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Devo

From Alfawiki
Devo
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1973
Headquarters
Akron, Ohio
,
United States
ProductsMusic albums, singles, music videos

Devo—commonly presented as DEVO—is a new wave group originating from Akron, Ohio in the United States, established in 1973. The band's definitive lineup included two pairs of siblings: the Mothersbaughs (Mark and Bob) and the Casales (Gerald and Bob), along with drummer Alan Myers. Their 1980 hit single "Whip It" achieved a peak position of No. 14 on the Billboard charts, marking their entry into mainstream success.

Devo's artistic output merges campy science fiction themes, deadpan surreal humor, and incisive social commentary. Their foundational concept of "de-evolution" influenced their initial experimental, discordant art punk style that fused rock elements with electronic sounds. Transitioning into the 1980s, they adopted a more synth-pop oriented, commercially appealing sound while maintaining their critical satirical tone. The band has had a significant impact on genres such as new wave, industrial, and alternative rock, as well as inspiring the internet microgenre known as “devo-core.” Gerald Casale is also recognized for his pioneering contributions to the music video medium.

1973–1978: Origins

The term Devo is derived from "de-evolution," a concept reflecting the band's perspective that human society was deteriorating rather than advancing, particularly in light of American social issues. This notion began as a satirical art experiment by Kent State University students Gerald Casale and Bob Lewis during the late 1960s. Casale, who had previously played with local act 15-60-75, encountered keyboardist Mark Mothersbaugh around 1970. Mothersbaugh infused a comedic dimension into their work and inspired creations such as the pamphlet "Jocko Homo Heavenbound," which later influenced their track "Jocko Homo." The 1970 Kent State shootings served as a critical catalyst for the band's inception. Despite addressing serious topics, Devo was frequently dismissed by critics as a "joke band."

The initial formation, called "Sextet Devo," performed once at the 1973 Kent State arts festival and included Casale, Lewis, Mothersbaugh, Gerald’s brother Bob Casale on guitar, plus associates Rod Reisman and Fred Weber. By 1974, performances featured the Casale brothers, Lewis, Mothersbaugh, and Jim Mothersbaugh handling drums.

The group gradually consolidated into a quartet consisting of Mark Mothersbaugh alongside his brothers Bob (guitar) and Jim (homemade electronic percussion), with Lewis occasionally managing. Early promotional videos for songs like "Secret Agent Man" and "Jocko Homo" were shot in Akron and Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. After Jim Mothersbaugh's departure in 1975, Alan Myers took over acoustic drum duties while Bob Casale rejoined, establishing a stable lineup that lasted nearly ten years.

In 1976, Devo attracted notice when their short film The Truth About De-Evolution won an award at the Ann Arbor Film Festival. This recognition caught David Bowie’s attention and led to attempts to secure a contract with Warner Music Group. The following year, Neil Young invited Devo to appear in his film Human Highway, which was released in 1982; Mark Mothersbaugh composed much of its musical score.

Devo’s debut single was issued in March 1977: "Mongoloid" backed with "Jocko Homo," released on their independent Booji Boy label. They subsequently recorded a rendition of the Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." In 1978, British indie label Stiff Records released the B Stiff EP featuring "Be Stiff" alongside earlier tracks from Booji Boy. That same year saw the release of Mechanical Man, a four-song demo EP officially distributed by the band despite its unofficial bootleg style appearance.

1978–1980: Signing with Warner Bros., Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!, and Duty Now for the Future

Support from David Bowie and Iggy Pop played a crucial role in Devo obtaining a recording deal with Warner Bros. in 1978. Although Bowie eventually withdrew due to other obligations, their initial album, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!, produced by Brian Eno, featured re-recorded versions of singles such as "Mongoloid" and "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction". On October 14, 1978, Devo made a national television debut on Saturday Night Live, performing just one week after the Rolling Stones.

