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.
Let's Go
Devo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ouick on the start-
Let's golet's go-let's go!
For it's hi-dee-ho-
You know where you want to go-
Don't be a smoe
Get in the show-
Bounce off the backboards
Let's go!-let's go!-let's go!
Grab her by the neck
And throw her down
Let's go!-let's go!let's go!
Ga ga go go goo-
Vou know what vou want to do
Kick'em in the shoe
Till your through
Beat it down the path
And catch that early worm
Let's go! let's go! let's goi
Let's go!
The song "Let's Go" by Devo is an upbeat, high-energy track that encourages listeners to get up and move. The lyrics are filled with sports references and playful commands to take action, whether it's on the court, on the dance floor, or in life in general.
The opening lines set the tone for the song, with the reference to the buzzer signaling the start of a game or competition. The repeated phrase "Let's go!" serves as a rallying cry, urging listeners to get in the game and give it their all. The line "For it's hi-dee-ho-" is a nod to the traditional cheerleading chant, "Hi-dee-ho, hi-dee-hey, we're the team from [insert school or city name here] and we're on our way!"
As the song continues, the sports metaphors shift to more general calls to action. The line "Don't be a smoe" is a playful insult that urges listeners not to be lazy or hesitant. "Get in the show" suggests that life itself is a performance, and encourages listeners to actively participate rather than sitting on the sidelines.
The second half of the song includes more aggressive commands, such as "Grab her by the neck and throw her down" and "Kick 'em in the shoe till you're through." These violent images are presented in a lighthearted, cartoonish way, but the underlying message is still one of forceful action and assertion.
Overall, "Let's Go" is a fun, energetic track that encourages listeners to take charge and make things happen. The sports references add a playful edge, while the underlying message is one of empowerment and self-determination.
Line by Line Meaning
Upon the buzzer
The game is about to start and we need to be ready.
Quick on the start-
We need to be fast and ready to go as soon as the game starts.
Let's go let's go let's go!
An excited exclamation to pump up the team and get them ready for action.
For it's hi-dee-ho-
We need to be energetic and enthusiastic, ready to play with all our might.
You know where you want to go-
We know what we want to achieve and where we want to be, we just need to focus and work hard to get there.
Don't be a smoe
Don't be lazy or complacent, give it your all and work hard.
Get in the show-
Join in the game and give it your all, be an active participant in the team's success.
Bounce off the backboards
Use the backboards to your advantage, bounce the ball off of them to score or make a play.
And block that pass
Prevent the other team from making a successful pass or play by blocking their attempts.
Grab her by the neck
Aggressive language that may refer to making a strong play or move against the other team.
And throw her down
Further emphasis on aggressive play towards the other team, possibly referring to tackling or stopping a player from advancing.
Ga ga go go goo-
Excited words to further pump up the team and get them energized to perform at their best.
You know what you want to do
As a player, you know your role in the game and what you need to do to help the team win.
Kick 'em in the shoe
Possibly a metaphor for taking out an opponent by targeting their feet or affecting their ability to play effectively.
Till you're through
Keep going until the end of the game or the end of the goal you are working towards.
Beat it down the path
Move quickly towards the goal, either to score or to make a crucial play.
And catch that early worm
Get ahead of the other team, either by scoring early or by making successful moves before they can.
Let's go let's go let's go!
Final encouragement to pump up the team and get them ready to take action.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MARK ALLEN MOTHERSBAUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind