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.
The Shadow
Devo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A real nice guy with a na na na na nasty side
In trouble
He tried to hide from himself
Good gawd sad man
Couldn't face up to the yin and the yang
Everybody
Who knows what lurks in the hearts of men
The shadow knows
We become what we do, not what we pretend
Between the intention and the expression
Between the emotion and the response
Falls the shadow
Guitar
Sometimes I fail to follow through
On things that I want to do
And other times I find myself doing the very things I hate
Reverend Jimmy and Tammy Belle
Big time pumpers with a story to sell
Wait a minute
Their finger's pointing at you
Pay attention, listen up
Don't try to deny it or cover it up
Everybody
All of us got a shadow
The song "The Shadow" by Devo is a powerful commentary on human nature and the duality of personality. The lyrics reference two well-known literary characters, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, to describe the dichotomy between a person's "nice guy" persona and their "nasty side". The line "He tried to hide from himself" paints a picture of someone who is in denial about their shadow self, or the parts of themselves that they try to repress or hide. The chorus states that "All of us got a shadow," emphasizing that everyone has these hidden urges and impulses that they must confront.
The next verse shifts to a more personal tone, with the singer admitting to their own struggle with their shadow self. The lines "Sometimes I fail to follow through on things that I want to do / And other times I find myself doing the very things I hate" illustrate the internal conflict that many people face. The bridge of the song is especially insightful, as it speaks to the space between intention and expression, and the shadow that exists in that gap. The shadow self is what drives us to act on our base desires and impulses, often in spite of our conscious intentions.
Overall, "The Shadow" is a thought-provoking and introspective song about the human psyche. It's a reminder that we all have parts of ourselves that we don't want to face, but that we must confront in order to live authentically.
Line by Line Meaning
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Introduces the concept of the two sides to every person, the inner struggle between good and evil.
A real nice guy with a na na na na nasty side
Even those who seem kind and good on the surface have a dark side.
In trouble
The inner conflict can cause problems in a person's life.
He tried to hide from himself
People may try to ignore or suppress their darker side.
Good gawd sad man
Acknowledges the sadness that comes from denying or being unaware of the shadow self.
Couldn't face up to the yin and the yang
Difficulty coming to terms with the opposing forces within oneself.
Everybody
The concept of the shadow is applicable to all people.
All of us got a shadow
Re-emphasizing that everyone has a darker side to their personality.
Who knows what lurks in the hearts of men
Uncertainty about what drives people's behavior.
The shadow knows
An allusion to the old radio show about a mysterious figure who understands people's secrets.
We become what we do, not what we pretend
Our actions reveal our true nature more than our words or appearances.
Between the intention and the expression
The shadow can influence how a person communicates their thoughts or feelings.
Between the emotion and the response
The shadow can affect a person's reaction to situations.
Falls the shadow
Reiterates the central concept of the song.
Guitar
Instrumental break.
Sometimes I fail to follow through
The singer admits to struggling with the shadow.
On things that I want to do
The shadow can undermine a person's goals and desires.
And other times I find myself doing the very things I hate
The shadow can cause a person to act in ways that feel contradictory or insincere.
Reverend Jimmy and Tammy Belle
References two religious figures who faced scandals.
Big time pumpers with a story to sell
They were trying to manipulate people.
Wait a minute
Pause for emphasis.
Their finger's pointing at you
The blame is being shifted to the listener.
Pay attention, listen up
The singer is urging the listener to consider their own shadow.
Don't try to deny it or cover it up
Ignoring or concealing the shadow only makes it more powerful.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GERALD V. CASALE, MARK ALLEN MOTHERSBAUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lex Loofah
This is a powerful synth/drum surge.
Flannigan79
They never sucked
Flannigan79
You can't say they were hurtin on vitality, that album is crazy
Matthew Nigro
it's not on apple music
UPG Music & Gaming
I can't remember if it was when the video was posted but I also found that Smooth Noodle Maps is not on Apple as well. I've been getting new copyright notices regarding this album for their new 2023 compilation release. Thanks for listening.
Matthew Nigro
best band of my teen years . I hope it's not that somehow enigma owns the rights , total devolution
@UPG Music & Gaming
Moonlacer
@UPG Music & Gaming Ah, that would suck if these albums were actually taken down, considering they are unavailable everywhere else. I do hope the full albums are released on Apple Music and Spotify with their 50th anniversary revival thing going on, though.