DEVO are an American multimedia group from Ohio whose members include Gerald V. Casale, Mark Mothersbaugh, and Bob "Bob 1" Mothersbaugh, and formerly included Bob "Bob 2" Casale and Alan Myers.
They were called the "future of rock" by David Bowie and were invited by Neil Young to contribute to a feature-length film.
Their innovative live performances, music, tour film, and videos culturally impacted the late 1970s, early 1980s, and today.
Scrojo wikiDEVO illustration
Devolutionary Theory
- The concept of de-evolution – also called devolution - was popularized in the 1970s by the American group Devo, who used it as a central theme in their art, music and aesthetic.
- The books Devo: Unmasked / Devo: The Brand reveals that a collaboration of artists and literary students, notably including Bob Lewis and Jerry Casale, began the idea of Devo as a smartass, deadly serious joke.
- The 'Devolutionaries' see themselves as agents of change, rejecting cultural and social norms that they believe are holding humanity back. They developed this all-encompassing philosophy as a technique[1] and began to apply it to art in many ways to describe, explain, and understand the state of the world and modern society.
- Devolution was a combination of a Wonder Woman comic book and the movie
Island Of Lost Souls, the original, with Bela Lugosi, Charles Laughton. That was
various things I'd been thinking about - devolution, of going ahead to go back,
things falling apart, entropy. It grabbed every piece of information and gave it
some kind of cohesive presence - it was a package.
Just as our music and our identity exist as a technique rather than a style.
- Jerry (1978)[2]
- Devolution was a combination of a Wonder Woman comic book and the movie
- What they learned as students and materials they received from KSU instructors were merged and developed into a cohesive whole.
- Advertising campaigns, TV shows and feature-length films were conceived. They became musical reporters.[3]
- With Mark Mothersbaugh they began producing more Devo music.
- The idea behind Devo was that de-evolution was real, that mankind was actually
devolving rather than evolving, and that we'd be better off if we recognized that
and changed the way we lived.
- Mark[4]
- The idea behind Devo was that de-evolution was real, that mankind was actually
- The recent Kent State shootings were a significant influence.
- previous writing: [ gerald casale says we all Devo. I believe him. ]
Kent State Shootings
Kent.edu. May 4 Visitors Center.
At Kent State University on May 4, 1970 The Ohio National Guard shot into the crowd peacefully protesting the illegal expansion of war into Cambodia. Four people were killed and nine wounded.
Geology professor Glenn W. Frank helped save the lives of many protestors angered by the shootings. President of the Black United Students (BUS) Charles Eberhardt, helped save the lives of many students by urging them not to go to the planned protests, as the armed National Guard was there. Black United Students was allied with the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and both had peaceful protests before.
Before the Kent State Massacre three protesting students were shot and killed and twenty-eight wounded at the Orangeburg massacre at South Carolina State. After Kent State two students were shot and killed and twelve wounded at the Jackson State killings.
Also on campus at the protests were onlooker Bob Lewis and protester Gerald Casale. Jerry has spoken about how witnessing the shootings changed his life.[5] Mark Mothersbaugh was at the KSU art facility on N. Water Street on May 4. [6] [7] [8] Mark said he and his brother, Bob Mothersbaugh, were separately at Kent State protests on the days before May 4.
wikipedia.org. Kent State shootings
smithsonianmag.com. How 13 Seconds Changed Kent State University Forever.
kent.edu. May 4, 50th Commemoration.
oaks.kent.edu. Orangeburg, Kent State and Jackson State.
Virtual conference. Publication date 2020-04-22.
Selected May 4th books. [9]
previous writing: [ Devo took some inspiration in their music from the infamous Kent State Shootings of 1970. This affected the band a lot, as G. Casale, B. Lewis and M. Mothersbaugh were college students while the horrible event took place. ]
Early Recordings and Performances
The technique challenged conventional musical norms when applied to writing and performing music. This was achieved through intentionally repetitive rhythms, mutated lyrics, and simple compositions.
The resulting sound was dehumanizingly futuristic, industrial, and robotic, mirroring their belief in the De-Evolution of humanity. Human civilization was regressing rather than progressing. As technology, modernity, and interlinked systems are advancing rapidly, humans are becoming more 'devolved.'
Devo’s first public performance was in Kent, Ohio in 1973. Devo's music and image were highly satirical, intended to critique American society, especially its conformity and consumerism.
Lineup Changes
DEVO, especially Mark and Jerry, wrote and created the film In The Beginning Was The End: The Truth About De-Evolution. It was made with the participation of director Chuck Statler and editor Dale Cooper. Mark says that Chuck, a friend of Jerry’s, "suggested we get together and make this film[9].”
