The Tubes

City Winery Philadelphia presents The Tubes live on December 6th at 7:30pm

The Tubes formed in 1972 in San Francisco from two bands that moved there from Phoenix, The Beans along with the Red, White and Blues Band. While musically influenced by groups like Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart, who actually recorded a song with the group on their third album, their theatrical satire was evident from the very beginning. All these years later, The Tubes still consists of, original members, the irrepressible front man Fee Waybill, world-class drummer Prairie Prince, and virtuoso guitarist Roger Steen. They continue to delight fans across the country and around the world with their iconic live shows.

Led by singer Fee Waybill – known for his classic characters, including the glam-rocking, stackheeled Quay Lewd, the dangerous Mr. Hate or the gnarly punk parody Johnny Bugger – The Tubes released five albums on A&M Records, starting with the Al Kooper-produced self-titled debut in 1975, which included “White Punks on Dope,” dubbed an absurd anthem of wretched excess” later covered by Motley Crue, German chanteuse Nina Hagen as well as set staple, “Mondo Bondage.” “What Do You Want from Life?” was yet another signature song for the band, a prescient satire of consumerism and celebrity culture that calls out Bob Dylan and

Randy Mantooth along with “a herd of Winnebagos, we’re givin’ em away”. With the help of Kenny Ortega, they mounted the stage show for which they’re still known, using videos as part of the presentation long before MTV was born.

After Young & Rich (1976), produced by Ken Scott (of Beatles fame) highlighted by the salacious “Don’t Touch Me There,” The Tubes released Now (1977), the live What Do You Want

From Live (1978) and the concept album Remote Control (1979) their final album for A&M before leaving for Capitol Records.