Was (Not Was) is an American band founded in 1979 in Detroit, Michigan, by David Weiss and Don Fagenson, who adopted the stage names David Was and Don Was.Their song catalog features an eclectic mix of pop and rock styles, often featuring guest musicians from across the musical spectrum. The band's most popular period was during the 1980s and early 1990s, with their highest-charting hit, the song "Walk the Dinosaur", released in 1987 as the lead single from their 1988 album What Up, Dog?, becoming a worldwide top-40 hit and peaking at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The band went on indefinite hiatus in the mid-1990s, but has returned sporadically since the turn of the millennium. Their most recent release was the 2008 album Boo!.
Links to Peel[]
Peel seemed to have first played Was (Not Was) in 1981 and would play further material from the group including when they gained commercial success. He also saw them perform at the Wag Club in 1988 and thought they were really good when reviewing them for the Observer newspaper, which got published on 14th February 1988.
Shows Played[]
- 27 April 1981: Hello Operator... I Mean Dad... I Mean Police... I Can't Even Remember Who I Am ([7” – Wheel Me Out) Antilles
- 03 May 1981 (BFBS): Hello Operator... I Mean Dad... I Mean Police... I Can't Even Remember Who I Am (7” – Wheel Me Out) Antilles
- 30 June 1981: Tell Me That I'm Dreaming (album - Was (Not Was)) Ze
- 1982
- 08 February 1982: Tell Me That I'm Dreaming (12" - Tell Me That I'm Dreaming / Out Come The Freaks (Dub)) Island
- 23 February 1982: Hello Operator... I Mean Dad... I Mean Police... I Can't Even Remember Who I Am (Wheel Me Out 7" ) Antilles
- 1987
- 02 November 1987: Knocked Down, Made Small (LP - Born To Laugh At Tornadoes) Geffen (JP: (laughs) Was (Not Was) [...] The reason I was laughing is because I started to speak and hadn't opened the microphone. I shouldn't tell you these things really because it demonstrates to you yet again what a pillock I am.}
- 1988
- 11 April 1988: 11 Miles An Hour (LP - What Up, Dog?) Fontana
- 29 June 1988: The Death Of Mr. Ping Pong (7" - Anything Can Happen) Fontana
- 1990
- 12 April 1990: Papa Was A Rollin' Stone (The Full Rub) (single)
- 07 August 1990: 'Hello Operator... I Mean Dad... I Mean Police... I Can't Even Remember Who I Am' (Single b-side of 'Wheel Me Out') Antilles