There is a load of vulgarity and fun throughout this show. And the long and irreverent program comes to a tee when Waybill puts on his "Quay Lewd" alter-ego and introduces his band as the Cocaine Piranhas.
The Tubes continue to tour today.

[@tomburns70]

Not enough people know about the Tubes, this song Is a personal anthem of mine. It deserves more ear play.

[@mathgod]

Love The Tubes. As a punk from the 70s, I was definitely in the Henry Rollins camp of no drugs! Still, great song. Covered so many times.

[@williamcoyle7226]

Criminally underrated band.

[@vikingson9000]

William Coyle Not by the many of us who know them !

[@gogoyubari366]

What makes you believe they're underrated? Did you travel the globe taking a survey from every citizen of the world? Please explain.

[@tucker5.712]

Absolutely

[@tucker5.712]

​@@gogoyubari366don't be a dick

[@patrickmcevoy5080]

@@gogoyubari366 Hardly anyone talks about them anymore. They deserve to be in every conversation of greatest 70's bands. Underrated.

[@Filmpilot]

Used to play this song in a cover band in the late 70’s. Always got a standing ovation. They were simply ahead of their time.

[@thegreatersister1841]

A cover band played this song at our High School in 1975...blew the roof off the gymnasium..lol

[@carolmiller7089]

😂❤

[@richardcoreno]

The true essence of rock 'n' roll performance art.

[@shaunantonyespiritu5604]

Kiss: we wear 6in pumps on stage Fee waybill: hold my beer

[@williamsomerville-g2z]

Saw them 1978 in Edinburgh "What do you want from life" brainstorming and mind blowing 70's music the best ever.😄😄

[@chuckrastchannel]

That's entertainment!

[@howlindonster6131]

Bay Area's Darlings....70's ruled and San Francisco had the whole spectrum going from The Dead -The Tubes ...Fee Waybill was brilliant..

[@elainericketts8820]

He still is.....

[@wolfman92097]

Also had Metallica in the 80's

[@mikemulrennan7948]

Agree I lived in Oakland in those days.. one of a kind

[@mikemulrennan7948]

@@wolfman92097CCR in the 70s, Doobie Brothers.. great music

[@josejones7025]

Fee W. Is a brilliant performer. !!!!

[@thomasturner5577]

Classic

[@crewmusicasia6869]

Brilliant! Love that I am old and experienced this music

[@petebradt]

You n me.

[@gator2813]

I experienced the dope too.

[@ralphwatten2426]

My son told me we were lucky back in the 60's and 70's to have experienced the music. Good music is still coming out but because of the times there was a lot of good music.

[@spazmonkey3815]

@@ralphwatten2426 A lot ,each band like a different jewel.

[@PatBob5150]

Just moved from Japan early 1979 and this was one of the first songs I heard on the radio. Immediately blown away and have been a Tubes fan ever since, seen them multiple times in concert, they know how to put on a rock n roll show!

[@krusty6246]

Everyone’s on dope. The Tubes sure knew how to put on a show. Fantastic!

[@spazmonkey3815]

There's like 20 people on stage.

[@geocs5895]

Back when a band could put on a spectacle onstage and still play their instruments!

[@CraigRoss714]

Pop band's , love this stuff

[@richardtaylor8595]

Saw them in Cleveland Ohio at the Richfield Collosium.Best show ever. My brother lived with them and Fayerweather in an house in Elyria for a short time. He always claimed.

[@louiesalinas4720]

LOVE THE TUBES!!!!

[@thomalexander4120]

I was at this show. Eddie Money opened, and Flo and Eddie from the Turtles and Zappa followed. GREAT SHOW!

[@longfade]

Awesome! Tix were probably like 7.00, too. Concerts were the shit back then.

[@andrewdzierson2036]

I fuckn knew I saw Zappa at the end!!!

[@gladeloy3341]

lucky you. were it just as flo & eddy or as "egg" ?

[@keemosobby2633]

75 high school song. 2021 still holds value.

[@keemosobby2633]

Such debauchery hahaha

[@williamgolden839]

Has anything changed in Hollywood?

[@stevehall6526]

Takes me back to 76. Saw them in London, never saw anything like them before or since but man they were brilliant . 😊

[@chrismarshall4702]

Still better than what kids of today listen to.

[@Ceeewolf]

I remember that gig. It was unreal. WPOD is the national Anthem of R&R.

[@michaelochiuto8503]

I wish I would have seen them back in the day😢😢😢😢...what a show they put on...fantastic!!!

[@sicks6six]

One month I saw The Tubes. The NY Dolls & The Plasmatics. I was living in a small coal mining village. It cost less than £5 to see all three. Next month DEVO, Blondie Richard Hell. Ramones. Clash. Magazine. Bands toured none stop then and tickets were £1 - £2.

