An idiosyncratic outfit, the Tubes are as much a group of social satirists as they are a rock band. After forming in Arizona in the late 1960s, the original members moved to San Francisco where they built a following thanks to their outrageously theatrical live shows. Songwriter and vocalist Fee Waybill would dress up as a variety of characters, each a parody of a popular cultural archetype (the wasted rock star Quay Lewd was one of his most famous). The song “White Punks on Dope” became a radio favorite, but the band’s albums never fared well commercially; nevertheless, the Tubes recorded through the ‘70s and ‘80s (including concept albums like 1979’s television-themed REMOTE CONTROL). The success of pop-minded, early-‘80s singles like “Talk to You Later” and “She’s a Beauty” raised the band’s profile, but they broke up in ’85. They later reunited and continued touring and recording into the 2000s.
Hometown
San Francisco, CA, United States
Genre
Rock
Members of The Tubes
The Tubes was formed in 1972. Members of The Tubes include, or have included, the following 4 members.