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.
Peek-A-Boo
Devo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can see you
And I know what you do
So put your hands on your face
And cover up your eyes
Don't look until I signal
Peek-a-boo! peek-a-boo! peek-a-boo!
The way that we weren't is what we'll become
Of what's about to happen
Peek-a-boo!
I know what you do
Cause I do it too
Laugh if you want to or say you don't care
If you cannot see it you think it's not there
It doesn't work that way
The lyrics of Devo's song Peek-A-Boo! showcase the idea of surveillance culture and the power of observation. The persona in the song is a peek-a-boo player who takes pleasure in watching and knowing the actions of the people around them. The first verse of the song has the persona announcing their presence and claiming to see all actions; however, the chorus complicates the idea of the observer being separate from the observed. The chorus has the persona asking others to join in the game of peek-a-boo, suggesting that everyone indulges in surveillance culture. The persona reiterates this point in the second verse by stating that they know what others do because they also do it.
The chorus also comments on how a society that indulges in peek-a-boo culture will evolve. The line "The way that we weren't is what we'll become" suggests that the culture of observing and being observed is leading to new behaviors that were not prevalent before. This may mean that the line between the watcher and the watched is getting blurry, and both parties may start to indulge in the same actions. The last two lines of the chorus are a warning about the fallacy of assuming that something doesn't exist just because you can't see it. This concept carries forward the commentary that the song puts forth about the dangers of surveillance culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Peek-a-boo!
I am watching you and you should be aware.
I can see you
I have the ability to observe your actions.
And I know what you do
I am aware of the things that you are doing.
So put your hands on your face
Cover your eyes with your hands.
And cover up your eyes
Make sure your eyes are hidden from view.
Don't look until I signal
Wait for me to give you the cue before removing your hands.
Peek-a-boo! peek-a-boo! peek-a-boo!
This is a game we are playing with rules to follow.
The way that we weren't is what we'll become
We are evolving from old ways but still influenced by them.
So please pay attention while I show you some
Observe and learn from what I am about to demonstrate.
Of what's about to happen
What is going to occur is not evident yet.
Peek-a-boo!
We are still playing this game of observation.
I know what you do
I am aware of your actions and also partake in them.
Cause I do it too
I am guilty of the same behavior.
Laugh if you want to or say you don't care
You can choose to ignore or deny the truth.
If you cannot see it you think it's not there
Ignoring or hiding something doesn't make it disappear.
It doesn't work that way
The truth remains, whether it is acknowledged or not.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GERALD CASALE, MARK ALLEN MOTHERSBAUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind