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.
Some Things Never Change
Devo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hang your head
I saw the news today o boy
A thousand stories that we've seen before
Small minds play at some big time games
And everybody else pays
Make no mistake they're on the take
They like to keep it that way
I saw the light today o boy
It come on flashing bright in red and blue
The man steps in with a terminal grin
Blue skies turn to grey
Young men die and children cry
Why is it always the same
Life must be eaten
Or at least bitten into
To get past the surface
The moment of truth
You know when its right
Its sweet deep inside
Its real and its better
That some things don't change
I saw the news today o boy
A thousand pictures of the lies we live
Small minds play at some big time games
And everybody else pays
They're on the take and they don't give breaks
They like to take it away
Some things never change
Hang your head
The lyrics of Devo's song "Some Things Never Change" are a commentary on the cyclical nature of societal issues and injustices. The phrase "some things never change" is repeated throughout the song, highlighting the idea that despite efforts to improve and progress, certain aspects of society remain fundamentally flawed. The song opens by referencing the news, with the singer expressing dismay at the repetition of stories and issues that have been witnessed before. The following lines describe those in positions of power, often with "small minds," engaging in games that benefit themselves while the rest of society suffers. The line "make no mistake they're on the take" points to corruption and greed as root causes for the ongoing issues.
The second verse introduces a glimmer of hope, as the singer sees a "light" that "come(s) on flashing bright in red and blue." However, this optimism is quickly extinguished as the "man steps in with a terminal grin" and "blue skies turn to grey," indicating that any potential progress is ultimately thwarted. The final lines of the verse highlight the continued toll on human life as "young men die and children cry," with the question "why is it always the same?" suggesting despair and frustration.
The chorus brings a different perspective, with the idea that life must be experienced fully to truly understand and appreciate its complexities. The line "you know when it's right, it's sweet deep inside" suggests that true understanding comes from a visceral experience rather than just intellectual knowledge. The final lines of the song tie back to the beginning with the repeated phrase "hang your head," possibly indicating resignation in the face of societal issues that seem insurmountable.
Line by Line Meaning
Some things never change
The world around us is constantly changing, but there are certain aspects of life that remain consistent.
Hang your head
Feeling defeated or ashamed because of the constant negative news and events in the world.
I saw the news today o boy
Being constantly bombarded with negative news stories and images that we have become desensitized to.
A thousand stories that we've seen before
The repetition of the same negative events, crimes, and tragedies that have occurred time and time again.
Small minds play at some big time games
People with limited and narrow perspectives often engage in harmful activities and politics in a bigger world stage.
And everybody else pays
The masses suffer the consequences of the actions of those in power or those with agendas.
Make no mistake they're on the take
Corrupt individuals are taking advantage of their positions and exploiting others for their own gain.
They like to keep it that way
The powers that be prefer to maintain the status quo and their privileged positions rather than enact meaningful change.
I saw the light today o boy
The moment of realization or epiphany that one becomes aware of something positive or uplifting in a sea of negativity.
It come on flashing bright in red and blue
A sudden burst of insight or understanding in a vivid and striking manner.
The man steps in with a terminal grin
The figures of authority or those with power and control are often smug and indifferent to the suffering of others.
Blue skies turn to grey
The world around us can feel sad or hopeless, and even the simple beauty of nature can be taken away by negativity.
Young men die and children cry
In the face of tragedy and loss, the innocent and vulnerable are the most affected and hurt.
Why is it always the same
The constant repetition of negative events and situations creates a sense of hopelessness or despair.
Life must be eaten
To truly live and experience all that life has to offer, one must take the plunge and engage with the world despite its negativity.
Or at least bitten into
One must at least try and engage with the world to get a taste of what life offers.
To get past the surface
To truly experience life, one must dig beneath the layers of superficiality and meaninglessness.
The moment of truth
The moment of clarity or realization that one experiences when they let go of preconceived notions and engage with the world openly.
You know when its right
There is a sense of intuition or inner knowledge that tells us when something is true or important.
