1990. I was 16 and a huge Devo fan. Found out which city Mark Mothersbaugh lived in. Called information and found a listing. Didn’t think it was really him but called anyway. It WAS HIS NUMBER. Got to talk to him for a few minutes. Very nice man. I asked him why he was listed and he said he just never bothered to get his number unlisted. He said occasionally someone would call and he enjoyed talking to his fans.
So many people didn't "get" the irony of DEVO. Not only did they have a different sound, they created a look and an attitude while simultaneously parodying it. Fucking brilliant.
The "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" is more about a shakedown for cash from artists than it is about honoring them. Someone should start a "Rock and Roll Hall of Shame" and induct the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as it's only member.
DEVO was the SHIT!!! I LOVE THIS SONG! I Got this album as a Christmas Present from my Mom back in the early 80's when it FIRST Came out! And I STILL Love it! Thanks Mom. You are SO MISSED! :(
I turned 18 in 1978. I was absolutely FLOORED by DEVO as soon as I heard them. Saw them many, many times after that over the years. DUTY NOW FOR THE FUTURE.
Every person that snickered or rolled eyes when they walked on stage was a die-hard DEVO fan by the time they left the stage And yes...that arm keyboard is just the coolest thing. These guys were setting precedents from day one. They jabbed at every societal issue, sometimes with perfect venom. And, it was done so well it was easy to miss. This is as much art as it is music and these guys gave it to you right in the face. They are as tight of a rock band as you will ever find.
Don't know much about the term "tight" we see... Don't seem to know much about music in general, either. Well done... If you want to see funny...that would be you laughing hysterically at your own ignorance.@@Anarchy-Is-Liberty
They're pretty damn intimidating. Started as a punk band and they have the same energy, just all bottled up and pre-packaged for less angry people to listen to than your normal punks
Really? Didn't like his weak attempts at jokes and would've preferred actual questions about the band themselves, influences or their unique style. Felt like a wasted opportunity.
@@lukecage3485 Are you from this era of TV watching? Most TV show interviewers outside maybe Dick Cavett or Tom Snyder would just treat them like the butt of a joke.
I saw Devo live for the first time on the New Traditionalists tour. It was one one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen. The first half was with the black hair and gray suits. The second in the yellow radiation suits and red flower pots. Devo was at the height of its power then…
Thanks for pointing that out!!! It was so seamless that I missed it and had to watch it in slo-mo which is even more incredible because he sings into the empty mic stand while he recovers the mic. What a pro move! DEVO rules!
@@Zagura90It's entirely possible: I'm only 4 years younger than this individual, and even though I've been a DEVO fan since 1990, most people in my age group--even the ones with similar tastes in music--were completely unaware of their existence.
Whenever they did lip-synced appearances on TV, they at least tried to make it interesting by using the most futuristic-looking equipment that would be impractical on stage.
I remember the Griffin Show had cool bands play every week. Merv was pretty hip for an older guy. I remember seeing Soft Cell sing Tainted Love on his show and many others. RIP Griffin
I bought a pair of Bose 501’s when when I got my first paycheck and immediately picked up the “Oh No ,Devo” album later that day.I tore into it and Sound Checked “Mr Kamikaze/ Mr DNA Spudboy while cranking the volume to “12”. Days earlier I was listening to a transistor radio and my alarm clock radio for entertainment. So thinking that I was at the house all alone and finally enjoying my new found freedom, it came as a shock to me when my Dad blasted the door open and stood there watching me fixate on the overly modulated gauges and LED light streams of my new system. It would not be long before I would be forfeiting my Music Money for Rent Payments.
I was at the L.A. Forum concert of this tour. The show is still one of my top two favorite live pop music productions of all time. What they did with conveyor belts was awesome!
Could have got distracted by the mic flub. I get the feeling they told him not to thrust and hoped he'd actually listen. Finally, screw it, he's going to keep doing it.
They are not even TRYING to make it look like this is live and still people are arguing if it is or not. 😂 That was what TV shows did, you can tell they didn't like it, and never even bothered to make an effort to make it look real, they just had fun with it since they couldn't change it. To see the difference, watch them perform this song on Fridays, which seems to be the only TV show of the era that allowed actual live performances.
As a member of the “church of the sub-genius” ... I can say that I am entitled to my precious slack. Bob Dobbs would be very proud of this performance.
Just love these guys! So much talent and creativity. A few years earlier it was Kraftwerk's off the wall stuff and then Devo came along... love it all. So much more raw talent than today's so-called "artists!"
When I was a kid, my record collection was Genesis, Yes, Mike Oldfield, Black Sabbath etc, etc with the exception of one 45 which didnt quite add up. Devo: Jocko Homo. I loved it. I knew they were good.
