CLEARWATER, Fla. — More than five decades after DEVO began challenging the conventions of rock music, Mark Mothersbaugh says the band still has something to say.
And this week, it will say it with guitars, synthesizers, costumes, visual art and the unmistakable sound that made DEVO one of the most unusual bands of its generation.
Watch interview with Tampa Bay 28 reporter Erik Waxler
DEVO performs Thursday, Aug. 27, at The BayCare Sound in Clearwater as part of its “Mutate, Don’t Stagnate” tour. The show starts at 7 p.m.
Mothersbaugh, one of the band's founding members and its lead singer, spoke with Tampa Bay 28's Erik Waxler ahead of the concert about DEVO’s history, its influence and why he believes the band’s ideas remain relevant.
DEVO was formed in Akron, Ohio, in the early 1970s by Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale. The band emerged from the post-punk and new wave scene with an unusual combination of rock music, electronic sounds, performance art, humor and a distinctly futuristic visual style.
But there was a serious idea behind the strange costumes and unconventional music.
The band's name came from the concept of “de-evolution,” the idea that humanity was not necessarily progressing but could instead be moving backward through conformity, consumerism and other forces shaping society.
That idea became part of DEVO's identity from the beginning.
Mothersbaugh and Casale were students at Kent State University when four students were killed by the Ohio National Guard during an anti-war protest on May 4, 1970. The experience helped shape the band's worldview and its skepticism about authority and society.
DEVO eventually became one of the defining bands of the new wave era, releasing its debut album, “Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!” in 1978.
The band went on to release albums including “Duty Now for the Future,” “Freedom of Choice” and “New Traditionalists,” while developing a visual identity that was almost as recognizable as its music.
The red “energy dome” hats, matching outfits and deliberately robotic performances became part of the DEVO experience.
But Mothersbaugh's career extended far beyond the band.
He went on to become a prolific composer and visual artist, creating music for television shows including “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” and “Rugrats,” as well as numerous films. His work with filmmaker Wes Anderson included scores for movies such as “Bottle Rocket,” “The Royal Tenenbaums” and “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.”
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