By 1976 drummer Alan Myers joined DEVO. He did not participate in the film The Truth About De-Evolution - Jim Mothersbaugh came back for the filming. Alan's talents contributed to the success of DEVO in the late 70's and early 80's.
The group began to gain notoriety after the release of their debut single Jocko Homo in 1977. The single was a hit in the UK, peaking at #52 on the UK singles chart.
Major Label Contracts
In 1978, Devo signed [10] with Warner Bros. Records and released their debut album, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!, parallel to the post-punk era. The album was met with critical acclaim and eventual commercial success. It was produced by Brian Eno and helped establish the band as a major force in new music. The album included their cover of the Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction," which became one of their most popular songs.
In 1979, Devo released their second album, Duty Now for the Future, which continued their exploration of de-evolution and expanded their sound. Bob 1 experimented with a guitar synthesizer. This album is known as a fan favorite.
These albums and tours helped establish Devo as one of the most influential groups of the coinciding new wave era, although Devo saw themselves as a "hermetically sealed" concept apart from musical trends. Devo's music also had a significant impact on the development of electronic dance music, with their use of synthesizers and drum machines inspiring a generation of musicians.
The band's breakthrough came in 1980 with the release of their third album, Freedom of Choice. The album featured the band's most successful single, 'Whip It,' which peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the most iconic songs of the new wave era.
The band's popularity continued to grow - the release of their next two albums, New Traditionalists (1981) and Oh, No! It's Devo (1982), continued the transition towards a more accessible production, more direct lyrics and a more synth-based sound.
They also filmed a series of innovative music videos, which helped popularize the band's newest unified looks and style.
Devo's popularity began to wane in the mid-1980s, but the band continued to release albums throughout the decade. They continue to release remix singles and videos. Different releases were popular in different parts of the world.
The group’s sound, style and attitude helped to shape the aesthetic of punk and new wave movements of the 70’s and 80’s. Several music artists who became widely known in the 90’s have Devo as an early influence.
Later Performances
Devo singles were heard in dance halls and discotheques. [11] Despite their success, Devo faced a backlash from some critics who accused them of being too cynical and formulaic. The band responded by adopting a more obviously political stance, criticizing the effects of some Reagan-era policies and advocating for environmentalism and social justice in their music.
Their most recent studio album, Something for Everybody, was released in 2010 and helped put Devo back in the public eye. Their influence can still be heard in many modern bands, and they remain one of the most iconic and influential bands of their era.
In the decades since first breaking into public awareness, Devo has continued to tour and release albums, videos and other items.
Although their output of new material has been more sporadic, their educational content continues to reach new audiences.
Recent endorsements include support for World Central Kitchen[12] and other humanitarian intervention around the globe,[13] for voter turnout, for an orphanage,[14] and for childhood music education.
The band's legacy as innovators of the new wave movement has continued to influence generations of musicians. They remain one of the most iconic and influential bands of their era - their unique sound and style remain as compelling today as they were in the 1970s and 1980s.
Song List
- ◦ Devo tracks listed at Allmusic: https://www.allmusic.com/artist/devo-mn0000249973/songs/all
[Expect some errors.]
- ◦ Devo's unreleased demos and outtakes at Booji Boys Basement website.
Discography
- ◦ Devo discography at Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/12834-Devo
- ◦ Devo discography at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devo_discography
Videography
- ◦ Devo video releases at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devo_discography#Video_releases
Filmography
- ◦ Devo filmography at Imdb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0969000/fullcredits?ref_=nm_flmg_sort_text_view
- ◦ Devo film appearances at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devo_discography#Film_appearances
Documentaries
- Chi Chi & DEVO by GOLF Films (NBC’s Golf Channel)
- Devolution: A Devo Theory written by Adrian Faure
- Are We Not Men? by Tony Pemberton
- DEVO by Chris Smith
Cyberography
- Devo developed and produced the home computer game Devo Presents Adventures of the Smart Patrol. It was released by Inscape in 1996, accompanied by a soundtrack album.
- Devo expressed an early interest in releasing tracks in download-only formats, citing "Dump Truck," a demo for "Girl U Want", as a potential release. Digital releases include:
- Red Shark (2:39) (demo version 1)
- Signal Ready (2:06)
- Let's Get To It (2:56)
- Knock Boots (3:36)
- What We Do (Single Edit) (3:09)
- What We Do (Static Revenger Remix) (6:22)
- What We Do (Kinky Remix) (5:10)
- What We Do (Avant Hard Remix) (5:12)
- Freedom Of Choice (Hoska & Osheen Last Minute Remix) (5:25)
- Don't Roof Rack Me, Bro! (Seamus Unleashed) (3:10)
- Don't Roof Rack Me, Bro! (Seamus Unleashed) (Remix) (5:07)
- Several other Devo tracks available on the internet subsequently had a physical release:
- ◦ In the 90's three tracks from the soundtrack album Devo Presents Music From Adventures of the Smart Patrol were available as free downloads on the Discovery records website.
- ◦ The five-track "Watch Us Work It" single was a download only release until MVD Audio released the 12" vinyl one year later.
- ◦ The Gerald V. Casale/Josh Freese penned track "Merry Something To You" debuted at DEVOvision with Mark's postcard art one year before WB released it on the Gift Wrapped: Stocking Stuffer compilation.
- ◦ The track "Don’t Shoot (I’m a Man) [Polysics Remix]" was available as a free promotional download three years before its release on the compilation Something ELSE for Everybody.
- ◦ The "Monsterman" digital single and video (2D and 3D versions) debuted two years before the track's physical release on the Something ELSE for Everybody compilation.
- Devo's promotional videos made after SmoothNoodleMaps have not been available in a traditional physical format with packaging. They can be experienced as sound and vision.
- ◦ Several are available through ClubDEVO.com and also on YouTube at "Devo - Official Channel" and "DEVOvision". "Devo - Official Channel" and "DEVOvision".
- Watch Us Work It
- Merry Something To You
- Don't Shoot (I'm A Man)
- Fresh
- What We Do
- Monsterman
- Don't Roof Rack Me, Bro! (Seamus Unleashed)
- Post Post-Modern Man (Macro Post-Modern Mix) (Lyric Video)
- Vertical videos:
- YouTube Shorts https://www.youtube.com/@DEVOvision/shorts
- Facebook Reels https://www.facebook.com/ClubDEVO/reels/
- Instagram Reels https://www.instagram.com/clubdevo
- Tik Tok Reels https://www.tiktok.com/@clubdevoyou
- ◦ A ton of content related to Something for Everybody has only been available online, some is at DEVOvision
- ◦ Also, a ton of DEVOtee song tributes, videos, remixes, and rare A.V. finds can be sought out on the internet.
Devo-affiliated characters
- For more cyber content see Booji Boy's Cyberography, The Smart Patrol, The Big Dirty Farmers and Jihad Jerry.
See Also
- ◦ "Acknowledgements", page 160, DEVO: The Brand / DEVO: Unmasked
External Links
- Official website Club DEVO clubdevo.com
- Official X/twitter @DEVO x.com/DEVO
- Official facebook @ClubDEVO facebook.com/ClubDEVO
- Official YouTube DEVO Vision youtube.com/DEVOvision
- Official Tik Tok @clubdevo tiktok.com/@clubdevo
- Official Instagram @clubdevo instagram.com/clubdevo
- Official Illustrated History D-E-V-O by DEVO devobook.net
Sources
- Internet Archive (Wayback Machine)
- WorldCat, Google Books / Magazines / News Archive search
- U.S. Copyright Office, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- BMI, ASCAP
- Discogs, 45cat, MusicBrainz
- YouTube, Vimeo, Mashable
- IMDb, AllMusic, AllMovie
- Devo-Obsesso (The Devolved Archives),
- RIAA, Billboard, International charts
Spelling / Orthography
- ◦ DEVO and DE-EVOLUTION can be written in capitalized letters.
- ◦ "Devo" is usually stylized differently in different promotional art on albums and posters.
The name is most often spelled out in colored and canted letters.
Uniforms such as the yellow suit usually have a slanting 'D E V O" spelled out in a black Helvetica font that has individual letters canted, alternately, to the left and to the right.
Character sets
- ◦ Transliterated into other character sets: (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Unicode_characters)
- ◦ Devo / DEVO English (Latin-script alphabet)
- ◦ ディーヴォ=Dīvu~o / Devo [ デ=,ィ=,ー= ー,ヴ=,ォ= ] Japanese/日本語 (Semanto-phonetic Kanji + Kana characters)
- ◦ ดีโว=Dīwo / Devo [ ด=D, ดี=Dī / good, โว=Vo=Wo / wow, โ=O / oh, ว=W ] Thai/อักษรไทย (Consonant based segmental writing system)
Notes and References
- ↑ David Rowe. "A Precise, Interpretive Account Of The Theory Of De-Devolution, Or We Are Devo!" Kicks. (1980, October).
'De-evolution is a technique for perceiving phenomenon,' says Casale in an unaffected, scientific tone. 'It merely describes an abstract process that you can plug anything into. Like the woman in haircurlers who beats her son in the supermarket because he wants to stop and look at the plastic alien toy when they're on their way to the nail polish remover.
