DEVO Loves Their Fans | Letterman

DEVO talks about their fans' devotion and where they see themselves in 5 years. (Air date: 11/18/1982)
#DEVO #Letterman #Music
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Welcome to the Letterman KZbin Channel, home to all your favorite clips from Late Night and Late Show - as well as conversations with the writers, producers and performers who helped make it all happen. These highlights have been artisanly-produced, carefully-curated, and chosen completely at random by an old computer that used to pick numbers for the New York Lotto back in the 90’s.

[@hopeclayburnsax9369]

Devo was so far ahead of everyone and not just musically but philosophically…we are truly devolving right now but will remain hopeful.

[@johnfkennedy2676]

@Hope Claybornkzbin.info/www/bejne/jpy9qHuMgptnp8k That's Good DEVO Posted by eletronictomato

[@scottbubb2946]

Being a musician, this group is so amazing to me. First, it's so hard to come up with something original and unique. Second, once you have done that, you have to find people who are talented and can get behind your vision. Most musicians I know have there own idea about how things should be and they rarely coincide with other people's ideas. Third, after you get all these things together, you have to convince club owners, managers, producers, record companies, etc that you aren't insane and there really is a market for what you're doing. Against all the odds these guys didn't just make it, but they made it big and are still relevant today and will be for a long time.

[@jonathanmol4489]

@@scottbubb2946 Another band that comes to mind that is original and unique and espoused all the things you mentioned are The Residents. I couldn't tell you who they are, but they have been making sounds for 40 years; it seems.

[@leesmith5154]

You got that right!

[@urwholefamilydied]

art rock posers. Makes you think they were ahead of... well, anything. It was easy to do in the 70's and 80's and trick people.

[@snipehunter4771]

“Our fans collect a lot of negative energy that was meant for us” ❤❤❤

[@mrtriffid]

It's amazing how much the 'rock critics' HATED Devo for satirizing 'Rock 'n Roll'.

[@billkarmetsky4003]

@@mrtriffid They are Guuish. And those people hate Gentiles and all our fun stuff.

[@lonniewild9277]

'not dangerous enough' I love how he had that answer in milliseconds

[@mistergone5156]

My favorite band! Intelligent, disturbing, unrestrained, prescient, fun, and thought-provoking all in one.

[@funfact8660]

I've seen DEVO 9 times and have tickets for their last concert tour in San Diego, Solana Beach/Del Mar

[@blueabattoir]

funfact8660 You lucky bastard! I’m jealous.

[@JMarinelli]

…and imbued with an incredibly dry sense of humor.

[@michaelthompson9540]

Dude this is my son's favorite band. He is 17 now but has been into them since he was a little kid. I don't even remember how got into them.

[@violetspider9327]

I remember when they first came out. I was completely hooked. They are amazing.

[@jeffdawson2786]

They never thought of themselves as punk, but in spirit they were definitely punk.

[@nataliazakula3400]

More punk than most self-proclaimed punk by a long margin

[@TheBeezusjones]

So punk.. questioning authority ; social commentary ..

[@blueabattoir]

DEVO will stand the test of time. I have been to the future and they are still relevant 734 years from now.

[@tonystevenson26]

There's something rotten in Idaho, and I don't know what to do !

[@er7ic77]

I have been to the future as well and blueabattoir is correct. But they will be out of style 587 to 632 years from now. That will be the "Polka-Death Metal-K-Pop-Slow Jam-Bluegrass-Disco-Folk" era. Dark times are ahead.

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

David Letterman may have retired years ago, but Devo is still touring the country in 2024, 40 years after this interview. I regret never having seen them in concert. ☹️

[@SaxonRanger94]

These men were true modern day artistic philosophers, something today’s popular culture/music is missing. Whether the majority are able to realize it or not. From a “fellow victim” of Akron 😁

[@skrem23]

Out of the several hundred concerts I have attended in my life, Devo at First Avenue in Minneapolis still holds a steady spot in the top 5 all time shows for me.

[@riproar11]

Same here! They know how to put on a great live show! I saw them four times during the 2010s with one show being the Hard Core one...which was a disappointment for most of it. Great to see that they have added a lot of new fans of all ages.

[@funfact8660]

Saw DEVO 9 times in Los Angeles and San Diego, and have tickets for the final show in Del Mar

[@shanea916]

Hundreds of shows? What genres? What were the rest of your top 5?

[@skrem23]

@@shanea916 The Blue Nile, Prince, The Fall, The Cure, Dead Can Dance, Simply Red. To name but a few of my many top favorites in my lifetime. I could go on all day, but Devo was certainly up in the select few, especially seeing them at such an iconic, small venue like First Ave in MPLS.

[@funfact8660]

@@skrem23 Ramones, Iggy Pop, The Smiths, David Bowie, and Dread Zeppelin

[@ivanf1037]

The DEVO aesthetic and philosophy won’t ever grow old. It’ll stay relevant for generations.