The 1979 release, Duty Now for the Future, marked a shift towards electronic sounds. Although it did not achieve the same commercial impact, it included fan favorites like "Blockhead", "The Day My Baby Gave Me a Surprize", and a rendition of Johnny Rivers' "Secret Agent Man". During that year, Devo toured Japan, capturing parts of their live show on record, and appeared on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert showcasing key tracks. Additionally, Rhino Records and Los Angeles’ KROQ-FM issued Devotees, a tribute compilation blending Devo covers with songs inspired by their style.

Devo incorporated elements of satire influenced by groups like the Church of the SubGenius, occasionally starting concerts under the pseudonym "Dove (the Band of Love)", a Christian soft rock alter ego formed as an anagram of "Devo". This persona was also featured in the 1980 televangelism parody film Pray TV.

1980–1982: Commercial success, Freedom of Choice, and New Traditionalists

The band achieved widespread recognition with the 1980 album Freedom of Choice, which included their most iconic track, "Whip It", reaching the Top 40. The record embraced an almost exclusively electronic soundscape, save for acoustic drums and Bob Mothersbaugh’s guitar contributions. Their extensive Freedom of Choice tour spanned Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Canada. The stage design was minimalist yet innovative, featuring large custom light boxes that transformed into a smaller platform during the latter part of performances. Other standout songs from this era were "Girl U Want", the title track, and "Gates of Steel". Accompanying videos for "Whip It" and "Girl U Want" gained popularity while the band made appearances on television programs such as Fridays, Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, and American Bandstand. The distinctive red terraced energy dome hats were introduced during this period and became a hallmark in future tours and shows. Additionally, Devo created two albums of elevator-style music for their fan club; these were later compiled into E-Z Listening Disc (1987) and frequently served as pre-show ambiance.

In August 1981, the DEV-O Live EP reached number one on Australian charts for three consecutive weeks. Their 1982 tour in Australia included an appearance on the influential program Countdown. The band enjoyed sustained popularity there, supported by pioneering radio stations such as Sydney’s Double Jay (2JJ) and Brisbane’s Triple Zed (4ZZZ), which helped introduce their music beyond American audiences.

In 1981, Devo recorded a cover of "Working in the Coal Mine" for the film Heavy Metal. Although Warner Bros. declined to feature it on the soundtrack album, they later issued it as a bonus single with Devo’s 1981 release New Traditionalists. For this album cycle, Devo adopted "Utopian Boy Scout uniforms" complemented by plastic half-wigs dubbed "New Traditionalist Pomp", inspired by John F. Kennedy’s hairstyle. Singles from this period included "Through Being Cool", which addressed new listeners’ misunderstandings about "Whip It". Their tour showcased physically demanding performances incorporating treadmills and a large-scale Greek temple set. In addition to their own projects, Devo served as the backing band for Toni Basil’s debut album Word of Mouth, which featured three tracks written by Devo with Basil providing lead vocals.

1982–1987: Oh, No! It's Devo, Shout, and Myers' exit

Released in 1982, Oh, No! It's Devo, produced by Roy Thomas Baker, marked a transition towards synth-pop, influenced by critics who branded the band as both "fascists" and "clowns". The accompanying tour showcased synchronized video projections utilizing blue screen technology, a technique also reflected in their music videos. In 1983, Devo contributed two tracks to the film Doctor Detroit, creating a music video that blended scenes from the movie with live-action footage.

Their sixth studio effort, Shout (1984), heavily featured the Fairlight CMI digital sampler but was met with negative reviews. The expensive music video for their rendition of "Are You Experienced?" drew criticism, prompting Warner Bros. to terminate their contract. Shortly thereafter, drummer Alan Myers departed, citing dissatisfaction with the band's creative direction.

During this timeframe, Mark Mothersbaugh began composing for Pee-wee's Playhouse and released the solo cassette Musik for Insomniaks, which was later expanded into two CDs in 1988.

1987–1991: Total Devo, Smooth Noodle Maps, and disbandment

In 1987, Devo reunited with former Sparks drummer David Kendrick. They created the soundtrack for the 1988 film Slaughterhouse Rock and issued the album Total Devo on Enigma Records, featuring tracks included in the movie. The song "Baby Doll" appeared in the comedy Tapeheads under the guise of a fictitious Swedish band. Despite embarking on a global tour and releasing a live album, Total Devo failed to achieve commercial success or critical acclaim.

By 1989, members were involved in Visiting Kids, an ensemble that released an EP produced by Bob Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh; this group included family members and contributed to various soundtracks and television projects.

Their 1990 release, Smooth Noodle Maps, which became their last album for twenty years, did not perform well commercially or critically. The supporting tour was cut short due to weak ticket sales compounded by Enigma Records' bankruptcy.

That same year, most band members appeared in the film The Spirit of '76. Rykodisc issued archival demo collections titled Hardcore Devo: Volume One (1990) and Volume Two (1991), alongside the live album Devo Live: The Mongoloid Years (1992).

Devo played a final concert in March 1991 before officially disbanding. Mark Mothersbaugh later commented that their late-1980s tours resembled a caricature of themselves, which influenced their decision to stop performing live.

1991–1996: Hiatus

Following Devo's breakup, Mark Mothersbaugh established Mutato Muzika, a commercial music production company, alongside Bob Mothersbaugh and Bob Casale. Mark developed a successful career as a composer for television programs such as Pee-wee's Playhouse and Rugrats, as well as video games, animated series, and films collaborating with director Wes Anderson. David Kendrick briefly worked at Mutato Muzika as well. Gerald Casale transitioned into directing music videos and commercials for acts including Rush, Soundgarden, Silverchair, and Foo Fighters. Bob Mothersbaugh pursued solo efforts with The Bob I Band but did not release an official album; only bootleg live recordings are available.

Although no full-length albums emerged during this period, Devo intermittently recorded songs for movie soundtracks and compilation albums. This includes a re-recorded version of "Girl U Want" for the 1995 film Tank Girl and a cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Head Like a Hole" featured in the 1996 film Supercop.

1996–2007: Reunion

In January 1996, Devo came back together for a performance at the Sundance Film Festival and participated in a segment of the 1996 Lollapalooza tour. Their setlists primarily featured songs from the period between 1978 and 1982, deliberately omitting tracks from their Enigma Records phase. That same year, they launched the multimedia CD-ROM game Adventures of the Smart Patrol in collaboration with Inscape; although sales were disappointing, their positive reception on the Lollapalooza tour allowed them to headline in 1997. From that point onward, Devo's live appearances became occasional.

By 1999, previously unreleased tracks from the Oh, No! It's Devo and Shout sessions were finalized and included in Activision’s video game Interstate '82. Additionally, Mark Mothersbaugh initiated The Wipeouters, a surf rock side endeavor featuring Bob Mothersbaugh, Bob Casale, and composer Josh Mancell. The Wipeouters performed Nickelodeon's Rocket Power theme and issued their album P'Twaaang!!! in 2001.

Devo's online fan community grew by 2000, leading to the creation of 'DEVOtional', an annual fan event held in Cleveland, Ohio.

In 2005, the band re-recorded "Whip It" for Swiffer advertisements—a decision they later regretted—and also re-recorded "Beautiful World" for Target commercials due to complications with their catalog rights. Gerald Casale embarked on a solo venture named Jihad Jerry & the Evildoers, releasing the EP Army Girls Gone Wild and the full-length album Mine Is Not a Holy War in 2006, which included fresh compositions alongside rare Devo re-recordings. Devo toured extensively throughout 2005 and 2006 with an updated live show that featured Jihad Jerry performing "Beautiful World."

In 2006, Devo collaborated with Disney on Devo 2.0, a project involving child performers who reinterpreted classic Devo songs with modified lyrics tailored for a family audience. The two-disc CD/DVD set titled DEV2.0 was released on March 14, 2006.

In April 2007, Gerald Casale revealed intentions to produce a biographical film about Devo’s formative years called The Beginning Was the End. Later that summer, Devo completed their first European tour since 1990, including an appearance at Festival Internacional de Benicàssim.

2007–2013: Something for Everybody

December 2007 saw Devo unveiling their first new single since 1990, "Watch Us Work It", which was featured in a Dell commercial. This track incorporated drum samples from New Traditionalists' "The Super Thing". Gerald Casale remarked that this release was the closest they had come to producing a new album.

In March 2009, Devo performed at South by Southwest (SXSW), presenting a revamped stage production with synchronized video backdrops, refreshed costumes, and three new songs: "Don't Shoot, I'm a Man!", "What We Do", and "Fresh". On September 16, Warner Bros. and Devo announced reissues of both Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! and Freedom of Choice, accompanied by a tour featuring complete performances of these albums.

Their album Something for Everybody was released on June 15, 2010. This was preceded by the release of the 12-inch single "Fresh"/"What We Do" on June 10. At Moogfest 2010, Devo received the inaugural Moog Innovator Award in recognition of their pioneering contributions to music technology. However, due to Bob Mothersbaugh sustaining a hand injury, the band canceled their scheduled performance; instead, Mark Mothersbaugh and Casale collaborated with Austin-based group The Octopus Project for the event.

In 2012, Devo parted ways with Warner Bros., launching a new website that offered "new protective gear" along with previously unreleased archival vinyl records. That August, they released "Don't Roof Rack Me, Bro (Seamus Unleashed)", a politically charged single referencing Republican Mitt Romney’s dog controversy.

On June 24, 2013, former drummer Alan Myers passed away from stomach cancer at age 58. One month later, Devo issued Something Else for Everybody, a compilation of unreleased demos and rejected tracks recorded between 2006 and 2009. Gerald Casale had previewed this collection during a Billboard interview in 2012.

2014: Hardcore Devo Tour, Bob Casale's death

Founding member Bob Casale died of heart failure on February 17, 2014, at age 61. Shortly thereafter, now reduced to a quartet for the first time in nearly four decades, the band launched the Hardcore Devo Tour, consisting of ten shows across the United States and Canada from June 18 to July 2, 2014. This tour focused on material composed prior to their debut album—mostly created when Devo functioned as a four-piece ensemble. A portion of ticket sales was directed to support Casale’s family. The June 28 performance in Oakland was recorded and later released as the concert film Hardcore Devo Live! in February 2015; this release was accompanied by CD and double-vinyl audio formats.

2014–present: Current activities

Following the Hardcore tour’s conclusion, Devo continued touring with sets featuring their greatest hits. Guitarist and keyboardist Josh Hager joined the lineup during this period. On April 29, 2016, they performed at the Red Hot Benefit organized by Will Ferrell and Chad Smith. On May 22 of that year, Robert Mothersbaugh Sr., who portrayed General Boy in various Devo films, passed away.

In 2017, the official Twitter account for the long-delayed documentary about Are We Not Men? announced that production was complete but its release was being withheld by Mark Mothersbaugh. Producer Jeff Winner confirmed that delivery had been made on schedule and awaited approval from the band regarding its distribution.

Devo headlined Oakland’s Burger Boogaloo festival on June 30, 2018, featuring comedian Fred Armisen on drums. On October 12, 2020, they appeared at Desert Daze festival with Jeff Friedl handling percussion duties.

January 2021 saw Funko release two Devo-themed Funko Pop figures inspired by their "Whip It" and "Satisfaction" music videos. The band also starred in Devolution: A Devo Theory, a television documentary exploring their concept of devolution; this project was completed in 2020. In September of that year, Devo conducted a brief US tour including Riot Fest appearances; this marked drummer Josh Freese’s return after five years away.

Gerald Casale announced an official potato vodka branded under Devo through Trust Me Vodka; its packaging showcases original artwork signed by co-founders Gerald Casale, Mark Mothersbaugh, and Bob Mothersbaugh.

On October 24, 2021, John Hinckley Jr. claimed he had not received royalties for "I Desire," which he co-wrote alongside Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale for their album Oh, No! It's Devo (1982). Casale responded that royalty payments are managed by their publishing company.

The Devotional fan convention took place November 5–6 in Cleveland with its traditional annual event—the '5KDEVO' race—on November 7. On November 15, Devo announced a makeup concert at The Rooftop at Pier 17 scheduled for May 18, 2022; tickets became available November 18.

In December of that year, rare photographs of Devo appeared in HARD + FAST, a rock photography book covering images from between 1977 and1980; it was released on February 1, 2022. The publication also included a live-recorded seven-inch single shared via SoundCloud.

Devo received nominations for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in three separate years: 2018, 2021, and again in 2022.

On May14–15 of 2022 they performed at Pasadena’s Cruel World Festival followed by their Rooftop show at Pier17.

In February2023 Mark Mothersbaugh announced intentions to keep Devo active for another half-century and expressed interest from himself along with Gerald Casale and Bob Mothersbaugh in undertaking further tours. This announcement preceded their European tour running August8–19 which included performances at London’s Eventim Apollo; Norway’s Øyafestivalen; Sweden’s Way Out West festival; Finland’s Flow Festival; Wales’ Green Man Festival; and Portugal’s Luna Fest. Later that year they embarked on tours across the US and Australia.

On January21,2024,Devo, a documentary directed by Chris Smith produced by BMG,Fremantle Documentaries,and Warner Music Entertainment premiered at Sundance Film Festival alongside a live performance by the band.The film chronicles Devo's transformation from avant-garde artists into mainstream icons as MTV pioneers and respected elder statesmen.

Between May4–26,the band toured again within the US including an appearance at Pittsburgh's Andy Warhol Museum.Mark Mothersbaugh simultaneously published an art book titled Apotropaic Beatnik Graffiti. On June5,a collaboration between David Byrne and Devo surfaced: an early version of Byrne’s track "Empire" recorded during sessions for his1997 album Feelings.

On February14 ,2025 ,Devo performed "Uncontrollable Urge" during Saturday Night Live's special event SNL50: The Homecoming Concert, featuring Fred Armisen on drums.Later that year they are scheduled to co-headline the "Cosmic De-Evolution" tour alongside The B-52s with opening act Lene Lovich.

Band members

Current

  • Gerald Casale – bass guitar,vocals,keyboards (1973–1991 ,1996–present)
  • Mark Mothersbaugh – keyboards,vocals,guitar (occasional) (1973–1991 ,1996–present)
  • Bob Mothersbaugh – lead guitar,vocals (backing/occasional lead) (1974–1991 ,1996–present)
  • Josh Freese – drums/percussion (1996–present)
  • Josh Hager – guitar,keyboards,vocals (backing) (2014–present)

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2 Former

  • Bob Casale – rhythm guitar,keyboards,vocals (backing) (1973–74 ;1976–91 ;1996–2014 ; deceased)
  • Bob Lewis – lead guitar (1973–74)
  • Rod Reisman – drums (1973)
  • Fred Weber – vocals (1973)
  • Jim Mothersbaugh – drums (1974), electronic percussion (1974–75)
  • Alan Myers – drums (1976–86 ; deceased)
  • David Kendrick – drums (1987–91 ;1996–2004)

Template:Col-2 Touring

  • Neil Taylor – drums (2008)
  • Pete Parada – drums (2011)
  • Brian Applegate – keyboards,bass guitar (2014)
  • Alex Casale – bass guitar (2014)
  • Ed Marshall – bass guitar (2014)
  • Fred Armisen – drums (2018 ;2025)
  • Jeff Friedl – drums (2008–14 ;2019 ;2023–present)

Template:Col-end

Timeline

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Discography

Main article: Devo discography

Studio albums

Further reading

External links

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