Ask The Artist: Bob Mothersbaugh (DEVO)

Recently, we had the pleasure of interviewing DEVO’s very own Robert Mothersbaugh about his DEVO experience, some of his past stories as well as his current projects including Rugrats and Motown. As we like to call him, Bob took us through a witty interview about his journey working in the music industry. Bob grew up as just another kid in Akron, Ohio. He had odd jobs like working at an ice cream parlor and took piano lessons from his church pianist. He eventually picked up the guitar and became a guitar player, eventually joining DEVO with his brother Mark. Following DEVO Bob got involved in recording for TV-shows, commercials, and movies.
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[@boogiemite]

One of the most underrated guitarists in rock. The man has some of the most brilliant rock guitar motifs I've ever heard.

[@dermot51]

Up there with Ricky Wilson , very innovatvel player

[@claram6149]

I would have to agree

[@tedsalins6734]

Agree

[@sant-antonioterranova7870]

@@tedsalins6734 kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5vCYomwpdR-esk Jerry Casale on The Ed Show MSNBC August -8-12-2012 This is The classic video that exposes The Deep State

[@sant-antonioterranova7870]

@@dermot51 kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5vCYomwpdR-esk Jerry Casale on The Ed Show MSNBC August-8-12-2012 This is The classic video that exposes The Deep State

[@mournblade1066]

You know, this is the first time I have ever heard him speak.

[@KomradeKrusher]

Bob1 always provided the true "punk" edge to what could otherwise have been an "overly intellectual" endeavour. On stage, his gum-chewing nonchalance perfectly balances out the more involved and choreographed antics of the others - until he cuts loose during his solos. He's really the soul of the band and probably one of my favorite guitarists.

[@MegaJetJaguar]

Bob 1 is one of the most underrated guitarists ever. I love his style. He laid down some of the most impressive killer guitar riffs of all-time during his days with DEVO!

[@ebenezerstooge1716]

You got that right!

[@sant-antonioterranova7870]

@@ebenezerstooge1716 kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5vCYomwpdR-esk Jerry Casale on The Ed Show MSNBC August-8-12-2012 This is The classic video that exposes The Deep State

[@ebenezerstooge1716]

@@sant-antonioterranova7870 As Jerry already said, Devo was right about everything.

[@mr.kamikaze._xd]

Yesterday was his 70th birthday Luv u Bob

[@1e0s]

What a Legend. I feel so privileged to have seen DEVO back in 78.

[@shaolin1derpalm]

Jealous. I thought they were comedic at the time, but I have deep dived and realized they were angry trolls lol. Which makes me love them even more.

[@davidstevens6705]

This guy is awesome and to this day is my favorite lead Guitarist

[@mrcinemajunky]

Bob and his gum...lol...cool guy, seems really down to earth.

[@crispyrobot77]

Bob Mothersbaugh CRUSHED Rock. Strange but true.

[@sinjinmonsoon9055]

He is my favourite singer in DEVO. He made the band. I just love him

[@sharifmansour9678]

How did you convince him to talk for 8 minutes?

[@bxtrc1341]

He has the voice of a blue collar guy from an archived newsreel in the late 1940's

[@henrym6411]

What a cool dude! Would love to meet at least one of them one day! They all seem cool!!

[@marcellofreitas7356]

Devo members have a long time reputation of cool guys. Go for it. : )

[@jeffr.5717]

Not just guitar in Devo, but some lead vocals too.

[@joshuakatz2499]

When I was 18 (1988) had tix to devo concert in Cleveland. Needed one more for the show. Called Bob senior (General Boy) in Akron to see if we could get an extra ticket from them (we were just teenagers and he was so nice to just take our phone calls from time to time.) He said come on down to his house to get one. We got there and Bob was just sitting there on the couch warming up for the show later that night. It was amazing for us kids as we were huge fans. He did not stop to talk to us and we did not bother to interrupt him.

[@davidmack4495]

great memories in late 70's, early 80's.. Devo was so cool...

[@simonbarber2098]

One of the greatest bands ever. Had the pleasure of seeing them in Hammersmith, absolutely wonderful.

[@coytibbit6414]

One of my favorite guitarists alongside Paul Leary, Jim Martin, Eddie Clark and Rocky George.

[@kidmillion2552]

Bob 1 the legend👊

[@Mark_Ocain]

I think I want to have lived his life...he is so down to earth but super out there at the same time.

[@Cujo_Ate_My_Credit_Card]

The potato guitar made me laugh. Would like to see what the Bob's sketch of it looked like.

[@halleffect1]

it's a real thing, there is a video

[@rhythmdroid]

Honestly, I wondered how someone as handsome as Bob 1 ended up in such a subversive and nerdy band like Devo. Usually, lanky, athletic guys with the chiseled jawline ended up getting all the chicks in high school and sliding right into the American Dream, letting the days go by, finding themselves behind the wheel of a large automobile...that was the whole world that Devo was profoundly alienated by and critical of.

[@bojanarezina2352]

lol is this a joke?

[@toms4442]

It's probably just lucky!

[@sirbones]

teehee, once in a lifetime

[@rhythmdroid]

@@sirbones you got it

[@KomradeKrusher]

To me, his look provided the sliver of "punk" aesthetic in those early days. His physique, pronounced features and his "cool" demeanor would have made him seem right at home with fellow Ohio misfits "The Dead Boys" (ironically, he and Stiv Bators looked much more like they could be brothers than Mark and Bob ever did), but here he was, right in the middle of the nerd crew. It's just one of those many, little idiosyncracies about the band where - on paper - things should have never fit, but instead worked out perfectly.

