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Devo

Musical Group
Fornew wave/post-punk listeners, devo newcomers, and longtime fans curious about how different eras (and missteps) land.
12 Reviews 15 Definitions 20 Charts
New Wave Synth Pop Electronic

The Profile

Devo is an American band from Akron, Ohio, known for a conceptual “de-evolution” philosophy expressed through satirical, robotic new wave that emerged in the 1970s and helped shape the era’s audiovisual language.

Publicly verifiable: Devo formed in Akron, Ohio in 1973; key members include Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald V. Casale; the band is strongly associated with the ‘de-evolution’ concept and the 1980 hit “Whip It”; their debut album “Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!” was produced by Brian Eno.

The reviews frame Devo as foundational new-wave pioneers from Akron, built on a de-evolution concept and a robotic, satirical aesthetic. Their debut is repeatedly treated as a masterpiece, with early follow-ups praised for weird, synth-driven evolution. Later work is portrayed as increasingly commercial or uneven, with “Shout” singled out as a low point. Live footage and later outtakes are seen as proof the “Devo sound” can still land—just don’t demand another 1978.

Notable Quotes

❝ “The case of Devo is singular.”
❝ “Shout”, released at the end of 1984, marks the true beginning of the end for Devo.
❝ “You might say: Oh, no! It's Muzak!”
❝ “Five crazy guys! Five maniacs! From the American rubber capital, ladies and gentlemen... the Devo!”
❝ “And call them Devolved!”
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