Its sweet deep inside
There is a sense of satisfaction or fulfillment that comes from experiencing life in a meaningful way.
Its real and its better
The positive experiences of life are genuine and more worthwhile than the negativity that surrounds us.
That some things don't change
The constant negativity in the world should not prevent us from seeking out and experiencing the positive aspects of life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Capitol CMG Publishing, Spirit Music Group
Written by: GERALD V. CASALE, MARK ALLEN MOTHERSBAUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Daniels
I agree 100%, I enjoyed this album immensely ❤️
If you ever get a chance, listen to the commentary on their video collection DVD: The Complete Truth About De-Evolution .
It explains a lot: DEVO put out six albums for Warner Bros. before the label dropped them after the poor sales of "Shout" (another underappreciated album).
"Total DEVO" was the first of two albums they recorded for Enigma ("Smooth Noodle Maps" being the second), and the label had no clue what to do with them:
Both albums were poorly promoted and marketed to the wrong audience.
The New Wave movement was either dead or its bands had been assimilated by the mainstream--Enigma had no clue how to "sell" DEVO.
Gerald Casale remarked that everything they'd been promised by Enigma was a lie--and, I quote: "We had signed with a ship of fools"😔
DEVO hadn't changed--not in essence--but the musical/cultural environment they once thrived in had changed.
Also, I believe losing Alan Myers on drums made an impact: David Kendrick was great, but he wasn't Alan.
Josh Freed has proven to be a far more appropriate replacement:
Kendrick was already a professional who played with the band Sparks.
Freed is almost 20 years younger than the rest of DEVO--he grew up listening to them and didn't bring the baggage of previous experience.
Garrett Eulett
I don't know why this album gets such negative reviews, IT'S FREAKING AWESOME!!!
Garrett Eulett
Shame. 6 years later, I still feel zero shame in loving this album
Garrett Eulett
@Kascha K I guess DEVO disowned it
Kascha K
Why can't I find it in online services? It's not on YT Music at all nor is this song. Just a video.
suicidame
For me, the main problem with those two albums is the drummer, who seems to be playing in another band, I don't know, in kiss and not in devo: b
But there are very good songs like this on both albums and with a lot of energy.
James Daniels
I agree 100%, I enjoyed this album immensely ❤️
If you ever get a chance, listen to the commentary on their video collection DVD: The Complete Truth About De-Evolution .
It explains a lot: DEVO put out six albums for Warner Bros. before the label dropped them after the poor sales of "Shout" (another underappreciated album).
"Total DEVO" was the first of two albums they recorded for Enigma ("Smooth Noodle Maps" being the second), and the label had no clue what to do with them:
Both albums were poorly promoted and marketed to the wrong audience.
The New Wave movement was either dead or its bands had been assimilated by the mainstream--Enigma had no clue how to "sell" DEVO.
Gerald Casale remarked that everything they'd been promised by Enigma was a lie--and, I quote: "We had signed with a ship of fools"😔
DEVO hadn't changed--not in essence--but the musical/cultural environment they once thrived in had changed.
Also, I believe losing Alan Myers on drums made an impact: David Kendrick was great, but he wasn't Alan.
Josh Freed has proven to be a far more appropriate replacement:
Kendrick was already a professional who played with the band Sparks.
Freed is almost 20 years younger than the rest of DEVO--he grew up listening to them and didn't bring the baggage of previous experience.
Stuart Bascombe
This is one of my favorite Devo recordings. The Neuromancer game inspired me to buy the album after reading the book and buying the game. This was the best cuts on the album. Tip of the hat to The Beatles "A Day In The Life". Very infectious.
Andreas Mueller
mmh ... N E U R O M A N C E R .... what a freaking masterpiece ...
Bruce Allen
“Small minds play in big time games and everybody else pays. Make no mistake on they’re on the take. They’d like to keep it that way.”
That’s why Devo is still not in the Rock Hall of Fame. They make us aware of truths about the human race that makes people uncomfortable.
Blaster of Muppets
it doesn't matter. The rock and roll hall of fame sucks and should be burned down.