[@patdonovan8368]

First time I heard the Tubes in 77 I was tripping for the first time. Two hits of good blotter, it was a wild & crazy night I found the Tubes.......man. 😎👀

[@josejones7025]

Had the chance to see them in Chicago in 1977, under rated band totally saw Todd Rundgren solo in San Diego his drummer was prairie prince. That was a great show!

[@wezzmusic]

Totally amazing track. Still one of my all time favourites. Superb.

[@upstatenoizepollution62366]

YES YES YES!!!! Thats why in the early 80's when they did that "one song" - my jaw hit the ground......

[@peteschiernbeck2665]

best ever live version - tubes on new year's eve - epic stuff

[@marcfedak]

This is a great performance, even better than the other KZbin TV performance video I saw of the same song, it's got more stage antics. Also, I'm glad that they had the chorale backing vocals.

[@Damaged262]

Just ask the VA, gives me everything but pain relief and that’s all I really need... Fuckers... 13 meds and not one for pain.

[@ronm1818]

Saw them around '77...great theatre, and of course, being a college student, this was our theme song🤣

[@sixthickthistlestix5605]

we know they're out there

[@thegreatersister1841]

I just realized that I miss the 70's

[@kmcq692]

The Greater Sister peak of western civilization

[@Sovereign_Citizen_LEO]

@@kmcq692 - 1970s and 1980s were the best times/ life/ society.

[@kmcq692]

SkylineToTheSeaAndMe I would argue that the 80s was nice except for when the Greed is Good manifesto started to be, not only taken as a directive rather than a satire/warning, but that new communications technology was implemented (Bloomberg’s computer trading tools, among others) to turn egoistic whims into sudden vast monetary actions, so that markets became divorced from physical limitations and moved at light speed. Basically. Big oops. I am looking at Raworth’s Doughnut. Reset. Rewind. Remember.

[@magnificentfailure2390]

I miss Herpes, too.

[@Onepercenters]

@@Sovereign_Citizen_LEO Sex and Drugs and Rock & Roll. (class of '76)

[@bostonaudi]

Wow, from 75, awesome show.

[@elainericketts8820]

I saw them play UCSC in '75. It was a life changing experience......

[@ronturnis5606]

That was funnier than hell!!! I miss those days

[@bostonaudi]

Elaine Ricketts I wish I could have seen them then.

[@bluesman7703]

The TUBES ! Very creative ! These guys are the best ! Thanks Fee ! The very best !

[@jamescassidy3995]

43 years ago... jeez.

[@jamescameron2717]

Saw them October ’82 in Worcester. Just off the rail. Incredible show!

[@vikingson9000]

When of the greatest songs ever imo !! I remember Twisted Sister used to play this in their last set and did a really good job but nothing like the original ! 🤘

[@irishtino1595]

This is a really great song, it was about 3-4 years to early for mass American audiences, who's little brains hated the NY Dolls, Ramones, Stooges, etc.

[@Lindleyferchel]

Way ahead of the times

[@nagadorset]

Ooh man, I'm so glad you've put this clip up. Didn't know you had your own channel . The most exciting music ever. The most radical vinyl of the day . When I am drawn into their vibe, it's like something magic happens. It's like that feeling you get after a super refreshing drink . Total brilliance at play such incredible talent on display such connectivity the flow the movements mesh so beautifully..They light me right up these dudes do, just incredible!

[@dennismohican]

Wow.. I've seen some versions of this? but this one? wow.. fantastic.. I bought the Tubes Backward Principle VHS . Had a version of this at the end, but not this full thing! Thanks to a Navy buddy in like '82 for getting me into the Tubes. I hadn't liked what i heard on the radio, so, once i heard 50 Foot Woman thanks to this guy loaning me his tape and i was hooked! :) Great Band. Super Creative imho! Dennis 62 years Austin, TX

[@jackwyatt4184]

the one and only Fee Waybill

[@davidkamensky2780]

I saw the Tubes a few years ago in a Chicago area bar. Their drummer was Prairie Prince. I remember seeing him years ago playing for Rundgren. Great show.

[@DonVideoGuy007]

I was at this concert ... I somehow remember it like it happened yesterday. What you cannot clearly hear is that the crowd was screaming the lyrics to the song, and screamed even louder whenever Fee said "... f**king rich!" during the song. Also... they performed this song twice - around midway through the concert, and then this performance which was their encore = they only had 12 songs in their repertoire.

[@darthcheney7447]

They performed this song twice?

[@TheRenojim]

I was there great show. Flo and Eddie opening act

[@skychristypresents4313]

Me Too..F & E were pretty damn good also..