I've heard of DEVO, john peel used to talk about them a lot, but this is the first time I've seen them perform. I'm sorta kicking myself. These guys were so ahead of their time.
I recorded Peel's show on British Forces Broadcasting Germany on cassette and discovered DEVO that way. Finding their debut album was another story. It was one of the first records I bought as a teenager. These memories are so vivid...
Wow! I got to see DEVO live twice. First they were promoting their Album OH No, It's DEVO!, then when they were promoting Total DEVO. Both concerts, were fantastic. I'm forever, a fan of their work and hope to find more early footage of them in concert.
The NuTrad tour show was the most awesome live performance from a musical group. The showing of all their videos to date, then the curtain drawing away and revealing the "Temple of Devo", the treadmills which they used superbly. Then the music! During this era, they put on the best shows, they didn't stand there and play. They were active. They filmed a show with multiple cameras, but tragically, there was a fire at the film processing center and they were destroyed. A true tragedy
I got dragged to see Devo on this tour. Had no interest. I was more of a Clash type. But man, what a show! I still remember to this day - Tampa Jai-Alai Fronton 1982.
At the time I was completely aware of DEVO because my dad had gone to see them in concert and bought a VHS tape with their videos, which my sister and I rewatched about a dozen times. I only knew The Clash through "Rock the Casbah" which is really not indicative of their style, especially their early stuff. I love DEVO, but The Clash are like top ten bands of all time (Sorry Kurt Cobain, but 'Sandinista' IS a great album.)
Arrgh! You were lucky to see that! I saw Triumph and then The Police/ Joan Jett & Blackhearts @ Lakeland Civic Center in early "82, but I never had the chance to see Devo at that time..
Seen the Clash, the Jam loadsa times, the Damned, Adam Ant, the Cure all back in the day, but Devo doing two sets on the Freedom of choice tour at Southampton UK has always been a benchmark gig. Had all the vinyl back then too......
I remember watching this live on TV back in the day. I was so into Devo and skipped a class to watch this on TV. Long before PVR's or VCRs being common. I bought the album and in it was an order form for the hair piece. I got one but lost it after about a week. Tragedy! Ya, Merv was older (like, my age now...) but certainly was informed.
No they weren't, they were very much OF their time. It was called New Wave for a reason. Ahead of their time and underrated are the most over and misused words when describing these old bands.
@@Johnnywhamo They were underrated and ahead of their time. They were not exactly the same as the other new wave bands. Not in chord structure, melody, or instrumentation. They were pointillists and to some extent atonal. That WAS and still is quite unique in pop and has not been done quite the same way still.
@@rman52 ….LOL, there was absolutely NOTHING unusual about their chord structure, nor their melodies nor their instrumentation. What a big giant crock of shit. We'll take one of these, what was unusual about their chord structure?
@@Johnnywhamo O.K. Beethoven... What key is whip it in ? Explain the imediate emphasis on d natural. What is the function of the early e natural? What chords does the synth entrance come in with ? What's their relationship to the song's key ? (Jeopardy theme).
I could have died happy after a show like that ❤ I have a memory almost as good: I won tickets over the radio to see The Ramones and Social Distortion on Halloween in 1992: Me and my best friend, at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, dressed like zombies... ...one of the greatest nights of my life ❤
DEVO. Well ahead of their time. Looking back, I think many more can appreciate their amazing skill, creativity, and performance. A favorite band for many years. I have all the albums!
I had the Freedom of Choice cassette when I was like 8 years old and always liked Devo. I remember hearing this song on a television show. I thought it was Solid Gold but can't remember. It might have been this show but this song was always in my head. I only ever owned freedom of Choice but thanks to RU-vid I have discovered so many more good Devo songs. I'm not saying everything they ever made was great but they have some great songs.
So many obvious professional musicians who have a loyal fan base.. amazing how legit playing Rock Band is and the powers of suggestions can alter your mind, hypnotized by creating your “self image” to be on stage, that big screen tv you had to have from Best Buy, you know what I mean..?!.. seriously easy being up on that platform, bustin out sweet action while your fans are jerking back & forth!! Some real couch potatoes am I right?!! Lol then darn it all, your shut down by the parents who set limit on your PlayStation 😭 drop mic
I like how at 3:34 Jerry knocks the mic off the stand, sings into the stand, then recovers to sing into the mic he's holding!!! Gotta love those old shows where they made the performers lip-synch and it still got screwed up!!
RATM covered "Beautiful World", Ministry covered "Gates of Steel", Perfect Circle covered :Freedom of Choice", Chris Cornell covered "Girl U Want", Sepultura covered "Mongoloid"
![DEVO- "Jerkin' Back 'N' Forth"/Interview 1982 [Reelin' In The Years Archives]](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
