Gerald Casale: Oral History of Devo

[@jamiepastman5594]

the most articulate, smart rock musician I've ever seen interviewed. I can't even hear the questions most of the time, but it doesn't matter at all. Total respect

[@J-Loe]

Well him and DeeDee Ramone

[@peterjonas4971]

This is such a delight. I'm a professor and this is one of the best lectures I've ever heard. I would put Gerald Casale up against any theorist today worth his/her weight in salt.

[@snfu6574]

Teach it

[@chrisccc22]

This was a delight to stumble upon. I went on a deep dive on some DEVO vids to have a flashback in time. I never knew the topology and concept that was behind DEVO because I was so young when they hit the mainstream.

[@fehryn7369]

@@chrisccc22 I was 10 when Whip-it came out too. I immediately got Freedom of Choice and LOVED it. I was already music obsessed. The depth of their messages was over my head, but I picked up on bits and pieces of it and knew they were important and progressive. It was wondrous and exciting, like I had something special. My friends just liked Whip-it. So DEVO was like a secret joy of mine alone. I wish I'd had just one friend who liked them like I did. Regrettably, I never saw them live since my friends were all going to punk shows in the following teen years and beyond.

[@peterjonas4971]

@@snfu6574 I would love to. It would take more than one class, one semester. There's the history of Marxism, Absurdism and the Da Da-ist movements; the hirstory of the European anarchgists, the VietCong, so much, not to mention the history of rock and roll and where it was in the mid 1970s.

[@soultrain0217]

"We were punk scientists! We were doing something that looked wrong, sounded wrong, we talked about things that nobody was talking about." Brilliance.

[@cuchopenaloza3725]

Gerald Casale is too smart ,,They should show this in to art schools as a MUST

[@stevem.7200]

Easily one of the SMARTEST musicians of all time. Amazing interview.

[@charlibiris]

Zappa

[@edwardruff7927]

Imagine KISS explaining themselves honestly like this

[@edwardruff7927]

Zappa had an elite smugness Devo never had

[@nigel900]

No doubt, most young Millennials see his cigar as fascist, sexist, racist, homophobic, and offensive to the environment..... and saw little else.

[@pinkmonkeybird2644]

Nigel 900 No, I don’t think so. My kids, who are teenagers, love Devo and understand their historical and cultural significance. They also love early Genesis, Pink Floyd with Syd Harris, Talking Heads, B52s and more. They and their peers don’t take anything at face value; that seems to be something my generation (GenX) does better.

[@wlrIII]

"The expression of art, music, dance- it's getting worse. I see less creativity, less diversity..." More true every day. De-Evolution is real.

[@granudisimo]

The non degenerate degeneration paradox: Art is degenerating because it lacks degeneracy, for everything is sanitized, polished, calculated and market-studied, specially so when it pretends to be nasty and edgy.

[@brentwalker3300]

Idiocracy baby.

[@deckelhound6574]

@@brentwalker3300 free gas at Carl’s Jr. extra big ass fries aka frys

[@wcsartanddesign]

Perhaps the issue is where you are directing your gaze. There's a near endless supply of Good to Very Good individuals/groups creating Art/Music/Dance, but if your bar is higher there is also a vast number of Great to Amazing of the same. For goodness sake, the internet exists, we have access now to the world's Art/Music/Dance. There's no excuse for the above perspective at this point.

[@hiddenmanna3683]

Devo is still light years ahead of everyone 45 years later..

[@tonygatos1]

Gerald is a genius and Devo has always been under-rated. De-evolution is truly here…..just look around you.

[@wallacegrommet9343]

And it’s accelerating like a car with a jammed gas pedal heading for a brick wall

[@machinelanguage5108]

Underrated by whom? DEVO has had a huge following since the 70s.

[@mikehersh6192]

These guys are not poorly educated🍻

[@mikehersh6192]

I just found out rick Scott is a crook and a fraud☹️☹️☹️

[@walterblock5082]

@@machinelanguage5108 The Hall of Fame?