[@westsideflyer7559]

Flo and Eddie were pretty good with Zappa, too.

[@legalizitt]

Teenage had a race for the night time Spent my cash on every high I could find Wasted time in every school in L.A. Getting loose, I didn't care what the kids say We're white punks on dope Mom & dad moved to Hollywood Hang myself when I get enough rope Can't clean up, though I know I should White punks on dope White punks on dope Other dudes are living in the ghetto But born in pacific heights don't seem much betto We're white punks on dope Mom & dad live in Hollywood Hang myself when I get enough rope I can't clean up, though I know I should White punks on dope White punks on dope I go crazy 'cause my folks are so fucking rich Have to score when I get that rich white punk itch Sounds real classy, living in a chateau So lonely, all the other kids will never know We're white punks on dope Mom & dad live in Hollywood Hang myself when I get enough rope Can't clean up, though I know I should White punks on dope White punks on dope

[@BastokyG]

Saw them at a much smaller venue in Berkeley right around this time. Love the first album!

[@sacluvsBM]

I was there that night at Post and Steiner. And yes, l finally cleaned up like l know l should. WPOD.

[@somepig2k]

such a dynamite fekkin song...always comes out swinging , just fekkin lovely

[@crosslink1493]

Saw them twice here in the Los Angeles area, once in '79 at the Greek Theater and in 82(?) at Crawford Hall at UC Irvine. They had all the theatrics back then, if the stage show was to be rated like a movie I'd give it a solid 'R' rating (this video is pretty tame!). Pretty mind blowing, kind of a punk-meets-glam-meets-metal-meets-R&R mashup. I always wondered what happened to that 'Q'-shaped guitar Fee Waybill (aka "Qua Luude") was using.

[@sixthickthistlestix5605]

Fantastic band !!!!!!!!!!!

[@rduquet]

With a Cast of THOUSANDS!!!! THE TUBES !!!😎Bob

[@thomalexander4120]

The BEST progressive rock band EVER ... and Funny as hell ...

[@corycrockett852]

Saw em when they came out with this I was 13 and we smoked a lot of weed! I laughed the whole time! Good times. Shit I'm 64 now still smoking! Dam!

[@tacey505]

One of the greatest shit ever

[@georgematulich4163]

WPOD!!! God damn Im getting so old.

[@skychristypresents4313]

I was there..Fucking Fabulous..Best New Years Eve Ever..They put the SHOW in Show Business..

[@harryknackers7892]

Oh Lord, thank God for video! They were so much better when they were a "cult" band - I don;t care what Fee Waybill says!

[@exxumma]

Superb.

[@rheadrick2010]

A nice positive message for everyone. Do dope. It's good for you....

[@rickmaymi2398]

this song is pure satire, and if you understood what you were hearing, you wouldn't need this pointed out to you.

[@meltheartist1147]

Pretty fucking amazing.

[@lawrencelampke6007]

Wish I could seen them live, they were so fucking awesome! There's nothing even compatible today, especially for the money! Long live the tubes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@nunestunes]

Sounds like a hell of a show.

[@skychristypresents4313]

I played several shows with them before they hit the big time, and they were doing crazy schtick then albeit with a lower budget..Horn section with fake cardboard horns, giant greasy, fake ducktails, and cheesy stuff like that..When they hit big, they went into extreme overdrive with the show and seemed poised to become huge internationally..That didn't happen, but they were the 'darlings of San Francisco' for a year or two , and their shows were extravaganzas of sight, sound, and unbelievable spectacle ...

[@elainericketts8820]

@@skychristypresents4313 Actually they did hit it big in Europe. Landed a huge gig in London for a year, and about 3 months into it, Fee broke his ankle wearing those platform shoes, and that killed it....I still try and see them once a year and they still don't disappoint........AND they're accessible. They'll go out and mingle with the crowd after the show. How many Bands do that??........

[@mirkobob5973]

One on the most underrated banf

[@mirkobob5973]

Band of course

[@nehoc00]

sooooooo f'ng GOOD!! CLASSIC!

[@wescarpenter2525]

Late 70's, swing auditorium, one of the greatest concerts ever

[@snorfallupagus6014]

Got free tix to one of their concerts at Brown U in '78 or '79 for being a volunteer roadie. Did not get close to any band members, but worked with their regular crew and got to see how they lived on the bus. Roadies work HARD. 12 hour + days.

[@gfgoalie28]

I’m speechless 🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@graham1466]

timeless.

[@michaeldonohue9760]

Jesus Christ, what a show!

[@corruptoregon2984]

WOW!!

[@nicoletaiakab8777]

Nicht zu fassen, fantastisch.