[@coreycox2345]

It has, Ivan Pla. I still get more information from watching them than I do from most shows.

[@Musicalmane]

"Law and order puppets remote-controlled by greed and TV preacher robots won't give you what you need" - Devo has feelings too

[@zellah]

We're are DEVO!

[@MothGirl007]

Timeless!

[@mebeasensei]

I don’t think so. They were very much of their time. And they disappeared very quickly. ‘81-‘85 vanished. They became ‘cool’ again in the ‘90s because of their legacy and chic aesthetic. And all musos and cultural aficionados love them, including me. But they wouldn’t have been cool to talk about on a new date from about ‘82 I reckon.

[@archieboy7858]

Mark is pure. Wrote so many iconic songs, but also theme songs. Pee Wee’s Playhouse, Rugrats…..love DEVO

[@jayfrank1913]

As well as film scores.

[@archieboy7858]

@@jayfrank1913 he’s such a legend. So humble too.

[@kidkique]

woa I didn't know that peewees plaaaayhouse

[@sicks6six]

whip up your momma

[@JohnQPublic345]

Dr. Detroit

[@claudiobrito3421]

The first openly and proud nerd band.

[@hpatss4966]

Rush man

[@bobbarker1476]

They were spot on about devolution.

[@hpatss4966]

What that society has regressed? Pffft

[@markharris4776]

"So, if you put an Energy Dome in the oven, you'll come over and stomp it?" Classic David Letterman snark! We're all DEVO!

[@unduloid]

Not gonna lie: that was a very funny moment.

[@tonystevenson26]

Mark, nervously awkward and bottled anxiety....must stomp !

[@mercster]

@@tonystevenson26 HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEH

[@cccc7098]

He threw Crispin Glover off the show for high kicks LOL@@unduloid

[@mgtowvalues]

"Do it to yourself, before others can demean you: the Devo aesthetic." Individual predictive programming for hard care De-evolution. The kind we easily see outside our windows everyday.

[@cccc7098]

I love this comment, have re-read it many times.

[@mgtowvalues]

@@cccc7098 Thank you for the comment. Thank you also for the reminder and I re-listened to this interview. De-evolution was real back then and I started using the term in earnest around 2016. Re 1:54 of this interview, I would suspect that Gerald Casale may contend that today, in 2024, the De-evolution is now officially dangerous.

[@blackbird5634]

''Satisfaction'' is possibly the ONLY song cover to entirely break from the original in such a way that it's DEVOLUTION is larger, more vast, cool and unsympathetic than the original.

[@davidmiller5573]

I think the "In Crowd" and " A hard rains-a-gonna fall" covers by Bryan Ferry were stunningly creative and different.

[@johnfkennedy2676]

@@davidmiller5573 kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpy9qHuMgptnp8k That's Good DEVO Posted by eletronictomato

[@yakxattack]

ADTR - Since U Been Gone, the list goes on and on

[@fuckamericanidiot]

Unsympathetic?

[@blackbird5634]

@@fuckamericanidiot not sappy or romantic or frilly.

[@coreydooley4876]

It's nuts to look at the quote unquote "weird guy in the glasses" and see years later he would make some of the most amazing theme songs and movie scores ever

[@oceanadrianne]

I’ve loved these guys since the early 80’s when I first saw them live. Just saw them last night at KZbin where they once again put on an impressive show. RIP Alan and Bob 2.

[@supermachine2275]

Bob 1 is still alive, Bob 2 is the one that died

[@cccc7098]

What a great memory to have seen them live. But no talking haha

[@MikeGervasi]

2 geniuses so far ahead of us we could only comprehend our ignorance by making all of it a joke.

[@billkarmetsky4003]

I am trained in Jazz under then U Miami Prof. Jerry Coker ("Improvising Jazz" cir. . I had as my alumni Hornsby, Metheny, (Narada) Michael Walden (don't know who this guy is? Look him up and be floored) but lesser known names as Ross Traut, Profs. Stan Samolé, Pezanelli, Dollahon and others. The local sensation and actual genius was Jaco Pastorius. Hiram Bullock, Will Lee and I would never go so far as to say Devo is at genius level against others who were the Devo's of their time -- Sun Ra and the Arkestra and even Spike Jones and they're not comparable as Jones was just kind of a goofball made for TV as Devo was for MTV. I don't know what is genius about Devo beyond good marketing by the label. Everyone has their tastes, of course and the problem for me is there doesn't exist much comparable analysis to any of these acts where there once was and it made the acts better, the IQ of audiences better because now there was discourse and one could choose based upon education rather than hype.

[@dorianmorgan2195]

@@billkarmetsky4003Beat it, nerd.

