Rock
United States
Devo
Latest Release
Devo's Popular Music Videos
About Devo
Hometown
Akron, OH, United States
Formed
1972
Genre
Rock
Gerald Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh founded the rock band Devo after being deeply affected by the 1970 shooting of four students at their college, Kent State University.
∙ Devo is short for “de-evolution,” the philosophy that drove the band’s music and visuals, which is based on the idea that “mankind has actually regressed.”
∙ Their pioneering music video The Truth About De-Evolution won first prize at the 1977 Ann Arbor Film Festival.
∙ Early Devo champion David Bowie paid for and contributed to their Brian Eno-produced debut, 1978’s Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!.
∙ In 1980, Devo had a Top 20 hit with “Whip It,” a quirky song with lyrics that Gerald Casale envisioned as a parody of self-empowering pep talks.
∙ The group’s signature red “energy dome” helmets were inspired by the shape of Aztec temples and the Bauhaus approach to design.
∙ Mothersbaugh has composed music for dozens of films and TV shows, including Pee-wee’s Playhouse, Bottle Rocket, and What We Do in the Shadows.
Musical InfluencesDevo's musical influences include Brian Eno, Frank Zappa, Kraftwerk and more.
Influenced by DevoDevo has influenced the music of Djo, "Weird Al" Yankovic, They Might Be Giants (For Kids) and more.
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