THE Tubes, the San Francisco-based rock band, whose eponymous 1975 debut album included the rock anthem White Punks on Dope return to the UK for six club dates plus five arena concerts where they will support Alice Cooper.

They open the tour at Southampton's Engine Rooms tomorrow night.

“We’re thrilled to return to the country that started it all for us,” says the Tubes frontman Fee Waybill. “I embrace my British heritage; the beer and the fish and chips and the best rock and roll fans in the world. The tour will be incredible fun.”

The band's over-the-top theatrical visual live performances are known to rock fans worldwide for their quasi-pornographic and satiric take on the media, consumerism, and politics, celebrated by lead singer Fee Waybill’s deranged on-stage characters, including the larger-than-life fictitious platform-booted, drugged out British glam rock star Quay Lewd.

In 1977 The Tubes toured the UK, but many of their shows were banned due to censorship. In February 1978 they released the ground-breaking live album What Do You Want From Live - recorded at London’s Hammersmith Apollo in November 1977, followed by their UK television debut on The Old Grey Whistle Test.

The Tubes are best remembered for their 1983 single She's a Beauty, a top 3 U.S. hit single bolstered by a frequently-played music video in the early days of MTV.

The current line-up of The Tubes features four original members - Fee Waybill (lead vocals), Roger Steen (guitar), Rick Anderson (bass) and Prairie Prince (drums), plus David Medd (keyboards), the latter has played with the band since 2006.

The Tubes will perform all their classic hits and fan favourites including - What Do You Want From Life?, Mondo Bondage, Amnesia, Sushi Girl, Don’t Wanna Wait Anymore, Talk To Ya Later, She’s A Beauty and White Punks On Dope.

See engineroomssouthampton.com