[@dwodo21]

Fascinating interview. Extremely insightful. Gerald Casale is very intelligent, articulate, and has a deep understanding of the business, while maintaining the "artist's" perspective. ...and he's absolutely correct, they were never punk; they were completely different from the punk scene, both musically and aesthetically.

[@cardigansarecool]

dwodo21 but as he said, that made them the most “punk”. I consider Devo a punk band, as punk was originally intended to be at least. It fits better than “New Wave”

[@cardigansarecool]

@Captain Brandon Cinema Lover New Wave was marketing term made up by record companies. I like a lot of new wave bands, but to me Devo is a punk band. "Punk" is it was originally intended; a way of thinking, not a specific sound. I understand why people call Devo new wave, but if you really dive deeper into their philosophy and especially their early music before their radio songs, you see it was pretty extreme. They have little in common with The Cars or Duran Duran

[@fehryn7369]

@@cardigansarecool Exactly. DEVO's sound was futuristic like other bands categorized as New Wave (Missing Persons, B52s, etc...). Their mission was Punk, being FAR more advanced and outspoken. Typical American "punk" bands had a narrow scope and comparatively unoriginal content and look.

[@tracywalker6813]

Feeding a guy in gimp suit with an enema bag at an art show. The image in my head is so horrific l can't stop laughing. XD

[@demonicsweaters]

I love that he called out Byrne. He was totally imitating Mark, it's so completely obvious in Once In A Lifetime.

[@mikehersh6192]

Wicked little doll. Byrne. Feelings 1997🤓

[@Miauwen_]

maybe theyre just both autistic

[@diegoholguin8019]

Gerald V was straight up saying Byrne biting my boys shit haha i love it.

[@TylerDurden-oy2hm]

What a wonderful, patient interviewee!!He indulges the interviewers questions even though hes probably answered them more times than hed like in the past.Have to admire Casales humility.

[@shawnaaronmccraney]

While I identified with punk I, without shame or fear, fully embraced Devo while staying true to punk circa 1978. In retrospect there was never a more original band to ever exist in sound, cadence, style, and intention. That includes Eno. Hats off. Thank you for the music and this interview.

[@No_thanks780]

For whatever it's worth....Gerald Casale is my hero.

[@jasonrusso6402]

Jon Engman same here, him & Mark. period.

[@peopleskarmasquad1042]

J. Beamrider Ohio boys are one step above.

[@wolverine2244]

Same here

[@mikehersh6192]

Devo has many rules 💃💃💃

[@rupertradar7424]

25 years after this took place and I enjoyed every second of this. Love these guys.

[@ALong-fo5so]

I never understood them for years when I first heard Whip It, thinking it was some song related to bondage. Now I know Devo’s songs and performances are a satire, a parody of the worse excesses of establishment. It took me years to understand them. I am catching up with their work and I love them. Their live acts are amazing.

[@leokimvideo]

DEVO, ideas formed from junk. And thats genius

[@brianfergus839]

Thank you for this great interview. Its really helping me comprehend Gerald’s potato

[@BigBrokenPants]

Having seen the shows in the early 80's it's sad they got panned. The experience was magical.

[@zandarx]

I met and had a drink with this genuine, professional awesome man....

[@gardenofeels6872]

Who paid?

[@ralphnewman2479]

Great interview! Everything he says is even more apropos today than it was then! DEVO FOREVER!

[@bevo65]

I'm sure he and I occupy different parts of the philosophical spectrum -- but wow, I could listen to this dude all day. This far exceeded my expectations. 👍

[@The_OneManCrowd]

Me too. I'm no leftist like he is by any means, but most of what he says is spot on. It's a beautiful world 🌎we live in.

[@mikehersh6192]

🙄only since 1975. Get straight move ahead💃💃

[@rabbitss11]

that rarest of things, an intellectual discussion about popular music, thanks Devo

[@SolarSailor1967]

"Really being smart but appearing stupid." I've been trying to figure out DEVO for 30 years and that comment summed it up. I've always loved them but now I understand them.

[@tomjeffries58]

That was a small but very difficult part.

