Devo, the post-punk electro rock act that had a global hit with “Whip It”, will perform at SXSW in March.
Devo formed in Akron, Ohio in 1973 but the origins go back to the late 60s when members Gerald Casale and Bob Lewis were art students at Kent State University. Casale and Lewis were drawing artworks featuring the devolution. Legend has it that when Mark Mothersbaugh met them in 1970, he was also a on the same devolution path with the handout at the time of ‘Jocko Homo Heavenbound’.In ’76, they made a short film called ‘The Truth About De-Evolution’. David Bowie and Iggy Pop saw it and recommended them for a record deal at Warner.
The rest was history.
Brian Eno entered the story at this point and produced the first Devo album ‘Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!’.
Devo soon on important fans. Neil Young asked them to appear in his ‘Human Highway’ movie. In the early 80s, they would become the influence for his techno album ‘Trans’.
The big fame (and bucks) came in 1980 with the release of ‘Freedom of Choice’. It featured ‘Whip It’.
Devo will play the Austin Music Hall on Friday March 21 and speak at the Austin Convention Center on March 21.