'It's hippies in vans, eating lots of quaaludes and running into telephone poles on the way to concerts and thinking it's "far out." It's planes going out of the sky from metal fatigue and nuclear reactors leaking radioactive waste into the water table. It's people absolutely being pinheads and proving the unsavory nature of the human existence on the planet.' - ↑ Sounds. March 4, 1978. ARE WE NOT READY? by Jon Savage.
Archived on moredarkthanshark.org.
- ↑ “Devo”. New Face To Watch. Cash Box. Volume XL, Number 23. pg.10. (1978, October 21).
https://archive.org/details/cashbox40unse_21/page/n9/mode/1up?q=DEVO+reporters“We’re just reporters using musical instruments...” - Jerry (1978)
- ↑ Mark as quoted in the guardian.com
- ↑ Alasha Dunn. "Remembering May 4 - An Interview With DEVO's Jerry Casale". KSU School of Art. (2020, April 30).
https://www.kent.edu/art/news/remembering-may-4-interview-devos-jerry-casale (From archive.org).
- ↑ Melissa Olson. "Evolution of an Artist" Kent State Magazine. (Summer 2016). Photo by Joe Levack.
kent.edu/magazine/news/evolution-artist
“He was on campus when members of the National Guard arrived on May 4, 1970...”
- ↑ Mark says he was moving into a studio for a conceptual art class on May 4, 1970. Mothersbaugh, Mark. “Forward”. DEVO: Unmasked. p5. Rocket 88. (2018).
- ↑ The studio was the KSU art facility known as the “Davey Warehouse,” leased from the Davey Tree Company. Thomas, Bryan. "Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale remember the Kent State Massacre". Night Flight.
nightflight.com/devos-mark-mothersbaugh-and-jerry-casale-remember-the-kent-state-massacre/ From archive.org. (2017, May 4).’Mark Mothersbaugh was off campus setting up his new art studio at the Davey Warehouse, an art facility on Water Street, when the shooting took place. “I was decorating [the studio] when there were police cars going down the street with megaphones going: The school is shut down. The city is shut down. Please go to your homes.”’
- ↑ Eszterhas, J., & Roberts, M. D. Thirteen Seconds: Confrontation at Kent State. Dodd Mead. (1970).
From Archive.org.
Thomas, Charles A. Blood of Isaac. Ebook. (1999).
Backderf, Derf. Kent State: Four Dead In Ohio. Abrams Comic Arts. (2020).
(An illustrated dramatic re-creation with detailed footnotes and references.)
See also: dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/library.ohio.gov/ctro-files/2023-2024/Kent_State_toolkit.pdf
kent.edu/today/news/book-recommended-reading-may-4-1970
library.kent.edu/special-collections-and-archives/kent-state-shootings-selected-books
- ↑
DEVO had been getting offers from companies such as David Bowie’s Bewlay Brothers, Chris Blackwel’s Island, Branson’s Virgin and Warner Brothers (AKA “the bunny”), and negotiated but did not sign a contract with any of them.
The most attractive offer came from “the bunny” and DEVO worked out a pending record deal.
“The bunny” gave DEVO some money. DEVO says it was for airfare to ship them and their equipment to Conny Plank’s recording studio in Germany. In interviews, DEVO has always thanked Brian Eno for spending his own money to record their first album.
DEVO voted on which offer to sign and were deadlocked. Mark opted to sign with Virgin. “The bunny” found out and sued DEVO to enforce right of first refusal.
Eventually Virgin and “the bunny” decided on the terms of the deal and that’s what DEVO got.
[1],[2],[3],[4],[5],[6],[7],[8]
- ↑ DEVO · “dance club”* · “dance single”** · Post Post-Modern Man (If I Had A Hammer) · Disco Dancer · Here To Go · Theme From Doctor Detroit · Peek-A-Boo! · That’s Good / Speed Racer · Jerkin’ Back ‘N’ Forth / Through Being Cool · Working In The Coal Mine · Whip It / Gates Of Steel / Freedom Of Choice – U.S. Billboard - charting “dance club” “dance single”
DEVO’s *“Dance Club Songs” - https://web.archive.org/web/20231202144054/https://www.billboard.com/artist/devo/chart-history/dsi
DEVO’s **“Dance Single Sales” - At billboard com/artist/devo/chart-history/dsi/ - Select “dance single sales” from scrolling drop-down menu. - ↑
In response to Russia’s “brutal, unjustifiable” invasion of the independent democracy of Ukraine, the Devolutionary Army donated one month’s song licensing revenue to ‘Music Saves UA’ and ‘World Central Kitchen’ and encouraged their song rights holder partners and “all successful recording artists to do something similar."
Billboard article
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