[@KingCast65]

I got them from the git. Dressed up as DEVO in high school 1980. I'm from Cleveland, 45 miles from DEVOland. BTW they were quite a bit harder-edged in the 70's.

[@tomjeffries58]

@@KingCast65 That was the Devo I liked (the 70's). After years of rock going pop in the 70's, Devo was a beacon of truth, sarcasm and originality. Edit: Suburban Robots that monitor reality!

[@KingCast65]

@@tomjeffries58 Clockout too. All of it. It's all mixed up in a Big Mess.

[@chrisdci4215]

I have fallen back into a deeper love with DEVO and what thoughts they tried to illicit. Wow! He and Mark have blown my head open!

[@scottbubb2946]

I've been playing music for 35 years and I don't think I've ever met any musicians who haven't been in a band that was paid to leave at least once.

[@gregm9587]

Happy to have found this interview. Fortunate enough to see Devo in '79. This interview, discussing music creativity and reinvention, is as relevant today as 1995.

[@granudisimo]

Finally somebody compiled the full interview in one video. You have won the youtubes.

[@gareth5000]

I'm so happy to hear this that I'm crying. This is gold.

[@mikehersh6192]

☹️

[@gareth5000]

With joy

[@chrisccc22]

I was 10 when "Whip It' came out. It literally swept the nation by storm. SNL shortly after. That was big time. I was never old enough to understand the concept. I dove back in about a year ago and stumbled on this. SO glad I did. Thanks guys.

[@jeffreyholmes7216]

I will never forget seeing them on Saturday night live. I had never heard of them. After about 10 seconds of W.T.F is this. I loved it.

[@davidvasquez8658]

I actually thought they were robots!

[@scaremeister]

Devo needs to be inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Along with Kraftwerk. .. just shameful they arent already.. Ohio ;)

[@johnb5057]

your avatar scares the fuck out of me. and a fellow sp fan as well. hi

[@antagonizingusername]

@@johnb5057 that is cEvin Key

[@davidhines68]

I have to admit, when I saw "oral history" and Devo in the same sentence, I wasn't sure what the hell I'd get. This is really fascinating.

[@williamheckman4597]

I'd love to see a movie about the band. Call it Devolution.

[@mattiassvanberg8292]

Uncontrollable Urge

[@jelt110]

I took my future wife to Metro (Chicago) in 88 (?)- best first date possible. Awesome concert- super energy, great music. I always loved DEVO through the early 80s in rural wisconsin high school. It warped me in the best way. I can never repay the debt.

[@imbwildrd3693]

Everything Gerald says is absolutely exactly how I feel, right down to his feelings on grunge "music". Unfortunately, humanity had already devolved to a level of minimal understanding of the depth and meaning of Devo.

[@The_OneManCrowd]

That because they're still so far into the future. WAY beyond our time.

[@zenojones]

This is the best hour ive seen in a long time

[@hughiedavies6069]

Really interesting interview, I occasionally listen to devo , usually uncontrollable urge but I think they were one of the most original bands to come out of America from that era, devo and talking heads were the 2 that stood out. I didn't know Brian eno produced them until now 👍

[@jefferson4213]

incredibly interesting interview. devo were most certainly ahead of their time - and right on the money when it comes to de-evolution!

[@princeofcupspoc9073]

As I'm watching this on KZbin, I see the following video ads on the right: Visit Fukushima, Why People Are Eating Tide Pods, Horseshoe Crabs Saved My Life. So in 2018, Gerry is right on the mark.

[@chuckcrunch1]

they use Horseshoe Crabs blood cells to develop a test called Limulus Amebocyte Lysate, or LAL, which checks new vaccines for contamination.

[@JessicaBlack2406]

Thanks for posting this. Fantastic!

[@3rdeye399]

an amazing interview that makes DEVO as a band even more amazing...... way ahead of their time Musically and Politically... they have a simple common sense that reflects how humanity has DE-EVolved and fails to see so.

