DEVO Live on Fridays (1981) Part 1/3

1981 (Adventures of the Smart Patrol/New Traditionalists era)
Devo Live, performing Theme From Adventures of The Smart Patrol and Jerkin' Back 'n' Forth.
*LEAVE COMMENTS, LET ME KNOW PEOPLE ARE CHECKIN' THIS STUFF OUT. I MAY POST MORE.*

[@dablaqueguy]

LMAO! I was 11 when this came out. As a black guy growing up in a rough area, I was a little.....different. I was a B-Boy, listened to this, the hairbands, and tons of R&B and hip-hop before it started to sound like gangster rap. The 80's were something special. Still a nerd. Funny thing is; you would never know until we got into a deep discussion. I'm older; but I realize that i'm a very unique person. I think that goes for most of us brought up during this time frame. :)

[@justjackjordinjustin]

Stanley Hunter .. I concur. This was a great record. I’m so lucky I bought it after hearing Through Being Cool and Jerkin’ Back & Forth...then I wound up liking the entire album

[@tomyterranova9148]

we need more DEVO. ! yes even in 2018!

[@Ocelot1962]

I remember seeing this live on TV when it first aired in 1981. I was and still is soooo cool!

[@aliendrink]

Awesome!!!!!! These guys have been my favorite band since 79' when I was 11!!!! Still listen to them every day at 41 . Keep up with the great classic footage!!!

[@mrdiamond666]

Awesome.. Searching my memory data banks..... I somewhat remember seing this. I was 8 in 81. But i was alowed to watch fridays.. it was a great time...

[@9999999995914]

i remember hearing the whole concert, the 1981 tour on radio, on the show called the king biscuit flower hour, !!!!! on the other side was U2 , and and at a record convention the vinals records were selling for a lot of money , because of U2,, and i hope that DEVO might have video footage or if some one might have tapped the show, and would love to see it on dvd !!!!!!!!

[@maynardsmoreland]

Saw this the night it aired in 1981. Incredible.

[@PandoraNYC1]

Dito, I was 14 yrs old and I was up late watching Fridays - good times.

[@Robostate]

Same here! Made an audio cassette from it which I played to death!

[@christoJihad2]

These guys were so underrated as musicians and songwriters. Their lyrics were often very insightful and they played live great

[@truthaintpretty]

I sat excitedly right in front of the telly and recorded this with my Realistic tape recorder that Friday night in '81! "Adventures Of Smart Patrol" still runs chills up my spine 30 years later! Truly unique in every way, never matched...

[@McShamus001]

saw this on Fridays...blew my mind.

[@gtv6chuck]

I saw them on this tour, in Boulder, Colorado. It was the 2nd concert I'd ever been to, and it was just awesome.

[@rickstevens5711]

I saw this in 1981 and it blew me the fuck away then and it still does today. This is a brilliant display of theatrics, staging and music. Years (if not DECADES) ahead of their time.

[@jawkneekat]

First concert ever: This tour, this setup. An amazing show for a 15 year old kid.

[@diffdrum1]

Love them! They were years ahead of their time. Still sounds ultra modern!

[@LakewoodDallas]

Unique is understatement for DEVO. Long live the 80s!

[@Delores835]

I love Devo. I do remember watching this on Tv in my mother's bedroom.

[@talpajam]

have a newfound respect for Alan Myers..wow a total machine.

[@michaelharris4651]

Alan myers one of the best ,so fucking sad he passed away ! It hurts RIP Alan you were so great !!!!!!

[@readme60]

man brings me back to the 80's!

[@AngelaCaroleBrown]

I was there! It is one of my fondest remembrances!

[@PepperWhite62]

OMG I remember that too. Wait a second that means we are OLD.... Grrrrr.

[@2refinish]

Alan Myers was one hell of a drummer.

[@coreycox2345]

I think sounding like a drum machine is genius 2refinish.

[@madmex66]

I remember waiting all week long to see this show. Ahh the good ol days.

[@richteri]

Devo is soooo cool. Greetings from Berlin (Germany)

[@longlivebytor]

That's right! I love it when fellow fans that know what they're talking about set the record straight. I saw them on the New Traditionalists tour on 11/27/81. It was my first concert.

[@9999999995914]

I HOPE THAT ONE DAY THAT , ABC WILL RELEASE THE ENTIRE FRIDAYS SHOW ON DVD WITH THE STARS ,LARRY DAVID MICHAEAL RICHARDS AND SPECIAL GUEST THE LATE GREAT ANDY KAFFEMAN !!!!!!!!!!! CASALE ONCE SAID IN AN INTERVIEW THAT 1981 TOUR THE VIDEO FILMS WERE RUINED ??? TOO BAD THE 1981 TOUR WOULD BEEN GREAT ON DVD !!!!!! ALSO ON FRIDAYS , WERE THESE OUTER GREAT MUSIC ARTISTS , THE CARS THE CLASH HEART , WAR AND TWO MORE DEVO SHOWS PLEASE VOTE DEVO FOR THE NEXT FUTURE LEGENDS!!!!!! AND DOCTOR RON PAUL!!