[@xeagle1962]

What a show... Good times ;)

[@TheWonderStraw]

Fee Waybill is one of the Three Most Important People in the World

[@nsbd90now]

Epic for the Ages!

[@leftpastsaturn67]

Epic.

[@thepunadude]

QUAY-LUDE!

[@neilphelan145]

Controled kaos at its best!! 🤯👍

[@charlesbarber6137]

SF scene was really good in late 70s, when I got there as a white punk UCB grad student. The Dead, The Tubes, Talking Heads, Pretenders, SRV, Los Lobos, Santana, Dead Kennedys, X, Jim Carroll, the Motels, the GoGos,. An embarrassment of musical riches.

[@michaelwolf6424]

Quicksilver Messenger Service

[@mikemulrennan7948]

I lived in Oakland when this came out I was like wtf 😊 very different sound.

[@haydnforisz4459]

Sublime !!!!!!

[@johnclark4271]

Got to see these guys in the 2cd half of the 70s in Boston when undergrad at BU. Great show...essentially a broadway show and great music combined (Alice Cooper similar approach) Miss stuff like this... Info: 68 yo straight male (married 34 years) who loves both classic and glam rock, and musical theatre...per current thinking I'm not supposed to exist John

[@michaelmarkham8065]

So appropriate today.

[@petebradt]

Old punks on dope, too. Like ME!!!! (I grow my own)

[@cpdaddy7]

The De Montfort Hall, Leicester 1978: La vie en fumer, the Patty Hearst thing (Terrorist?), WDYWFL, Touch me there, My head is my only....etc? Then, Fee fell off the stage with a chainsaw during the Johnnie Bugger sequence and broke his leg. The rest of the band had to suck it up and get through WPOD and Tubes World Tour. Was there, its an advantage of being old.

[@gooddognigel9992]

Bombastic

[@andrewbarber9612]

awesome !

[@gladeloy3341]

i love extended versions

[@gritzgravy1760]

Rest in peace Rick Anderson

[@traxiii]

A friend who went there told me it was the "official" theme song of the Leland Stanford JUNIOR University Marching Band. Having seen them "play" 100's of times, I have no doubt.

[@krusty6246]

This was a regular play on KSAN way back in the 70s remember?

[@thepunadude]

'AND IF YOU DONT LIKE THE NEWS, GO OUT AND MAKE SOME OF YOUR OWN' ... SCOOP NITZGER

[@denabergman6543]

In honor of 420. Classic.

[@davidesabatini7548]

Grandissimi!!!

[@ocbosco_]

We’re old now, but we legit kicked ass.

[@calmdeepwater]

Und hier die 70er! Kennt kaum noch eine "Socke"! Hammer Song!

[@nicoletaiakab8777]

Unglaublich, fantastisch

[@dianwilson4840]

I love this so hard

[@tedpetry2028]

I actually got to see them in Chicago.....They were in the movie Xanadu

[@theislandtrust]

good shit!!!

[@moe9196]

2:14 I use to itch a lot when i was rx'd xanax for 5 years . withdrawal is worse than smack wds . benzos like xanax are the number one killer in withdrawal . all benzos ( e.g. xanax, ativan, klonopin, et al ) have a strong anti seizure component . when you are on them long term , which can be as short as half a year, your natural biological anti seizure mechanisms atrophy and go dormant . thats why when ever going off benzos you need inpatient detox which uses phenobarbital for a week or so, then you are weened off and titrated up to a good non narcotic anti seizure or anticonvulsant drug like Keppra or better. Terrible thing is very few detox units use this method . too many benzo dependent people die in detox

[@donaldkerr4310]

The Tubes played on Second City Television. It might have been a Canadian only series at that point or it might have been picked up by NBC. Either way, hidden gem. Whole episode (in poor quality) at kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHazYat4qMhjf7s Go to 12:08 for the intro to the song with Gil Fisher (John Candy) "The Fishin' Musician". Tubes do Sushi Girl. The whole bit of catching and preparing the fish is sureal. The are in the lake in matching suits. The last words of the skit was "next week join Gil and his guests Wendy O'Williams and the Plasmatics while they fish for Walleye Pike". It's true, they were on the next week.

[@Mellow_Moode]

This 'ish rocks.

[@fatdogtavern]

Definitely a Confuse a Cat moment starting in the middle of this video!

[@michaelwolf6424]

I wonder if a young Kenny Ortega might have been one of the background performers or dancers? He choreographed their routines in their formulative years. Kenny later went on to film success as a choreographer and director. He was the man behind Michael Jackson's last (literally last) effort for a return concert before Jackson died.

[@DonVideoGuy007]

He was one of the background performers; and IIRC, I read somewhere that he was the man who wore the ET mask during the performance.

[@dalelarsen5472]

I''M FUCKED UP!!!!