Group
Was (Not Was)
- From
- Detroit, United States
- Since
- 1979–present
- Rating
- ★ 3
- Releases
- 28
- contemporary r&b
- electronic
- funk
- pop
- soul
- synth-pop
About
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!.
Members
-
Harry Bowens lead vocals
-
Sweet Pea Atkinson lead vocals
Discography
Albums
Singles
-
Somewhere in America (There’s a Street Named After My Dad)
-
Shake Your Head
-
Listen Like Thieves
-
How The Heart Behaves
-
Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
-
Anything Can Happen
-
Woodwork Squeaks and… Out Come the Freaks
-
Walk the Dinosaur
-
Walk the Dinosaur
-
The Boy’s Gone Crazy
-
Spy in the House of Love
-
Robot Girl
-
(Return To The Valley Of) Out Come The Freaks - Remixed Version Apple Music
-
Tell Me That I'm Dreaming / Out Come the Freaks (dub)
-
Where Did Your Heart Go?
-
Wheel Me Out Apple Music
Compilations
Other
Links
Official
Social
Collaboration
Also known as
Was Not Was · Was [Not Was] · Was(Not Was)
Tags
- 2008 universal fire victim
- classic pop and rock
Identifiers
- MusicBrainz
- 8e70a186-e64b-4003-bae1-f2f93da013ce
- ISNI
- 0000000121492882
Data from MusicBrainz, saved 12 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.