White Punks on Dope

"White Punks on Dope", abbreviated as "WPOD", is a 1975 song by San Francisco-based rock group The Tubes from their debut, eponymous album, produced by Al Kooper. The song was written by the band's dual lead guitarists, Bill Spooner and Roger Steen with Michael Evans (later a sales manager at Ingram Entertainment and VP at Sony Pictures). It has been called “absurd anthem of wretched excess,” ridiculing the rich and famous offspring of Hollywood elite. The song became the group's rock anthem and spectacular closing number to their elaborate stage shows. The band developed a cult-like fan base that has followed them for decades.[1]

"White Punks on Dope"
Single by The Tubes
from the album The Tubes
B-side
  • "Don't Touch Me There"
  • "What Do You Want From Life?"
Released1975
Recorded1975
GenreGlam rock
Length3:18
LabelA&M Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Al Kooper

Known for frequent costume changes, the group's lead singer Fee Waybill plays the character of Quay Lewd, a take off on Quaalude, a drugged out British rock star wearing two-foot tall platform shoes, a feather boa and a long blonde wig. In his early career as a choreographer, Kenny Ortega would add elements to try to make every show more spectacular. There were explosions, smoke, chainsaws and a daredevil aerial artist. Among the barely-dressed dancers and characters were Jane Dornacker and Pearl E. Gates. Even up and coming local actor/comedian Robin Williams auditioned for the show.[2][3]

While it was considered too politically incorrect to receive much airplay in the United States, two years later the single reached #28 on the British charts.[4][5]

Cover versions
  • Mötley Crüe covered "White Punks on Dope" on their album New Tattoo, and performs it live in concert on their Lewd, Crüed, & Tattooed DVD.
  • Nina Hagen Band interpreted the song in a German-language version, translated to "TV-Glotzer" (with re-written lyrics about being an East German who lives vicariously by staring at West German television all day) on their self-titled debut album in 1978.
  • In the 1993 film Fear of a Black Hat, the band N.W.H. (with Ric Ocasek of The Cars) perform a parody of "White Punks on Dope", titled "White Cops on Dope".
  • Down 'n' Outz, the side project headed up by Def Leppard's Joe Elliot, covered "White Punks on Dope" on their third studio album This Is How We Roll, released on October 11, 2019.
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References
  1. Rutkoski, Rex. "The Tubes, veteran masters of rock satire, may be more relevant than ever". TribLIVE.com. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  2. "Tubes Own `Punks'". 13 August 2000. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  3. "Onstage outrageousness with the Tubes". Tahoe Daily Tribune. November 28, 2008. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  4. "White Punks The Tubes Invade UK Chart - uDiscover". www.udiscovermusic.com. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  5. "White Punks on Dope by The Tubes - Songfacts". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved 10 November 2018.


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