Devo
|
|
DevoPromoAreWeNotMenEra.jpg
Devo's music and stage show mingled kitsch science fiction themes, deadpan surrealist humor, and satirical social commentary in discordantly synthesized pop songs that often featured unusual time signatures. They proved hugely influential on new wave music.
The band's deliberately constructed 'geeky' image also enabled them to expound often provocative commentaries about the state of American society and, like Frank Zappa, beneath the clownish exterior there was serious musicianship, and socio-political content.
Devo was probably as well known for their image as for their music, donning uniforms that mocked industrial culture and pop consumerism, such as the yellow chemical-protection suits during the early Q: Are We Not Men? period, matching plastic hairdos, masks and the signature "flower pot" hats (energy domes) for Freedom of Choice -- which were intended (according to the band) to channel their sexual energy into their voices. Mark Mothersbaugh also donned a baby mask to create his famous alter-ego, Booji Boy (pronounced Boogie Boy), who symbolised the infantile regression that Devo saw in so much of American culture. The character featured in many stage performances and video clips, as did Booji Boy's father, General Boy (played by Mothersbaugh's own dad), who satirised American authority figures.
Devo were pioneers of the music video; the video for 'Whip It' became an early staple of MTV — and their many promotional films and video clips are important landmarks in the development of this genre. They also pioneered the use of long-form promotional video cassettes with releases such as The Truth About De-Evolution and The Men Who Make The Music, which mixed self-produced conceptual video clips with live performance footage and mock-documentary segments. Devo created and directed many of their own videos, and the band have cited the video for the song "Beautiful World" as their favourite example of their video work.
Devo were strongly influenced by the German Krautrock genre and the music of European groups such as Neu!, Can and the production work of Conny Plank, and they are certainly one of the few American acts who were able to incorporate these influences while still achieving widespread mainstream commercial and critical success. Other likely influences were American rock iconoclasts Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart, and the Residents. They were one of the first American groups to use the services of noted British producer, musician and artist Brian Eno, who produced several landmark American New Wave music groups including Talking Heads.
| Contents |
History
Formed in 1972, Devo's original inspiration came from Oscar Kiss Maerth's "The Beginning Was the End": a pseudoscientific anthropological thesis which attributes the rise of man as an evolutionary accident caused by a species of sex-crazed, cannibalistic apes who developed tools to exploit each other sexually and feed on each others' brains. This metaphor is carried throughout Devo's work as an abstraction of modern society.
The core members of the group are Mark Mothersbaugh, the band's lead singer, guitarist and synthesizer player, and Gerald V. (Gerry) Casale, the group's bassist and main songwriter. The first lineup formed in 1972 with Gerry Casale, Mark Mothersbaugh and Mark's two brothers Jim on homemade electronic drums and Bob (aka Bob I) on lead guitar.
Devo's big break came in 1976 when their short film The Truth About De-Evolution won a prize at the Ann Arbor Film Festival; it was then seen by David Bowie and Iggy Pop, who championed them and enabled Devo to secure a recording contract with Warner Brothers Records. By this time Alan Myers had replaced Jim Mothersbaugh as drummer and Gerry Casale's brother (also called Bob) joined as second guitarist (dubbed 'Bob II'). After David Bowie backed out due to previous commitments, their first album, "Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!" was produced by Brian Eno and featured a radical cover of the Rolling Stones' (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction and the controversially titled Mongoloid.
Devo might have remained a cult attraction but for the advent of American cable TV music station MTV. They scored a major success in 1980 with their third album Freedom of Choice and the single 'Whip It', which became a big hit thanks to regular MTV screenings of its unique music video.
Although they started out with a mixture of traditional rock instruments and electronic effects, during the early 1980s Devo adopted mostly or entirely synthetic instrumentation, becoming one of the first American acts to perform on stage using only synthesizers; they were also one of the first groups in the world to regularly use radio microphones and microphone headsets on stage.
Devo actively embraced the Church of the SubGenius in the early 1980s. In concert, Devo often performed as the opening band for themselves, pretending to be a Christian soft-rock group called "Dove (the Band of Love)". They also recorded "E-Z Listening Muzak" versions of their own songs to play before their concerts. In 1982, they appeared in the Neil Young film "Human Highway."
