Funk punk: Disco (not disco) originals Was (Not Was) return for Detroit homecoming

In the late 1970s, there was a hard-punk rockin' band on the Detroit scene called the Traitors. That band, led by a singer with starry-eyed ambition named Donald Fagenson, played the club of the day (Bookie's 870) and not much else of note. But the band foreshadowed greater things to come when Fagenson teamed up with Oak Park chum David Weiss to form Was (Not Was) in 1980. The band's first recording was "Wheel Me Out", a 12-inch dance record for New York's avant-garde ZE Records, which began releasing disco, no wave and electro tracks before most anyone else thought of combining the sub-genres.

Thei band's first album Was (Not Was) (1981) combined rock, disco, Weiss's beat poetry, Reagan-era political commentary and jazz. On vocals they recruited Harry Bowens and "Sweet Pea" Atkinson, who proved to be distinctive, soulful front men; the MC5's Wayne Kramer, Doug Feiger (yep, Geoffrey Fieger's brother) from LA's The Knack, trumpeter Marcus Belgrave and others. It contained the club smash, "Out Come the Freaks," which still sounds fresh 26 years later.

The 1983 LP Born to Laugh at Tornadoes had even more guest musicians, including Ozzy Osbourne, Mitch Ryder and (perhaps best of all) crooner Mel Tormé.

In 1988, Was (Not Was) found its biggest hit with the album What Up, Dog?, which featured the singles "Walk the Dinosaur" and "Spy in the House of Love."

After a long period of inactivity, the band released a LP, Boo!, in April. Was (Not Was) brings its 21st century version of Detroit-inspired funk to the Majestic Theatre this Friday (May 9). Doors 8 p.m. For tickets and more info go here.