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.
Blockhead
Devo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Always pays on time
Always fits the bill
He comes well prepared
Cube top, squared-off
Eight corners, 90 degree angles
Flat top, stares straight ahead
Stock parts, blockhead
Never tips over
Stands up on his own
He is a blockhead
Thinking man full grown
He comes well prepared
Cube top, squared-off
Eight corners, 90 degree angles
Flat top, stares straight ahead
Snake eyes, blockhead
Flat top, stares straight ahead
Stock parts, blockhead
Never tips over
Stands up on his own
He is a blockhead
Thinking man full grown
He comes well prepared
Cube top (Blockhead)
Squared-off (Blockhead)
Eight comers (Blockhead)
90 degree angles
Flat top (Blockhead)
Stares straight ahead (Blockhead)
Snake eyes (Blockhead)
Blockhead (Blockhead)
Cube top (Blockhead)
Squared-off (Blockhead)
Eight corners (Blockhead)
90 degree angles
Flat top (Blockhead)
Stares straight ahead (Blockhead)
Stock parts (Blockhead)
Blockhead (Blockhead)
Devo's song "Blockhead" appears to be an ode to conformity and the virtues of being a "blockhead." The lyrics describe a character who is always reliable, never leaving a gap unfilled and always paying on time. This character is compared to a perfect cube, with squared-off corners, 90 degree angles, and a flat top that stares straight ahead. The lyrics also seem to suggest that this "blockhead" is a "thinking man full grown," implying that there is some intelligence at work beneath the surface, even if it is a kind of rigid, uncreative intelligence that is content to fit in and play by the rules.
In this song, Devo seems to be playing with ideas around conformity and individualism. On the one hand, being a "blockhead" seems like it would be a desirable trait, since it suggests reliability and consistency. On the other hand, the song's repetitive lyrics and the uncreative image of the cube-like figure seem to be poking fun at this ideal, suggesting that there is something robotic and soulless about being too predictable and reliable. It is possible that the song is also commenting on some kind of social or political context, though it is difficult to say for sure what that might be.
Line by Line Meaning
Never leaves a gap unfilled
The blockhead is always reliable and dependable, never leaving any task unfinished or overlooked.
Always pays on time
The blockhead is responsible with their finances and always makes timely payments.
Always fits the bill
The blockhead is always a perfect match for the situation or task at hand.
He comes well prepared
The blockhead is always ready and equipped with everything needed for any given situation.
Cube top, squared-off
The shape of the blockhead is perfectly symmetrical with a square top and straight edges.
Eight corners, 90 degree angles
The blockhead is made up of solid eight corners, each with a perfect 90 degree angle.
Flat top, stares straight ahead
The blockhead's flat top and straight gaze reflect its unchanging, focused nature.
Stock parts, blockhead
The blockhead is comprised of standard, uniform parts, emphasizing its conformity and reliability.
Never tips over
The blockhead is steadfast and stable, never toppling or losing balance.
Stands up on his own
The blockhead is self-reliant and capable of standing strong without any external support.
He is a blockhead
The repeated phrase emphasizes that the subject in question possesses all the characteristics of a blockhead.
Thinking man full grown
Despite its block-like appearance, the blockhead still possesses intelligence and thoughtfulness.
Snake eyes, blockhead
The phrase 'snake eyes' may imply a lack of success or misfortune, but the blockhead remains steady and unaffected by any setbacks.
Stock parts, blockhead
Once again emphasizing the blockhead's reliability and consistency due to its uniformity.
Blockhead (Blockhead)
A repetition of the title and main subject of the song, further emphasizing the unique nature of this specific individual.
Cube top (Blockhead)
Reiteration of the blockhead's shape and physical characteristics.
Squared-off (Blockhead)
Once more emphasizing the perfect symmetry and straight edges of the blockhead.
Eight corners (Blockhead)
Unchanging and solid, the blockhead is made up of eight sharp corners.
90 degree angles
Every angle of the blockhead is uniform and exact, reinforcing its constant and unrelenting nature.
Flat top (Blockhead)
The blockhead's flat top remains unmoved, reflecting its unchanging and rigid nature.
Stares straight ahead (Blockhead)
The blockhead's stare is unwavering, reflecting its focused and determined disposition.
Stock parts (Blockhead)
Once more emphasizing how the blockhead is made up of standard, uniform parts, emphasizing its conformity and reliability.
Blockhead (Blockhead)
Ending the song with a repetition of the main subject, concluding that the blockhead is an unchanging and constant presence.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BOB MOTHERSBAUGH, MARK MOTHERSBAUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind