The band released their first album in 20 years, Something for Everybody on June 15, 2010.
Their style has been variously classified as punk, industrial and rock, but are most often considered to be the 70s/early 80s New Wave band that ushered in the synth pop of the 1980s, along with other acts such as Gary Numan and The B-52s.
Devo's music and stage show mingle kitsch science fiction themes, deadpan surrealist humor, and mordantly satirical social commentary, often dealing with the concept of De-Evolution, in sometimes-discordant pop songs that often feature unusual synthetic instrumentation and time signatures.
Their work has proved hugely influential on subsequent popular music, particularly New Wave, alternative and grunge music, they created some memorable music videos popular in the early days of MTV.
The name "Devo" comes from the concept of Devolution (also referred to by the band as de-evolution). This idea was developed as a joke by Kent State University art students Gerald Casale and Bob Lewis as early as the late 1960s. Casale and Lewis created a number of art pieces in the vein of Devolution. At this time, Casale had also performed with the local band 15-60-75. They met Mark Mothersbaugh around 1970, who introduced them to the pamphlet Jocko Homo Heavenbound, which would later inspire the song Jocko Homo
The pivotal moment for the formation of Devo was the Kent State shootings of May 4, 1970. Casale knew two of the murdered students, and even saw one student, Allison Krause, with exit wounds from the M1 Garand rifle. At this moment, Casale claims he changed the idea of Devolution into a serious concept.
The first form of Devo was the Sextet Devo which performed at the 1973 Kent State performing arts festival. It included Casale, Lewis and Mothersbaugh, as well as Gerald's brother Bob Casale on guitar, and friends Rod Reisman and Fred Weber on drums and vocals, respectively. This performance was filmed and a part was included on the home video The Complete Truth About De-evolution. This lineup only performed once. Devo returned to perform in the Student Governance Center (featured prominently in the film) at the 1974 Creative Arts Festival with a line-up including the Casale brothers, Bob Lewis, Mark Mothersbaugh, and Jim Mothersbaugh on drums.
Devo later formed as a quartet focusing around Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale. They recruited Mark's brothers Bob Mothersbaugh and Jim Mothersbaugh. Bob played electric guitar, and Jim provided percussion using a set of homemade electronic drums. This lineup of Devo lasted until 1976 when Jim left the band. The lineup was occasionally fluid, and Bob Lewis would sometimes play guitar during this period. In concert, Devo would often perform in the guise of theatrical characters, such as Booji Boy, and The Chinaman. Live concerts from this period were often confrontational, and would remain so until 1977. A recording of an early Devo performance from 1975 with the quartet lineup appears on DEVO Live: The Mongoloid Years, ending with the promoters unplugging Devo's equipment.
Following Jim Motherbaugh's departure, Bob Mothersbaugh found a new drummer in Alan Myers, who played a conventional, acoustic drum set with mechanical precision. Casale re-recruited his brother Bob Casale, and the popular line-up of Devo was formed. It would endure for nearly ten years.
Devo embarked on a Euro-Tour 2007 on June 16th in Barcelona. They also performed concerts in Brighton, London, Manchester and Glasgow. More information about it can be found here.
In May 2020 Devo re-opened their online store where face masks with logo designs and an infamous Energy Dome with the attacheable protective shield can be pre-ordered to help their fans protect themselves from Covid-19.
All of Us
Devo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gone two years and I don't know why
Now I'm happy all the time
I can't think and I'm feelin' fine
I got feelings but they don't show
Don't ask me cause I don't know
No no no no no
All of you
Now your're gonna hear some more
I know a place where dreams are crushed
Hopes are smashed but that ain't much
All you stupids anyway
We're all gonna die some day
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
All of us
Me leave home with booji boy
Teeth fall out of china doll
Poo poo man got jiffy-snipped
Bad girl launching - floppy tits
Listen listen me no lie
We like stuff what makes us cry
Why why why why!!!!?
All of us
The lyrics of Devo’s song “All of Us” contain a couple of themes: the first one is based on the idea of leaving home and going on a journey with a friend. The singer claims that he has been gone for two years and despite the fact that he does not know why he left home, he feels that he is happy and fine all the time. He also mentions that he has feelings, but they do not show and he does not know why. The lyrics convey a sense of ambiguity and confusion, signaling that the singer is not entirely sure about his situation or his emotions.
The second theme that is present in the song is more cynical and ironic. The singer talks about a place where dreams are crushed and hopes are smashed. The use of this kind of language creates a bleak atmosphere, yet it is not entirely negative. The singer claims that it is not much and that all of us are going to die someday. The song seems to be portraying the idea that life is hard and unfair, but we should not take ourselves too seriously since we’re all in this together.
One possible interpretation of the song is that the lyrics are an ironic commentary on the human condition. The first theme suggests that we can experience happiness and contentment even if we do not understand why or how, while the second theme underscores the existential absurdity of our existence. Overall, the song “All of Us” communicates a mix of emotions and ideas that are open to interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
I left home with a friend of mine
I departed from my home with a companion
Gone two years and I don't know why
I have been away for two years but I don't know the reason
Now I'm happy all the time
I am presently always content
I can't think and I'm feelin' fine
I am thinking nothing and yet feel fantastic
I got feelings but they don't show
I experience emotions but it doesn't reflect outwardly
Don't ask me cause I don't know
Don't bother asking me as I am unaware
No no no no no
I reject that notion entirely
All of you
Addressing the group of people
Think you've heard this all before
You may believe you have heard this already
Now you're gonna hear some more
However, I am about to say more regarding this topic
I know a place where dreams are crushed
I am aware of a location where aspirations are shattered
Hopes are smashed but that ain't much
Expectations are ruined, but it's not significant
All you stupids anyway
Calling everyone foolish disregarding specifics
We're all gonna die some day
Everyone will eventually die
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Expressing affirmation many times
All of us
Referring to everyone
Me leave home with booji boy
I departed from home with Booji Boy
Teeth fall out of china doll
Teeth dislodge from a porcelain figurine
Poo poo man got jiffy-snipped
Poo poo man had a quick surgery
Bad girl launching - floppy tits
A promiscuous woman possessing droopy breasts
Listen listen me no lie
Pay attention to me, as I am not fibbing
We like stuff what makes us cry
We enjoy items that bring us to tears
Why why why why!!!!!?
Asking multiple times 'why'
All of us
Every single one of us
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GERALD V. CASALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mason M.
Absolutely haunting. A song about unity in tragedy and trauma, about the decline of one’s mental state into sheer devolved nothingness. Quite possibly the best Devo song.
RunLikeAVillain
For my money, this is hands-down the BEST song DEVO EVER put out.
That chorus is absolutely killer. I often wish this song was longer...
SpamNapkin
This sounds like it could be a Mudhoney b-side. Devo were years ahead of their time.
Bob Lewis
This is recorded pre-Bob Mothersbaugh. Bob Casale is playing first guitar, I'm playing slide on thr choruses, etc.
F Stöver
Vintage Devo, interesting. Some I like better than their more recent stuff.
Max Devo
You're welcome! They're re-releasing 'Hardcore Devo', the record this song appeared on, in late July/mid August.
ThoughtfulPug1
Is there a live version of this song anywhere?
Max Devo
Not that I know of, unfortunately.
KidFlersh
Unless they release DEVO
04/23/74 - Governance Chambers, Kent State University (Creative Arts Festival), Kent, OH
Hank Jennings
+KidFlersh Or The Pink Flamingos performance from 1975.