Devo is a new-wave band formed in the early 1970s at Kent State University in Akron, Ohio by art students Jerry Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh.http://www.allmusic.com/artist/devo-p4080/biography The band’s name came from the theory of “de-evolution,” which purports that American culture is proof that mankind is beginning to regress instead of evolve.http://www.allmusic.com/artist/devo-p4080/biography Devo was one of the first bands to use a drum machine, creating what the band’s website calls a “signature mechanical swing.”http://www.allmusic.com/artist/devo-p4080/biography http://www.clubdevo.com/bio/ This “jerky” and “robotic” musical style mimics the band’s belief that society has become too rigid and standardized.http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/devo/artist.jhtml

Devo’s “high stylized visuals” have played an important part in the band’s development. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/devo-p4080/biography The band was first signed to Warner Brothers on the recommendation of David Bowie and Iggy Pop after they saw their short film ‘’The Truth About De-Evolution,’’ which won a prize at the 1976 Ann Arbor Music Festival. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/devo-p4080/biography Their on-stage image often reflected their “production line” view of modern society, with the band performing with upside-down flowerpots and yellow suits resembling nuclear plant workers.http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/devo/biography

Devo released its first single, “Jocko Homo,” in 1977 on its own Booji Boy Records.http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/devo/biography The label was named after a character played by Mark Mothersbaugh in concert while wearing a baby mask; Booji Boy was intended as a symbol of infantile regression.http://www.allmusic.com/artist/devo-p4080/biography After releasing a cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction” in 1978, Devo was signed to Warner Brothers.http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/devo/biography

The band’s first full-length album was 1978’s ‘’Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!’’, which was produced by Brian Eno.http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/devo/biography While the album was an “underground hit,” people such as reviewers at ‘’Rolling Stone’’ found the band’s sound and unified image “threatening” and possibly “fascist.”http://www.allmusic.com/artist/devo-p4080/biography The group’s biggest commercial success came in 1980, when the album ‘”Freedom of Choice’’ went platinum and spawned a million-selling single in “Whip It.”http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/devo/biography

• Gerald Casale: Bass guitar, synthesizers, vocals, video directionhttp://www.clubdevo.com/member/i/1520736/
• Mark Mothersbaugh: Vocals and synthesizershttp://www.allmusic.com/artist/mark-mothersbaugh-p4963
• Bob Mothersbaugh: Guitarhttp://www.clubdevo.com/member/i/1520846/
• Bob Casale: Guitar and synthesizershttp://www.clubdevo.com/member/i/1520748/
• Josh Freese: Drumshttp://www.clubdevo.com/bio/#bioHistory

• 1978: Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
• 1979: Duty Now for the Future
• 1980: Freedom of Choice
• 1981: New Traditionalists
• 1982: Oh, No! It's Devo
• 1984: Shout
• 1987: E-Z Listening Disc
• 1988: Total Devo
• 1989: Now It Can Be Told
• 1990: Smooth Noodle Maps
• 1996: Adventures of the Smart Patrol
• 2005: Live
• 2010: Something for Everybodyhttp://www.allmusic.com/artist/devo-p4080/discography