[@mikehersh6192]

Really. Twice impeached unreliable financial statements and contempt lying children marked cards embezzlement prostitution shoplifting wire fraud falsified divorce settlement. 😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝outstanding credentials priceless💃💃💃💃💃💃

[@3rdeye399]

@@mikehersh6192 I love their music but I view them differently today even though I have not heard of the stuff you mention.. it does not surprise me...nothing surprises me any more ,for I look where others fail to... they are part of a bigger system that sells their souls....

[@dinacarr2734]

Think George Carlin covered the de-evolving of humans, especially Americans quite well

[@wendellwiggins3776]

YES! Roxy Music.. I was at art college in Cleveland 74-79 and DEVO played there early on. Two school mates became huge Devo fanatics and would crash campus/Dorm parties in Devo gear and take over the sound system, driving the students crazy but I loved it. They were like our first pre-Punks.

[@dozerla2705]

Fascinating interview - so much inside/early info from Casale - a feast for true DEVO fans.

[@patforden-kc6xn]

Wow. The most articulate I have seen anyone be. I can’t get enough of interviews with this group and Gerald Casales.

[@DAVE1R1111]

we Always need people like Gerry Casale around !

[@Mark_Ocain]

I've seen a few interviewsd of Mark Mothersbaugh and I found him to be a little more leveled and unpretentious if maybe a tad Aspbergers-esque at times. Gerry Casale is pretty smart though but I can kind of see him being the business brains of Devo

[@paulewog857]

You guys were my 80’s. I was asleep but somehow internally aware that something wasn’t right on Earth. Devolution-I get it! We’re witnessing this right now. Thank you 🙏

[@kimhannan4892]

Absolutely fantastic interview...intelligent, informative, amusing at times!!!

[@micmac1121]

Brilliant interview. Saw them on my 21st birthday at the Ritz. Thank you DEVO

[@chetblack8315]

Devolution is REAL.

[@TheJabernet]

I KNEW IT! These guys were on the RED pill since the '70's. They always seem to know something the rest didn't. LOVE DEVO!! ALWAYS HAVE, ALWAYS WILL !!!! DEVO FOREVER!!

[@lawencelawson5089]

Sorry spud…. It’s a certifiable fact that anybody that uses the term “ red pill”, knows nothing of de evolution…

[@benitolazio8193]

What a band , pioneering and headstrong.

[@brentwalker3300]

Prophetic words when viewed in 2021. I had their albums back in the early 80's and knew they were special and different. Eventually saw them in SF in the early 90's with a housemate who had dated one of the band in LA. It was a fantastic show. This video is just blowing my mind and makes perfect sense when I look back. Some of thee questions at the end were formulaic and uncomfortably idiotic. Casale must have felt like a Miss Universe contestant.

[@slamfreepoetry1845]

grew up in Akron. i wish i had known more about DEVO then. i wasn't ready.

[@biancachristie]

“We were having fun at the time making people angry.” That was punk in a nutshell, at least for us in the mid 80s

[@williamharker5464]

Damn, Great watch. Well worth the time.

[@williampetrovic5427]

I like that Jerry looks at things philosophically instead of politically - in this interview anyway. Its smart, and refreshing to hear someone who views things objectively - even though DEVO is based on group conformity.

[@jamielacourse7578]

I just turned 60 and I'm still a spud. Why isn't this guy teaching a university course on de- evolution? Especially these days? I think it's absolutely valid and accurate. The man's busy enough though. ALL HAIL DEVO

[@bookboy7007]

White Dopes on Punk

[@jeebsgold]

Still WAY ahead of the times.

[@cess1972]

..."I think David Byrne was imitating Mark"... totally agree. Watch "once in a lifetime" video and you'll agree too

[@fredrikasmith6411]

cess72. naw. not so much

[@caballosinnombre3981]

"I must inform you that you have made a grave error. "

[@trextrextrex]

Nope. David Byrne was all himself.

[@gregbrown3283]

No David is just weird

[@JaimeValladares00]

Talking Heads were better also, just saying

[@vic3925]

love the cigar lighting moment

[@offplanetfilms]

Devo was always a huge influence for me. I still compose music for our films & videos with a slight 'Devo tinge'!

