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About
Devo is a post-punk/new wave band hailing from Ohio. Their bizarre aesthetic and bold fashion have had a cultural impact, and are oft parodied in media.
Origin
Devo were formed in 1972 in Kent, Ohio by brothers Gerald V. and Bob Casale. The idea of “de-evolution” was developed from some of the members witnessing the infamous “Kent State Shootings”. Their most consistent line-up were Gerald V. Casale, Bob Casale, Mark Mothersbaugh, Bob Mothersbaugh and Alan Myers between 1974 to 1986.
Spread
Devo were active from 1973 to 1991, and 1995 to present. Devo released their debut album Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! in 1978, which gained critical acclaim. However, their mainstream breakthrough was with their hit single “Whip It” from the album Freedom of Choice (1980), reaching #14 in the Billboard charts that year.
Impact
Devo made a large impact on the New Wave music scene at the time, particularly with the art-punk and post-punk approach in the first album which features many of their iconic songs such as “Mongoloid”, “Jocko Homo” and “Space Junk”. Many bands, such as Nirvana, Talking Heads, Duran Duran and Soundgarden citing them as major influences. Devo also has a large fanbase online, with many concepts from them being parodied and brought up in music discussion.
Memes
“Are We Not Men?”
The phrase “Are We Not Men?” comes from the 1896 book " he Island of Doctor Moreau", and Devo has used it in their anthem “Jocko Homo” from their debut album to represent de-evolution. This phrase has been used as a phrase used by fans as Devo’s calling card.
Yellow Suits
The Yellow Suits were worn by Devo from 1977 to 1979, and have seen a comeback in recent years. They were most famously used in the music video for their cover of “(I Can’t Get Me No) Satisfaction” in 1978, which saw heavy rotation during the early years of MTV.
Energy Domes
The now infamous headwear was used by Devo for their “Freedom Of Choice” album in 1980, and is possibly their most infamous aspect. The origin is somewhat shrouded in mystery, but Devo claims that they are used to redirect energy lost from the head to the rest of the body.
“Whip It”
Whip It was Devo’s calling card back in 1980, and is considered their commercial breakthrough. Peaking at #14 in the Billboard charts in 1980, the single is often used in soundtracks and when parodying “The 80’s”.