Devo remained popular in many countries and they had a large and loyal following in Australia. The nationally broadcast '70s-'80s pop TV Countdown was one of the first programs in the world to broadcast their video clips, and they were given consistent radio support by Sydney-based non-commercial rock station Double Jay (2JJ), which one of the first rock stations outside America to play their recordings, and (at least until "Whip It" became a hit) almost certainly the only station in the country that would play their music. Their popularity and sales slipped over the next few years, however, although they produced the albums New Traditionalists (1981), Oh, No! It's Devo (1982), Shout and Total Devo (1988).
After the release of Smooth Noodle Maps in 1990, the band stopped recording and full scale touring, although it has been revived on several occasions for one-off performances and short tours in 1996, 2000 and 2004. In 2001, members of Devo formed the surf band The Wipeouters, claiming that it was actually a reunion of the first garage band they started while in their early teens.
Mothersbaugh has gone on to considerable success writing and producing music for television programs (starting with Pee Wee's Playhouse), video games, animated cartoons and movies. In 1985, he released an elaborately packaged solo cassette, "Musik for Insomniaks," which was later expanded and released as two CDs. His company, Mutato Muzika, provides employment for Devo guitarists Bob Mothersbaugh and Bob Casale: the former works as a composer, and the latter as a recording engineer. Gerry Casale, the group's bass player, has directed rock videos by other bands, including Rush and Foo Fighters.
In 2003, the band did a special version of "Whip It" for Swiffer commercials.
Discography
Discography:
- Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978). This debut album featured a mechanized interpretation of The Rolling Stones hit "Satisfaction", as well as "Jocko Homo", Devo's theme song and anthem.
- Duty Now for the Future (1979)
- Freedom of Choice, featuring the single "Whip It", probably the band's best known song (1980)
- New Traditionalists (1981)
- Oh, No! It's Devo (1983)
- Shout (1984)
- E-Z Listening Disc (1987)
- Total Devo (1988)
- Now It Can Be Told (1989)
- Smooth Noodle Maps (1990)
Compilations:
- Devo's Greatest Hits
- Devo's Greatest Misses
- Hardcore Devo, Volumes 1 & 2
- Pioneers Who Got Scalped (2000)
- Recombo DNA (2000), a compilation of music demos and rarities (only available through Rhino Handmade)
As a backup band for others:
- Hugh Cornwell & Robert Williams: Nosferatu (1979) (Mark Mothersbaugh & Bob Mothersbaugh co-wrote and performed on the track Rhythmic Itch)
- Jermaine Jackson: Let Me Tickle Your Fancy (1982) (backup on title song)
- Toni Basil: Word of Mouth (1983) (backup on covers of Devo's own Space Girls, Be Stiff and Pity You)
- David Byrne: Feelings (1997) (backup on Wicked Little Doll)
- Martini Ranch: Holy Cow (1988) (Bob Casale produced How Can the Labouring Man Find Time for Self-Culture? while Mark Mothersbaugh contributed backup vocals.)
As The Wipeouters:
Mark Mothersbaugh, some solo and soundtrack releases:
- Musik for Insomniaks, Volumes 1 and 2 (1988)
- Joyeux Mutato (1999), Christmas music (released in two different versions)
- Rushmore (1999)
- The Royal Tenenbaums
- The Rugrats Movie
- Mystery Men
- Music for Edward Gorey, a private release of 300 handmade CD-R discs
- The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2005)
External links
- Club DEVO (http://www.clubdevo.com) - Official web site
- Devo Live Guide (http://www.huboon.com) - Comprehensive guide to Devo's live performances.
- Devo Obsesso (http://www.devo-obsesso.com/obsesso/index.html)
- First Book About History of DEVO (http://www.DEVObook.com)
- Mutato Muzika (http://www.mutato.com)
- Rhino Handmade (http://www.rhinohandmade.com)
- Michael Pilmer's DEVO Collection (http://www.devo-obsesso.com)
- Devo lyrics and the Devo Print Archive in PDF format (http://www.forte-intl.com/~ronald/devo/)
- Booji Boy's Bootleg Basement (http://www.sanspoint.com/basement/)de:devo
Single
1983-Whip It