[@paulgrimshaw8334]

Wow. Great perspectives. Imagine brilliant extraterrestrials observing this world from afar. In the galactic picosecond of Devo’s rise and fall, the momentarility turn their attention to one of their pets humping a table leg. They then go back to viewing things happening that are more destructive and less creative. The next higher order of aliens observing them would appreciate the irony.

[@veltonmeade1057]

31:20, "Stupid, spiritless people". Wow,,,spot on and look at what we have today. Thank goodness someone tells the truth about Beevis and Butthead; the mass marketing of idiocy. I didn't care for that cartoon and things have only gotten worse, such as reality t.v. shows. I see the result of the mass marketing of idiocy at my job also. Now days, acting stupid is the norm. Thank you Jerry!

[@R1GAMBLER]

OK Boomer.

[@veltonmeade1057]

Nah, I am a Gen Xr, lol

[@tracywalker6813]

Too harsh on B&B. They're the devo manual for surviving the coming collapse of our so called civilization. At least on the spiritual level. They're practically Boogie Boys.

[@sg7149]

this interview is just tremendous

[@degrootklyde6895]

My favorite band in high scool . I never understood the weirdness . The politics until even now. Just the complexity of the music and an escape from top 40. This is an adventure . An experiment . An understanding of what we are experiencing in 22 , Are we not men ?

[@granudisimo]

watch at 144p for maximum General Boy Emergency Broadcast effect.

[@loristringfield1438]

Still listening to and digging DEVO at 66

[@Duke_Togo_G13]

This was 1996.. And he is correct. Music started to decline, and look at what we have now.

[@fredrikasmith6411]

Duke Togo - Pitchokey666. true

[@ericzafriusrasnake3666]

Duke Togo - Pitchokey666 Ya

[@beckybratcher1228]

Duke Togo - Pitchokey

[@edwardruff7927]

It had reached a minor peak it never restrained a few years earlier for sure. But nothing like what it had been. I guess guys like Elvis and hendrix only come along once a century

[@sexobscura]

music started to decline when 'rock n roll' became a thing

[@cutsrosescents4950]

When in doubt. Ask yourself . What would DEVO do?

[@jasheton]

I love DEVO. DE-evolution...is very real.

[@thelyran]

8:14 Love how Gerald mentioned Roxy Music with Brian Eno.If it wasn't for them,in particular Eno,I wouldn't know who Devo were,nor would've I been interested if I discovered them through Whip It.I always knew Devo had a harder sound.One of the best and greatest bands ever,loved them.

[@GlorifiedTruth]

It's funny how the best interview I've ever seen was filmed by the most stumbling bunch of amateurish goons on earth. I guess it's appropriate.

[@Johngaltsghost]

Good catch - unfiltered

[@beatup3539]

The groin closeup was the clincher🤣

[@mattmichael6792]

Lack of editing that’s all

[@GlorifiedTruth]

@@mattmichael6792 That editing would have to include a re-recording of the questions, because there's no amount of sound mixing that won't make that sound like crap.

[@frankflstf]

The man is so intelligent, I can't imagine having my fellow friends and students murdered by the National Guard

[@BicyclePhil]

Devo: Hard work, perseverence, innovation, creativity. God Bless America, God Bless Devo

[@ChromosomeSyndicate]

god bless America what a crap guy

[@ufmwc]

Wow--just spot on from start to finish

[@dinacarr2734]

I love that he repeatedly mentions David Bowie as an influence. In my opinion he couldn't have found a better mentor. Mr. Cassale is a very interesting man. I was the only one of my friends who bought Devo albums. All my friends were into AC/DC and Zep. I listened to it alone in my room. Couldnt get anyone into them at parties. I didn't care. I love Devo. It was perfect for my hs band kid sensibilities. It was just so different. The other band i was really into was the Tubes. Another band i couldnt get my friends to listen to. I love what he said about performing at CBGBs...he's so right about their performing at that punk club. It was just too intelectually and painterly different for the punk bands and the mass media to get.

[@tonykara]

I love DEVO! Been a fan since '81.

