Pioneers Who Got Scalped

As we dive into the vault a bit further we stumble across a band who for a number years has had a cult following and a sound that can't really be described. You however probably sung their hit "Whip It" at one time or another. I of course speak of Devo.

Devo for a lack of classification is a New-Wave/Punk/Art Rock band hailing from Akron Ohio of all places. Formed in the early 70's by a pair of brothers in Mark and Bob Mothersbaughs and Gerald and Bob Casales. Devo was short for Devolution and often had a bizarre stage show including surrealist humor and kitsch sci-fi themes. Early praise from the band came in the forms of two Rock icons, David Bowie and Neil Young. By the mid 70's the band had a record deal thanks to the urging of Bowie and Iggy Pop and we're well on their way to weirdness with the first 7' "Mongoloid/Jocko Homo". The B side was a cover of The Rolling Stones classic "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction. By the start of the 80's the band had developed their unique sound and scored a hit with "Whip It". The band was an early pioneer of the music video, embracing it so much they eventually released a collection of clips on the now defunct Laser Disc format. The band continued on through the decade releasing several albums and projects. By '91 however the band decided to split and focus on other projects.

Mark Mothersbaugh and Bob Casale would form a commercial production music studio and go on to produce music for shows like Pee Wee's Playhouse and Rugrats in addition to films and video games. The band would reform in the mid 90's and release new music via movie soundtracks. The band even played Lollapalooza, introducing the band to a new generation of fans. The band continues to tour and release new material, despite the recent passing of Bob Casale.

Devo continues to push forward forty years into their career. Sadly I feel most people associate Devo with "Whip It" and that's a bummer cause there's quite a bit more to the band. So to get people better acquainted with them, I give you a 2 CD anthology entitled, 'Pioneers Who Got Scalped: The Anthology'. Released in 2000, this massive collection features 50 tracks, 17 of which were previously unreleased. The album does contain some of Devo's cover songs. Covers include, "Secret Agent Man", "Working In A Col Mine", the Hendrix classic "Are You Experienced?" and the Nine Inch Nails classic "Head Like A Hole". This is an awesome collection that shows of what Devo is as a band. Even if you're a fan already, I suggest grabbing this collection.

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