Art-Rock Royalty Devo Bring Iconic Red Energy Domes And Rarities To NPR’s Tiny Desk 

Photo Credit: Zayrha Rodriguez/NPR

Friday, August 9th, 2024— Today, Devo makes their NPR Tiny Desk Concert debut in a riveting four-song performance featuring original members Gerald Casale, Bob and Mark Mothersbaugh, and touring members Jeff Friedl and Josh Hagar. 

Watch Devo’s NPR Tiny Desk concert here: 

https://youtu.be/VKvYRDhPt_0?si=pPRggYEtg0QfW3hT

The Tiny Desk Concert arrives ahead of the band’s stop next month at the Ohana Festival in Dana Point and arrives on the heels of the band’s 50th anniversary. Last year, the band marked half a century of de-evolution with a career-spanning boxed set via Rhino Records that encompassed all of Devo’s hits and a selection of rarities.

50 YEARS OF DE-EVOLUTION (1973-2023) arrived in various configurations last fall, paying tribute to Devo’s innovative music and thought-provoking performances with a fresh array of inspired collectibles and ephemera including a deluxe, 28-page book, Devo air freshener, and a foldable paper hat that resembles the band’s iconic red energy domes. 

The collection stands as a testament to the band’s legacy, compiling key tracks from all nine of Devo’s studio albums, as well as rarities like the 1974 demo for “I’m A Potato” and single mixes for “Come Back Jonee,” “Snowball,” and “What We Do.” celebrated for their profound influence on generations of new-wave, industrial, and electronic artists. 

To continue the celebration Devo also partnered with the disruptive clothing brand Brain Dead on a merchandise capsule and in January 2024, ‘Devo’ the documentary directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Chris Smith (Wham!, Jim & Andy, Fyre) premiered at Sundance Film Festival, with the group performing at the event. ‘Devo’ explores the band’s evolution from college musicians to art-rockers with a message, to their unexpected mainstream success as a hit rock band and the pioneers of the MTV age, following the group's career arc up to its status as "elder statesmen.” Rave reviews on ‘Devo’ came in from The Hollywood Reporter, IndieWire and Rolling Stone Who called it a “perfect tribute” to the band, as well as Variety, who praised the film, calling it “irresistible pop history and dazzlingly edited surrealist audio-visual candy.”

Devo was formed in 1973 by two sets of brothers – Bob and Gerald Casale and Bob and Mark Mothersbaugh – and Alan Myers. The band took its name from the concept of de-evolution – the notion that society is regressing rather than progressing. It was their response to the infamous 1970 shootings at Kent State University, which some band members witnessed while attending the school.

Devo started out performing around Akron, Ohio and garnered early support from David Bowie and Iggy Pop, helping the group secure a deal with Warner Bros. Records. Soon after, the band began working with legendary producer Brian Eno on its 1978 debut, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!. The album was an underground success despite the mainstream music press overlooking Devo’s insightful cultural satire.

A year later, the band returned with Duty Now for the Future before achieving mainstream recognition in 1980 with its platinum-certified third album, Freedom of Choice, which included the hit single “Whip It.” The song’s iconic music video became a fixture on MTV, contributing to Devo’s growing popularity in the 1980s. That decade saw the band release more hits (“Beautiful World” and “That’s Good”) and a string of memorable studio albums: New Traditionalist (1981), Oh No! It’s Devo (1982), Shout! (1984), and Total Devo (1988). After 1990’s Smooth Noodle Maps, the band took an extended hiatus to pursue film and television projects before returning in 2010 with Something for Everybody.

DEVO TOUR DATES

Sept 24 - Dana Point, CA - Ohana Festival

For all information on DEVO visit ClubDevo.com.