A Musical Tale of Stones, Tubes, & More Stones

It’s not often that you can see a classic band from the 60s or 70s with more than one original member. A notable exception are The Rolling Stones with original members Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, and Charlie Watts lasting from 1963 through 2021 until Charlie passed away. Add Ronnie Wood in 1975 until now, and that’s a group with history, legacy, legitimacy, and longevity.

So, it was with some excitement that I saw The Tubes from the mid-70s coming to my little hometown theater advertised with 3 original members including wacky frontman Fee Waybill, known for his many wild costume changes during a concert. That’s how their extended tour that appears to have started in 2022 was touted. Sadly, along the way, one of the three original members passed away. Down to 2, but quite a duo, Fee Waybill and Roger Steen, writer of their cheeky song “White Punks on Dope.”

I was all in to see The Tubes. Please note that I didn’t say I bought a ticket. Not many others did either. I was convinced the theater had done a ticket giveaway as they sometimes do to at least get sales of their concessions, and that I had missed the email for the free tix. I went to the box office and mentioned that I heard (from me talking to myself) that they were giving away free tickets to fill seats. Uh, no. But as long as I was there, they gave me a free ticket. I was encouraged to sit anywhere I wanted. Open seats were plentiful.

I arrived just in time to hear “Sushi Girl,” a very 80ish tune and favorite of mine. That was kind of the highlight of the show. For me, it was downhill from there. I don’t want to disparage Fee, Roger, and the other new Tubes band members. They are still out on the road touring and living the rock & roll dream. Good for them. But Fee as the frontman is 73, looks 83, and moves around like he’s 93. It was hard to watch at times. At least he brought his “nurse” to assist him with his costume changes.

Can someone please help The Tubes change the digital graphic projected onto the screen to reflect a 2023 tour rather than 2022. Aren’t digital graphics free?

And about those costumes? At the end of “Wild Women of Wongo,” Fee had stripped down to this.

Nobody wants to see that … except for the guy to my left who stood through the whole show and had gone to the preshow meet & greet where he had memorabilia signed by Fee & the band. He was showing it to anyone who asked. I averted his eyes.

I can’t bring myself to post a pic of Fee dressed as his alter-ego Quay Lewd during “White Punks on Dope.” He did his best to self-parody, but it seemed more sad than funny to me.

It didn’t help Fee that guitarist Roger Steen is 74, looks 64, and moves like 54.

He looked dapper and sophisticated on stage. The contrast between the two founding band members was pronounced. Whereas Fee admitted to often being flat with his vocals, Roger sounded good and played a mean guitar during some of Fee’s many costume changes.

All in all, I’m glad I went and saw the concert. I’m even gladder that I did NOT buy a ticket. And that brings me full circle back to The Rolling Stones. They are coming to Chicago to play 2 shows in June of 2024 in Soldier Field. I last saw them in Soldier Field about 18 years ago for a cold late October show. June is better in Chicago. I want to hear their 2024 concert, but I don’t necessarily want to see them. Mick and Keith are older than Fee and Roger of The Tubes! Sure, I know they dye their hair before touring, but I think seeing Fee Waybill has soured me on seeing old rockers. I guess a case could be made that from the seats I could barely afford, I couldn’t see The Stones anyway. But I have a better solution. Just like hundreds of Swifties did when Taylor Swift played Soldier Field, I can sit outside Soldier Field and listen to the concert. I can even sit between the stadium and the shore of beautiful Lake Michigan! The music was supposedly very clear outside the stadium for the Swift shows. I assume it would be similar for the Stones. And when asked how I liked the Stones concert, I will reply in my best Canadian, “She’s a beauty” as homage to The Tubes. Tour on, Fee and Roger!