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.
That's Pep
Devo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The ability to act on a sudden hunch
Nerve to tackle the hardest thing
Feet that climb and hands that cling
A heart that never forgets to sing
That's pep [Repeat: x3]
Sand and grit in a concrete base
A spirit that helps when another's down
Knows how to scatter the blackest frown
Love's it's neighbor, love's it's town
That's pep [Repeat: x4]
Say "I will", for you know you can
Look for the best in every man
Meet each thundering knockout blow
Come back with a smile 'cause you know
You get the best of the whole damn show
That's pep [Repeat: x6]
You know that's pep
The song "That's Pep!" by Devo is an upbeat and motivating piece with a clear message of determination and positivity. The lyrics describe various qualities that embody "pep," such as vigor, vitality, and the ability to act on a sudden hunch. The song then goes on to describe other attributes of a person with pep, such as a friendly smile on an honest face, a spirit that helps others when they are down, and the ability to love one's neighbor and town. The chorus repeats the phrase "That's pep" several times as if to hammer home the message that these qualities are what it takes to have pep.
Overall, the song's lyrics are meant to inspire and encourage listeners to adopt a more positive and confident attitude towards life. The emphasis on qualities like resilience and love for others suggests that having pep is not just about having self-confidence or a strong will, but also about being a compassionate and caring person who is capable of overcoming adversity.
In conclusion, "That's Pep!" by Devo is a classic motivational tune that celebrates the qualities that make a person confident, resilient, and full of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Vigor, vim, vitality and punch
Having energy, strength, liveliness and ability to make an impact
The ability to act on a sudden hunch
Having the skill to quickly and instinctively take action based on intuition
Nerve to tackle the hardest thing
Having the courage to take on difficult challenges
Feet that climb and hands that cling
Having the ability to climb and hold on, both physically and metaphorically
A heart that never forgets to sing
Having a joyful and positive attitude towards life
Sand and grit in a concrete base
Having a solid and sturdy foundation
A friendly smile on an honest face
Showing kindness and sincerity in one's expressions
A spirit that helps when another's down
Having an uplifting and supportive nature towards others
Knows how to scatter the blackest frown
Having the ability to bring happiness and positivity to even the darkest moments
Love's it's neighbor, love's it's town
Showing love and care for those within one's community
Say "I will", for you know you can
Having confidence and self-assurance to take on challenges
Look for the best in every man
Finding the positive qualities in others
Meet each thundering knockout blow
Facing difficult situations with perseverance and resilience
Come back with a smile 'cause you know
Maintaining a positive attitude even during difficult times
You get the best of the whole damn show
Achieving great success and surpassing expectations
You know that's pep
This collection of qualities defines pep and embodies it fully
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MARK MOTHERSBAUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind