Bob Casale (Bob2 of Devo) has died

[Dave W]

But most punk and new wave was still pretty underground in 77/78. You certainly couldn't find it in every record store outside of major cities. Devo was on a major label, in every record store, with radio airplay. They were on another planet as far as readily accessible mainstream music was concerned. I remember it very well. They were definitely an eye opener.

Yep. I remember their appearance on SNL is 1978 (Fred Willard hosting). Who would have thought that a cover of Satisfaction could be so stunningly different from anything that came before.

[chromium]

I wouldn't be surprised though if the Devo guys had more Roxy Music and King Crimson LPs in their collections than Foghat and Grand Funk Railroad! And maybe even some Krautrock electronica.

Eno produced their debut, so that might account for some of the Roxy.

The Krautrock/electronica thing is no coincidence either.  Mothersbaugh was influenced by some of the early electronic music pioneers - like Raymond Scott.




In fact, I believe that he owns/has owned and restored some of those early instruments - like Scott's Electronium, and TONTO.


It would be a blast to run amok in this studio for a few days/weeks 

[uwe]

They were very daring for a US band that stemmed neither from NYC nor LA, but from the industrial hinterlands. Those kind of regions generally generate escapist music (hence all the hard and heavy rock from the British Midlands).

[uwe]

The Krautrock/electronica thing is no coincidence either.  Mothersbaugh was influenced by some of the early electronic music pioneers - like Raymond Scott.

Oh man, that does sound like blueprint German electronica ... Bit more playful than my Teutonic brethren would generally have it, Jean Michel Jarre comes to mind ...

[saltymonkey]

Gut Feeling live in NYC '77. Added bonus of Gerry Casale rockin' an EB3.

[Psycho Bass Guy]

They were very daring for a US band that stemmed neither from NYC nor LA, but from the industrial hinterlands.

Nine Inch Nails, Devo's musical child in popular culture, is from Cleveland.

[saltymonkey]

Nine Inch Nails, Devo's musical child in popular culture, is from Cleveland.

As is Pere Ubu another shining star of the avant-garage.

[gweimer]

Little Brian Warner is from Canton.  The Black Keys hail from Akron.  Guided By Voices is from Dayton.

Adrian Belew is from Florence, KY (right across the river from Cincinnati)

[uwe]

I take it the middle of your country is largely populated by weirdos then? 

[gweimer]

I take it the middle of your country is largely populated by weirdos then? 

You should spend a week here sometime.  Yeesh.   

[saltymonkey]

I saw DEVO last night on their 40th anniversary tour. They are calling it the Hardcore DEVO Tour. They are only playing tunes recorded between 74-78, all of which are contained on their two Hardcore DEVO albums . They still have it. They sounded great. Both Mothersbaugh's and Gerry Casale's voices sounded good and strong. They were super tight. Only Bob Mothersbaugh on guitar. No replacement for Bob2. It was a lean mean stripped down DEVO. Mark also played guitar during Satisfaction. It was the Strat with effects pedals mounted to it. Gerry Casale played a Steinberger for the whole show. Great, great show and you could truly tell they were really enjoying themselves.

[Dave W]

I'm glad they're not replacing him.

If they weren't tight, there wouldn't be any point to it, would there? That's who they are and always have been.

[Highlander]

Smiling all the way from the shed...