[@guyboost7311]

I hope so too I hope it's available for sale in 2019 ?

[@larrywilliams67]

HAPPY NEW YEAR ! 2018 great DEVO FANS !

[@angmar248]

Thanks for posting this. I saw this on TV as a kid and the one thing that always stuck in my mind about this was the use of the conveyor belts and the plastic hair. I was fascinated...I still am. Pop music was never the same...

[@goldenhog]

i love devo, and i enjoy watching videos of their live performances! please post more!

[@AdamBorseti]

Great synths! I always loved how well DEVO mixed that thumping synth bass sound circa- "New Traditionalists" over the Linn LM-1 drum machine! It sounds great!

[@obscuritystunt]

Alan Myers - the human metronome

[@larrywilliams67]

love the J F K haircuts !

[@kritter65]

I watch this video a few times a year and this is still so freakin' cool. Love, love, LOVE the instrumental intro. My brothers played Pink Floyd and KISS and other rock bands from that era back then, and I was so sick of that stuff. Then I heard DEVO and my life changed. I don't listen to them much any longer, but if you're first band you like is DEVO, then you can imagine the type of music I've been listening to ever since.

[@larrywilliams67]

DEVO , next future legends !

[@syntaxx1269]

they were so ahead of their time its not even funny...but really...they were singing about genes and dna in the late 70's...no one had even even heard of that!....an amazing band and the best part is...they STILL play!! if you ever get a chance, see em live..i swear you wont regret it

[@taufactor]

Jerkin' Back and Forth is one of the best duet song for Gerry and Mark : )

[@mhofkp]

one of the best bands in the world...period...

[@Robostate]

OHIOANS AT THEIR BEST! I SAW THIS LIVE 42 YEARS AGO! OHIO ROCKS, DEVO ROCKS! GOD BLESS OHIO!

[@buttercup5000]

Yes!! Devo rocks!!! Clip speaks for itself.

[@jawkneekat]

First concert ever was this tour / Dec. 12 1981. No wonder I thought they were incredible. Thanks for posting.

[@rtbarnes4893]

Wow.. I was there. There's a shot of us (Barnes & Barnes) at the 4:49 mark, in Devo hair/hats. We went out to sushi dinner with Mark after the show and came back to our house and watched the airing of the show that night. Was fun!....

[@enmach1]

Thanks for posting, I have a tinny "cassette recorder held to the tv speaker" of the intro here someplace and had no idea that part even had a title.

[@keithshelly]

I didn't know this existed! I'm glad that some off of TRADITIONALISTS got some national media exposure! Jerry looks so different! What a stage setup! I just heard "Don't shoot(I"m a man)" for the first time!

[@guyboost7311]

Jerry and the boys are wearing The JFK pumps Something For Everybody and Something Else For Everybody are great albums !

[@guyboost7311]

Did see What We Do DEVO posted by Devoviision and Fresh DEVO posted by Clay Konner and That's Good DEVO posted by Electronictomato ?

[@NoGuff]

This isn't just doing a set on a variety/comedy show, this is "putting on a freakin show." They've got a set/lighting and they do 2 songs back to back each set. DEVO rocks!

[@Appropriator]

thanks for posting! you are a true disciple worshipping at the church of devo

[@jmcieslak0]

I think it's too common a misconception that DEVO is just a "weird 80's band" - they can actually rock really hard.

[@scrawnyscream]

OMG I MISS THE 80s!!!

[@johnny420hst]

Saw them both times they played the Jai-li fronton here in Tampa. [its now a Home Depot] Wife thought I was crazy! One of the best performance bands ever!

[@NESSHEAD]

Love that Theme From Adventures of The Smart Patrol.

[@guyboost7311]

It reminds me of The Super Thing and Going Under ! Maybe it's called The Nutra Theme !

[@gothicsakura82]

just look at them today , i couldn t believe my eyes, and i watched this too

[@SlaeSlae]

Truly awesome. Kudos from a diehard DEVOtee.

[@aaronquy1968]

so ahead of their time musically!! Hell Yeah!!

[@SirReal1958]

SNL just couldn't or didn't want to feature new wave bands the way Friday's did. Devo is timeless & long overdue for induction into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.

[@BrianIam2]

I was third row for concert where they had those treadmills...before I had ever seen them do it on TV...my well toasted brain could not process wtf was going on for the 1st several songs. Long Live DEVO

[@thedirective]

I wish Devo inc. would issue a DVD w/ footage from this tour! still ahead of their time....even now.

[@goedit]

I remember recording this years ago. Don't have it anymore. Great performances! Thanks for posting this!

[@beachkidboy]

Me and my buddies went to this all the time. Saw DEVO, The Cars, and (cough) Pat Benatar. For DEVO we even had costumed and black/white 'DEVO' signs but were edited out. Good 'ole ABC on Prospect.

[@TeeBeeBad63]

Thank you furionhazard!! you've made the world a better place!

[@Discorporate]

Really Cool to see this again, I forgot the show Fridays was ever on.

[@35sixer]

Music of the New Wave post punk was so original and creative.. Just about every band had their own unique sound.. I miss those times..