[@PauloRoberto-co5rq]

Sensacional!!!! Devo.... Rio de Janeiro. Brasil Vós ouço todos os dias!!!! Tenho 63 anos.

[@Johngaltsghost]

Very very interesting...unmistakably original

[@7piecebucket]

29:24 "OK, Casale. I know what you're trying to do. I saw the french fry going through the donut!"

[@TheChristafershawn]

LOL........oh boy....too funny.

[@tracywalker6813]

Nothing got past him, huh? ;)

[@RobScenity]

Once again, life imitates art. DEVO were years ahead of their time, and have proven that Devolution is a very real thing. We may be pinheads all, but the lads of DEVO were/are geniuses all, and I thank them for that.

[@congruentacousticsdavescot9602]

Devo and Pere Ubu make me proud to be a musician from Ohio.

[@beattodeath]

I remember watching square pegs and seeing Devo for the first time "really" . Totally new wave, totally. Was the review Capt. Kirk's kid gave them.

[@2.7petabytes]

One of the most thoughtful bands ever! We are Devo and many of us don’t even realize it!

[@AcmePotatoPackingPocatello]

Still a fanboy. Great Gerald....I put ur first album on at a party....almost got kicked out..Ya and they were friends. They were into Foreigner et al Eno, ya. Great talk. Thanks....your music was epic.

[@thorazine8402]

Amalgamated Potato Packing Pocatello Yup. Foreigner, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Journey, McCartney and Wings, Starship, and on and on 🤮. All ubiquitous, vanilla corporate shit. Then DEVO came around and pissed in everyone’s fruit loops.

[@anthonybrakus5280]

Real life, face to face trolling. That takes much more hutzpah, cajones, guts than hiding behind a screen. Theater of life meets guerrilla warfare. I was born in 1970 so I got to grow up with these guys. I remember being so confused by these guys when I was a dopey pubescent teen, but I also loved it and bought every record I could get my hands on! Grew up in Aberdeen, WA. Cobain was 3 years older than me, we weren't friends but I remember getting some early Devo tapes from a girlfriend who got them from him. Devo was at the front of this huge science nerd, debate team collective who wished to stand tall, confidence in intelligence above image.... So weird that it became an image🕺🏿😳🕺

[@bobbakerbaker6181]

DEVO seemed to break many molds and listening to him talk they are one of the most intellectually advanced artists out in the past and now. A lot of people try to be unique and the use DEVO as a template but will never be as good. DEVO is definitely the ever devolving element in the soundtrack of our lives. ARE WE NOT MEN?

[@andrettski8686]

Total brilliance, so funny when people can't step outside their comfort zone and just laugh at it and ourselves.

[@stevenkarras3490]

this man is a truth teller and warrior

[@DanHintz]

excellent interview/oral history. great, even if you do not particularly like devo.

[@thoughtfulpug1333]

+Dan Hintz What mongoloid doesn't like Devo? If you don't like Devo, fuck you

[@The_OneManCrowd]

Duty now spud!

[@plev10]

Bright, articulate, inspired. Love the marriage of high and low art. And of course he smokes cigars. 😇

[@hardlytheheadlines]

Hi description of the Whip It video was hilarious.

[@Turtle152]

According to the credits on "Are We Not Men," Eno's unsolicited synth contributions on "Space Junk" and "Shrivel Up" were used. He played on other tracks, but the band mixed him out.

[@ВладимирКруглов-к9о]

Ultravox did the same on their debut album. These were real musicians and artists who were made to work with Eno so the record companies could add a "big name" to push these new bands. His influence wasn't musical, but theoretical and inspirational. And, of course, both bands had way better keyboardists (Mark and Billy Currie) than Eno ever was.

[@djanno1296]

Great interview, thanks for sharing! ;)

[@demonicsweaters]

this is excellent, thank you

[@fishead1967]

Gerald and Mark are great men and turned protests and expression into an artform.... Their canvas is silence their Brushes are sound.....

[@yolandalukowski7304]

Watching this interview in July 2024. Gerald is/was 50 years ahead of his time.

[@bridgettholman4074]

He looks really good..my gosh all of the decades he and the band have been around.