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.
Going Under
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
Girl put me in a situation
Going through soft core mutation
Think you heard this all before
I know a place where dreams get crushed
Hopes are smashed but that ain't much
Voluntary experimentation
Going through soft core mutation
I'm going under
Down under where the lights are low
To a place where all the mutants go
Doing things I never did before
Inside out and coming back for more
Little girls with the four red lips
Never knew it could be like this
You put me in a situation
Goin' through soft core mutation
The lyrics of Devo's "Going Under" describe a character who left home with a friend, and after two years, finds themself in a new situation. They seem happy, but also unable to think clearly. The character is encountering a type of transformation, referred to as "soft core mutation." They are exploring a new world that might seem strange to them, but they are enjoying the experience. The place they are in is described as somewhere dreams are crushed and hopes are smashed, but the character does not seem to mind. They encounter little girls with four red lips and are surprised by the experience, which suggests some sort of sexual encounter.
The message in the song is that the character is undergoing a type of metamorphosis with unknown effects. The lyrics are intentionally vague and surreal, which encourages listeners to interpret them in their own way. This ambiguity helps to create an atmosphere of tension, and makes the song a perfect example of Devo's unique sound. In addition to this, the song suggests a critique of the way people behave in subcultures, where pleasure and self-destruction coexist. The song, therefore, seems to be advocating for some type of self-reflection, suggesting that people should examine their own choices and motivations more closely.
Line by Line Meaning
Left home with a friend of mine
I left my home with a friend, but it's been two years and I don't even know why anymore.
Gone two years and I don't know why
It's been two years but I have no idea why I left home in the first place.
Now I'm happy all the time
Despite not knowing the reason behind my departure, I'm happy all the time now.
I can't think and I'm feelin' fine
I don't know what to think, but I'm feeling fine.
Girl put me in a situation
A girl put me in a situation I haven't dealt with before.
Going through soft core mutation
I'm going through changes that are not too extreme.
Think you heard this all before
You might think you've heard this story before.
Now you're gonna hear some more
But there's more to it than what you think you know.
I know a place where dreams get crushed
I know a place where people's dreams are shattered.
Hopes are smashed but that ain't much
People's hopes are also destroyed, but that's not even the worst part.
Voluntary experimentation
I'm experimenting with different things, but it's all voluntary.
Going through soft core mutation
These experiments lead to slight changes in me.
I'm going under
All these changes are taking me down a path I didn't expect.
Down under where the lights are low
I'm going to a place where things are dark and not as bright.
To a place where all the mutants go
This place is where others like me, who have undergone changes, also gather.
Doing things I never did before
Here, I'm experiencing things that are entirely new to me.
Inside out and coming back for more
I'm feeling a range of emotions and experiences that have me wanting more.
Little girls with the four red lips
There are young women here with distinctive, red lips.
Never knew it could be like this
I didn't imagine things like this could even happen.
You put me in a situation
It was you who put me in this unusual predicament.
Goin' through soft core mutation
But even though I'm experiencing these subtle changes, it is transforming me in ways that can't be reversed.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GERALD V. CASALE, MARK MOTHERSBAUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind