Those first shows in 75 were absolutely wild...and it got weirder and wilder for several years. I saw at least 3 shows from that first group. Took a couple years off and then went to the 78 tour which bordered on lewd. Bill Spooner comes and plays the local open mic. and after becoming friendly with him he fields my Tubes and Todd Rundgren questions....he's so modest and doesn't understand what the all the fuss about the Tubes was.
Loved this, I am always asleep when you go live (from the UK) I was 19 in 1975 and the bands were always about putting on a show, no internet or social media, in the 70s 80s you could do what you wanted at no risk of been cancelled, the music the clothes the make up was a precursor for today, I think young people today are quite prudish compared to us in the 70s, saying that I do love a lot of todays music
That takes me back. We saw them in '77, and it was one heck of a show. Every song had props and dances and costumes. We were hooked after that and would see them every chance we could.
The last line in their song "What Do You Want From Life" is "...a baby's arm, holding an apple." I listened to it without knowing the meaning for *decades*
Wow! Memories. Growing up in San Francisco’s Sunset District in the late ‘70s, this was a San Francisco middle and high school anthem for white kids (the public school population was mostly Asian). It was common to see WPOD scrawled graffiti on walls and classroom desks back then. The WPOD even had a style of clothing-navy blue Derby jackets and Ben Davis trousers. BTW Pacific Heights (as represented in the lyrics) is where the wealthy mostly live in San Francisco
I'm from the Sunset and you nailed it man. Went to Holy Name.And that was my uniform when I wasn't in school. And rock shirts and steel toe boots.I went to High School in Pac Hts. Drew. Nice to meet you my friend!
In this 1975 period of time the WPOD was performed by Quay Lewd. It is L-E-W-D. "Quay" would come out in the song before WPOD...Usually a song called "Stand Up and Shout" or "Boy Crazy" and they would be introduced as "Quay Lewd and the Cocaine Piranhas".
You know there were some trailblazers before them, The Parliament Funkadelics come to mind, and even Frank Zappa and the Mothers. The 70"s were so awesome and fun... And exhausting. I always wondered the next day how I got home.
You should hear the great cover made in 1977 by the Nina Hagen Band with different lyrics in German under the title "TV-Glotzer", or rather see them perform this cover live at the music television show Rockpalast in 1978. That's something !
Extremely elaborate and we'll choreographed performances. The wall of Marshall amps come crashing down on Quay Lude (Fee Waybill) and then he comes back out onstage with a crutch 😂.
It's a great tune, great band and show . Its best to watch the whole concert . Fee Waybill lead singer appears in several personas . In WPOD he's Quay Lude. His costume and those extremely high platform boots are a parody of glam rock. Most of the actors and dancers appear earlier in the show and all converge in the finale White Punks on Dope . imho their new years concert at Winterland auditorium , San Francisco 12.31.75 & 76 into the wee hours new years day, is their best concert . Its on you tube
This is very tame compared to some of their other live performances. I've been a fan since the 70's and have 3 of their albums.
Those first shows in 75 were absolutely wild...and it got weirder and wilder for several years. I saw at least 3 shows from that first group. Took a couple years off and then went to the 78 tour which bordered on lewd. Bill Spooner comes and plays the local open mic. and after becoming friendly with him he fields my Tubes and Todd Rundgren questions....he's so modest and doesn't understand what the all the fuss about the Tubes was.
the lead singer (Fee) was "quay-lude", hence the Q guitar
'
Was lucky enough to see them in London in 1977. They were brilliant
Loved this, I am always asleep when you go live (from the UK) I was 19 in 1975 and the bands were always about putting on a show, no internet or social media, in the 70s 80s you could do what you wanted at no risk of been cancelled, the music the clothes the make up was a precursor for today, I think young people today are quite prudish compared to us in the 70s, saying that I do love a lot of todays music
That takes me back. We saw them in '77, and it was one heck of a show. Every song had props and dances and costumes. We were hooked after that and would see them every chance we could.
The last line in their song "What Do You Want From Life" is "...a baby's arm, holding an apple." I listened to it without knowing the meaning for *decades*
Saw them live 3 times. Great live band. I've never seen this - Fricking brilliant! Thanks you guys for reviving the memories.
Wow! Memories. Growing up in San Francisco’s Sunset District in the late ‘70s, this was a San Francisco middle and high school anthem for white kids (the public school population was mostly Asian). It was common to see WPOD scrawled graffiti on walls and classroom desks back then. The WPOD even had a style of clothing-navy blue Derby jackets and Ben Davis trousers. BTW Pacific Heights (as represented in the lyrics) is where the wealthy mostly live in San Francisco
I'm from the Sunset and you nailed it man. Went to Holy Name.And that was my uniform when I wasn't in school. And rock shirts and steel toe boots.I went to High School in Pac Hts. Drew. Nice to meet you my friend!
it's like a scene from a Lynch film
First 4 albums are just Masterpieces (all potential rock operas) and their London Live double album is the best live album ever laid down
In this 1975 period of time the WPOD was performed by Quay Lewd. It is L-E-W-D. "Quay" would come out in the song before WPOD...Usually a song called "Stand Up and Shout" or "Boy Crazy" and they would be introduced as "Quay Lewd and the Cocaine Piranhas".
You know there were some trailblazers before them, The Parliament Funkadelics come to mind, and even Frank Zappa and the Mothers. The 70"s were so awesome and fun...
And exhausting. I always wondered the next day how I got home.
Remember this song cruising in my new 79 firebird formula on whittier blvd,picking up on chicks.i was that punk back then.a great song to this day
Awesome band! The keyboardist Vince Welnik was the last official Grateful Dead keyboardist!
You should hear the great cover made in 1977 by the Nina Hagen Band with different lyrics in German under the title "TV-Glotzer", or rather see them perform this cover live at the music television show Rockpalast in 1978. That's something !
Extremely elaborate and we'll choreographed performances.
The wall of Marshall amps come crashing down on Quay Lude (Fee Waybill) and then he comes back out onstage with a crutch 😂.
If you want to know what the word "decadent" means, don't bother with the dictionary, just watch this! Great live clip, great reaction.
ps.. you need to LISTEN to their lyrics in their first 4 albums... very strong social commentary... brilliant band.. grossly underrated
It's a great tune, great band and show . Its best to watch the whole concert . Fee Waybill lead singer appears in several personas . In WPOD he's Quay Lude. His costume and those extremely high platform boots are a parody of glam rock. Most of the actors and dancers appear earlier in the show and all converge in the finale White Punks on Dope . imho their new years concert at Winterland auditorium , San Francisco 12.31.75 & 76 into the wee hours new years day, is their best concert . Its on you tube
The guitar was shaped like a "Q" because his stage persona for that song was Quay Lewd
Winterland was always an experience.
I've heard they started their career as an X rated burlesque show. Great Band!!
He was also known in this dress up as Quay Leud.
1978 live album is the best.
Lol. This had everything 😄
I saw them live.....they were in the movie Xanadu Prog punk
Hot angels on dope!
WHITE PUNKS ON DOPE! hehe \m/ where are my platform boots and shiny unitard? hehe
The winterland version is great. Just gets more insane as it goes on
it was so stupid i loved it and he was right ,i was a white punk on dope i miss the 80s when this got popular
Quay Lude, idol of american youth
So much you kids don't know
Awww. We’re kids !
savage,,,,
Fee Waybill.....this was a gaff...Came from San Francisco....pretty much techo before others.