That Eric Alper

DEVO, the feature documentary about the pioneering New Wave band DEVO, is now streaming globally as a Netflix Original. The film premiered to rave reviews from critics and audiences alike at Sundance 2024.

Acclaimed filmmaker Chris Smith (Wham!, Fyre, 100 Foot Wave, and Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond) captures the gloriously radical spirit that is DEVO – a rare band founded by a philosophy; a Dada experiment of high art meets low, hellbent on infiltrating American popular culture. Through never-before-seen archival and interviews with Mark Mothersbaugh, Bob Mothersbaugh, and Jerry Casale, DEVO relishes in the highs, lows, surreal moments and incredible performances of a 50-year career, embracing the spectacle of the band from their lo-fi beginnings to pioneers of the music video in the early days of MTV’s cultural dominance. 

Band members are open with their memories and archives, charting their origins as Kent State University arts students shaped by the activism of the late 1960s. Following the 1970 massacre on their campus, the band’s concept of cultural “De-Evolution” turned from satirical humor to urgent social commentary, and what began as subversive counterprogramming to KSU’s 1973 arts festival would go on to warn of, comment on, and reflect back the absurdism of the late 20th century. Finding mainstream success at the height of 1980s consumerism, DEVO soundtracked the De-Evolution they’d long predicted – and influenced a 21st century they’d have never believed. 

DEVO is a Library Films / VICE Studios production in association with Mutato Entertainment, presented by BMG, Undeniable (a Fremantle label), and Warner Music Group. The film is available exclusively on Netflix. Listen to the DEVO Netflix Official Playlist here: https://netflixmusic.ffm.to/devo.

Accompanying the band’s documentary is a companion piece, Energy Dome Frequencies: Songs From The DEVO Documentary, available as a 1LP and CD on October 31. Pre-order HERE. Featuring unforgettable DEVO hits like “Girl U Want,” “Uncontrollable Urge,” and their platinum-certified single, “Whip It.”

Energy Dome Frequencies: Songs From The DEVO Documentary track listing:

Side One

1. Mongoloid (Warner Version)
2. Jocko Homo (Warner Version)
3. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
4. Uncontrollable Urge
5. Girl U Want
6. Freedom Of Choice

Side Two

1. Whip It
2. Gates Of Steel
3. Working In The Coal Mine
4. Beautiful World
5. Through Being Cool
6. That’s Good

Up next, the group is gearing up to unite with The B-52’s for the 2025 “Cosmic De-Evolution Tour”: a co-headlining 12-date run serving as both bands’ continuing concert farewells. Lene Lovich will open the celebratory trek, which launches September 24th in Toronto and wraps November 2nd in Houston. Tickets are available now at LiveNation.com.

COSMIC DE-EVOLUTION TOUR DATES 2025:

9/24 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage

9/25 – Clarkston, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre

10/2 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center

10/4 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center

10/5 – Wantagh, NY @ Northwell at Jones Beach Theater

10/16 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre

10/18 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl

10/19 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl

10/24 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion

10/25 – Alpharetta, GA @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre

11/1 – Austin, TX @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater                                  

11/2 – Houston, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Sponsored by Huntsman

In 1973, out of the remnants of late ’60s political activism and the rising post-punk music climate, the seminal band DEVO was born. The formative lineup consisted of two sets of brothers—Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh, and Gerald and Bob Casale—along with drummer Alan Myers, all hailing from Akron, Ohio. The band’s prophetic message of “Devolution” and their strikingly original fusion of electronics and punk made them a singular influence throughout the ’80s and into the ’90s.

 DEVO began when Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale met as students at Kent State University and began exchanging ideas about art and music. Deeply influenced by the Vietnam War, campus protests, and the tragic Kent State shootings of May 1970, the duo started making films and writing songs that would evolve into a wholly unique performance style. Their art-meets-music ethos quickly propelled them into the spotlight as one of the most high-profile acts in the New Wave movement, earning them a fervent cult following that included David Bowie, Iggy Pop, and Neil Young.

 In 1978, after an impromptu endorsement at Max’s Kansas City where David Bowie declared them “the band of the future,” DEVO was whisked off to Germany. There, Brian Eno—along with Bowie’s collaboration—produced their debut album Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are DEVO!. The record caught the attention of both critics and the industry, helping the band build a devoted following. It wasn’t until their third album, Freedom of Choice—produced by Bob Margouleff and featuring the double-platinum single Whip It—that DEVO became a worldwide phenomenon.

 The band continued to evolve, releasing influential albums such as New Traditionalists,, Oh No! It’s DEVO, and Shout. Their visual and sonic innovations helped define the aesthetic of the early MTV era.

 In 1990, DEVO went on hiatus to pursue other creative paths. Mark Mothersbaugh received a call from friend Paul Reubens and went on to compose the theme and music for Pee-wee’s Playhouse. This unexpected opportunity launched him into a prolific career in film and television composition. He founded Mutato Muzika—a full-service music production house and a nod to his DEVO roots (“mutant” + “potato”)—and brought in Bob Mothersbaugh and Bob Casale. Based in the iconic Oscar Niemeyer building on Sunset Boulevard, Mutato became one of the most successful music houses in Hollywood. Mark has since become one of the most in-demand and highest-grossing composers in the industry. In addition to hundreds of commercials, games, and television projects, his film scores include The Rugrats Movie, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Lego Movie, Thor: Ragnarok, Cocaine Bear, and most recently, A Minecraft movie.

 Gerald Casale, director of most of DEVO’s music videos, became a notable figure in the MTV revolution, directing videos for bands like Rush, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, and Silverchair. He also built a successful commercial career, directing for brands including Miller Lite, Diet Coke, Mrs. Butterworth’s and Tang.

 In 1996, DEVO reunited for the first time in six years at the Sundance Film Festival to an exuberant crowd—DEVO was back. With the original lineup intact (except for Alan Myers, who was replaced by drummer Josh Freese), the band reignited their live performance legacy. Freese remained with DEVO for nearly two decades.

Since then, DEVO has continued to perform at festivals and venues around the globe. Their message feels more relevant than ever, and their influence can be heard in bands ranging from Rage Against the Machine and Nirvana to LCD Soundsystem and Santigold. Kurt Cobain once said, “Of all the bands who came from the underground and made it in the mainstream, DEVO were the most challenging and subversive of all.” (Nirvana covered DEVO’s Turnaround, featured on their 1992 compilation Incesticide.)

 In 2023, DEVO embarked on their 50th Anniversary Tour, featuring three original members—Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh, and Gerald Casale. Jeff Friedl now holds the drumsticks, and Josh Hager has taken over for the late Bob Casale on rhythm guitar and synths. Their high-energy performances blend punk, rock, and synth-pop in a way that continues to astonish and delight audiences.