The Tubes to play Jergel's in January

The Tubes, an experimental proto punk/glam rock band whose music videos were a staple during the early days of MTV, is returning to the Pittsburgh area this winter.

The Tubes will play Jergel’s Rhythm Grille in Warrendale on Jan. 24.

Fronted by lead singer/songwriter Fee Waybill, the Tubes were late 1970s/early ’80s pioneers of the elaborate stage shows that became increasingly common for touring rock bands.

They burst onto the scene in 1977 with the song “White Punks on Dope,” described as an “absurd anthem of wretched excess” as it ridiculed the Hollywood kids of the rich and famous.

The Tubes peaked in the early ’80s with chart-topping hits like “Talk to Ya Later” and “She’s a Beauty,” which rose to the top 10 in the U.S.

Though their lineup has changed over the years, it currently includes Waybill and members Roger Steen, Prairie Prince, Rick Anderson and David Medd.