[@QuarrellaDeVil]

One of these days, we're going to get someone to put a microphone in front of the two Mothersbaugh sisters for some input on their three famous brothers.

[@sant-antonioterranova7870]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5vCYomwpdR-esk Jerry Casale on The Ed Show MSNBC August-8-12-2012 This is The classic video that exposes The Deep State

[@kenkur27]

Three?

[@QuarrellaDeVil]

@@kenkur27 Don't forget about Jim Mothersbaugh, who played drums for the band early on, and who also has a knack for technology. Sounds like he's had a good career, post-DEVO.

[@kenkur27]

@@QuarrellaDeVil Wasn't aware of him.

[@mikehersh6192]

General Boy💃🕺

[@josejones7025]

DEVO best band in the world

[@videooblivion]

❤ Bob

[@blinkbunny9781]

Love Bob !!!!

[@texashsad]

Robert, you and Devo Rock!!!!! I always enjoy listening to Devo even to this day. The music never grows old. Fan forever!!! :)

[@maryfitch6140]

Looking good, Bob! Creative life, nice. Happy Birthday.

[@CandyEvie_]

The Jurisdiction of love!!!!!!!!!!

[@kosovoblues5019]

What a great , sharp, guitar man

[@CanalMAIRENO]

Now it can be told: DEVO was the most influent post-punk band ever.

[@marcellofreitas7356]

I like almost equally all Devo members, specially when talking about the classic line-up. Mark is my favorite member for all he does, but I feel very thrilled with Bob1´s guitar playing and witty persona. : )

[@Caniballe]

True genius.

[@leokimvideo]

DEVO is actually a cloaked guitar band, so many good riffs in their music. Bob & Mark are the core essence of DEVO.

[@shaolin1derpalm]

So is Gerry lol.

[@drearman6229]

tired of the soup du jour

[@jaimedeleon1194]

He's been with the world

[@DurandMj]

@@jaimedeleon1194 From their Christian roots!

[@sirreal1290]

My "Duty Now for the Future" is to be an active member of the Smart Patrol.

[@timmarshall2062]

love his sound playing DeVo great stuff

[@OtaconEmmerich]

I keep forgetting he worked so long on Rugrats!

[@RadioJonesy]

seen Devo on all there Australian tours

[@garethwest9069]

Yeah, I saw them in 2008. They played for an hour or so and rolled away in their wheelchairs. God knows how they go now. Waste of $$$$.

[@davidstevens6705]

What? No mention of the Labaye 2x4?

[@elderlypoodle9181]

Great man !!!. I bet there were problems with two brothers in the same band. We have two sons . 😎. Loved the piano lessons story. And yes, the Starwood was a great place to play !!

[@QuarrellaDeVil]

cf. Ray and Dave Davies. 😊

[@marcellofreitas7356]

"I´m a guitar player and I play... well, with MIDI I play just about any instrument in the world". I´m also a guitar player that uses MIDI. I feel just like he does. : )

[@doninwv]

Kinda surprised he doesn't record at Mutato Musika with Mark....? Pretty sure he does some, anyway....

[@yellowjackboots2624]

He's beginning to look like the cook from Texas Chainsaw 😃

[@helmutsecke3529]

The sound of the guitar in Mongoloid is the sine qua non of exalted Godhead.

[@shaolin1derpalm]

I love his secret agent man

[@sci-fyguy7767]

My favorite Potato 🥔

[@a.jseventyseven8771]

Is that the studio that was always in 1980s shows like The A-Team when a shady record producer was involved in the story?

[@Bix12]

those studios make me drool

[@thomasstillman4805]

I have been tinkering with a 'Zoom 505 ll' effects pedal connected to a 'Roland Micro Cube' and I can get an amazing array of sounds combining the effects of both units. The Brothers Mothersbaugh, are my inspiration for sound discoveries. I hope they see this post and take a look at what I have dicoverd with this set up.

[@ebenezerstooge1716]

Mark Mothersbaugh > James Hetfield Bob Mothersbaugh > Kirk Hammett DEVO > Metallica Enough said.

[@mikehersh6192]

Master master

[@mr.kamikaze._xd]

Both bands are great

[@ebenezerstooge1716]

@@mikehersh6192 That ain't it, chief.

[@pillettadoinswartsh4974]

DEVO two Mothersbaughs. Two Casales. Two Bobs. No other band has more human-couplets.

[@KomradeKrusher]

You can't imagine how hard it was to wrap my head around that when I was younger and the internet was still sci-fi...

[@mikehersh6192]

250 million grift on magats priceless. 💃💃💃🕺🕺🕺Devolution is real. 🤓🤓

[@garethwest9069]

Champagne Socialists like every other leftist clown.

[@joshuakatz2499]

Never see him without chewing gum.

[@oceanadrianne]

🥔

[@richardmiranda640]

I wish he would spit out that cherry pit.

[@joshuakatz2499]

Dude chews gum in his sleep.

[@gregorykrug8034]

I "disliked" this video because there were no other dislikes.

[@Dixler683]

Gregory Krug ...one dimensional thinking.

[@joshuakatz2499]

Good idea!