[@BrownsburgKevin]

You know you're old when: You can remember watching this in your bedroom LIVE back in March 1981.

[@ellisdee1233]

wow !!! i saw this same (full) show live in toronto then . the treadmills blew my mind at first cause i was sitting (can u believe that!!!! sitting at a rock show ??) too low to see and it looked like they were going to walk off the stage and float over the audience . then when i realized what was happening i laughed my ass off . (did a lot of acid in the 70's and 80's you know ? ). devo are one of a kind and i luv them . i've seen them 5 times since !! R.I.P. ALAN MYERS ...cancer . too bad and very sad .

[@GodWeenSatan]

Don't forget Bob Casale R.I.P. :(

[@ellisdee1233]

yes , sad .

[@rjm65]

Wow! I haven't seen this since it aired on Fridays back in the 80's!

[@blsk8s]

If you saw them at the Palladium last night , you DID see them in their prime. It was incredible.

[@folksisfolks]

Saw this tour at Hill in A2. Mind blowing!!!!!!

[@joehill448]

THIS IS FANTASTIC thank you for posting this put up more!!!

[@iconicshrubbery]

Epic,Devastating Machine-Blast played by 5 Live! Humanoid-Spuds from Ohio, This intro is an incredible declaration of intentions to their early-80's period-and never attempted before by a band.....on exercise belts!

[@PatrickCSheehy]

GENIUSES on so many levels

[@Corsair092]

I am a New Traditionalist! Mark, TOUR MORE. There are more devolutionists out here than you might guess..

[@sulky_grrrl]

YUP

[@MrBigcityal]

The audience is great!

[@stormyweather2116]

I love how creative they are =D

[@fenomozo9108]

New Tradionalists is my favourite era. Too bad that they only put Going Under on the setlist nowadays.

[@sulky_grrrl]

NT is the best.

[@justjackjordinjustin]

I know, I Love every track on that Vinyl LP

[@mrmojok]

Wow, just wow. This really takes me back. If you have more, I'd love to see them!

[@jcmegabyte]

Great show - thanks very much for posting! :D

[@cathridge]

Great stage set-up. I wish SNL's stage was that big. I remember Friday's as a rival to SNL back in the 80s. Saw alot of great bands on there. That's the first time I saw King Crimson too.

[@mournblade1066]

Man, this was (indeed, IS) the greatest band ever! And I agree, they (along with The Cramps) deserve to be in the RaRHoF! The EAGLES got in, so how hard can it be???

[@ckeos]

long live DEVO !!!!!!!!

[@Khultan]

'Fridays?' Why does that sound so familiar?!? I keep thinking of Friday Night Flight a late night television venue....anyhow, this is another first for me seeing this video....excellent!! Devo!!

[@drmlabs]

Im jealous! I missed this tour, and Hill woulda been a great place to see them!

[@M3m3ntoMori]

MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOREEEEE!!!!!! Thank you!!! :D

[@taboomarnoo]

The infamous Fridays Treadmill set, Metapunk! Devo gets a ton of well deserved loved these days, but at one time there was a price to pay if you were a Devotee.

[@motorscooterRick]

They didn't really 'sell out', they just grew up (conformed) and followed the money like we all end up doing.

[@stampscapes]

Fridays was a great show.

[@iceman91321]

I saw this live too. I was in 10th grade. The only time I've had an awe inspiring music moment like this was years later when I saw Marilyn Manson sing the Dope Show on the MTV music awards. You just say, HUH????? No way am I seeing this.

[@duffdont]

agreed! both are great performers

[@thisismyhappening]

Thanks for posting!

[@distr0ia]

this is too cool for words

[@mic01]

Devo, Kraftwefk, and The Ramon's...three bands pretty ahead of their time's....

[@JetblastAZ]

As a show, "Fridays sucked, being a second-rate copy of SNL. But, they did have great music acts, and Devo was primo at the time. Rhanks for posting!

[@ProbertFire]

Great vid! I'd never seen this. Cool idea with the 'moving sidewalk'...totally Devo.

[@KevinBrownsvideos]

Awesome! i haven't ever seen this footage!

[@PoserExposer]

rare footage,very cool!

[@Bonedaddy500]

Art and punk rolled into one

[@Cthulberg]

Brilliant post!

[@guyboost7311]

Happy New year 2020 ! DEVO Fans !

[@preciousbash]

YAY CORPORATE HAIR!!!! I have some of my own from back in the day!!

[@markarmes1071]

Hell yeah this is awesome

[@sirlonghair]

the treadmill's are asume can't remember the band but every one loved 'THEAR IDEA" to use treadmills DEVO truly ahead of thear time

[@SomethingBlack]

Fridays was a awesome show....it had "lude man " if I'm not mistaken.

[@kiely]

thanks

[@JunkyardKid]

@thegreatreverendx jumped the shark with Shout- that damn Fairlight synth.

[@LonelyAtTheTop79]

@TheWhanfried you can buy the New Traditionalist pompadour hair they are wearing on their official website now

[@CandyPants627]

Aww all the people with those sexy pomps! Please post more!