[@TripleDeano]

Two legends on DL. These boys took New Wave and a purpose and set it to music. Fan and Listener for over 45 years!

[@susanmontgomery7121]

I can't tell when they're being serious and when they're pulling Dave's leg. And I like it.

[@Wendy-ov5hu]

I absolutely love DEVO....

[@prototoy4360]

I saw them in Cleveland on this tour and it was GREAT! The spud t shirt is in the back of my drawer to this day. Forever DEVO

[@mobanewman7139]

I was at the same show...Cleveland, Fall 1982

[@cccc7098]

I would be wearing it!

[@randomgrinn]

Freedom of choice is what u got. Freedom from choice is what u want. An excellent assessment of the horror of humanity.

[@bricaaron3978]

I don't understand. According to most anti-Christians, everything, including human behavior, is deterministic. Which of course is in opposition to both modern science and logic.

[@jimmyfaherty8588]

My first concert. I had the “energy dome “

[@melomane]

Legendary interview. So far ahead of their time.

[@billmalec]

Satisfaction. They killed it far beyond what the Rolling Stones could have comprehended. So far ahead we still haven't caught up.

[@NullStaticVoid]

My first concert in 1980was DEVO. Still one of the top shows I've ever seen just in terms of performance, spectacle and assault of the senses. They were doing the back projection video back then as well. Basically pioneering the concept. As far as all the merh they advertised on their liner notes, I Xeroxed mine so I wouldn't have to cut up the sleeve. Then I mowed lawns and worked at festivals and such until I could afford the vest, yellow suit, energy dome, Muzak cassette and a few shirts. I was that much into DEVO when I was in jr high! Sad that I missed the Devotional in Cleveland last week. I went last year and it was great seeing all the DEVO cover bands and meeting Mark and Gerry. Cleveland is a cool town. Akron is awful.

[@nada3492]

I LOVE DEVO >_< I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM

[@user-wl6wx9xd9k]

Are we not men? Definitely with the trans movement nowadays they have to be reminded.

[@Loke2112]

Love DEVO always have. Even tried to make a music video of Satisfaction with my friends. Was lucky enough to say hi on a meet and greet as well. They were spot on in their assessment as Devolution is def a thang her in 2022.

[@halwasserman7905]

I liked Dave better the way he is in this clip when he is more restrained as opposed to the goofy persona he embraced later in his career. Despite the fact that he behaved more like an earthling in those days he always was very welcoming to very strange guests and for that I am grateful.

[@halwasserman7905]

@@cosmo43095 No one was stranger than Brother Theodore. What a character. And despite how wild he was Dave handled the situation with admirable aplomb.

[@ronin6158]

I dunno. To me it seems extra weird when an act is saying or doing something completely ridiculous for shock and laughs and no one laughs or acts shocked. People always look to others on how to react to unusual things, especially the leader, in this case Dave. You can hear some, or most, folks think it's funny but self squelch when Dave and others dont react. I'm sure Dave 'get's it', but is playing the straight man, but it's still semi-weird to me.

[@dbwindhorst1]

@@halwasserman7905 If you haven’t seen the documentary about him, “To My Great Chagrin”, give it a look.

[@sonijam]

A nice interview. Jerry is the natural leader.

[@OlafProt]

Mark is like now SO unbelievably accomplished.

[@AmosAmerica]

Screen projections while playing. Common place now. Revolutionary then! Bravo Devo!

[@humbledrummer777]

Just funny dorky intellectuals killin' it! Always loved these guys!

[@TheBeezusjones]

"It just keeps goin on .. " 😆

[@Skullkan6]

3:40 That's an incredible sound.

[@mc2mc277]

I was an FM radio DJ back in the ‘70s and one day, the girl who did 10-2 shift came in and said, “Check out my sister’s boyfriend’s band back home in Ohio” and she popped in a live cassette tape of DEVO, before they were signed. Explained how they were based on a “de-evolution” concept and wire garbage bags….A few years later, after they got known, I worked stage crew for them when they came to town. I remember Mark saying, “if any hot girls want to meet me, send them backstage!” 🤣😂

[@reinforcedpenisstem]

Best group ever.

[@ijustdidahugeshit]

I am at your house

[@dianewinters8628]

Love DEVO

[@liamfan]

Mark Mothersbaugh is one of the nicest guys

[@stephenriggs8177]

Dave has a hard time tolerating ... well, pretty much anyone, really. But because the guys clearly didn't take themselves too seriously, he seems to have just rolled with it.

[@danielbalboa4537]

Devo Rock and Roll Hall of Fame please

[@mplsmark222]

Oh no, they are far too intellectual and original for the R&R hall, which is just about money. I would hope that the members don’t give a rat’s ass about the R&R Hall, but would be honored to be considered by the Song Writer’s Hall of Fame.

[@pepirebs7162]

BRAINLESS FOR SUCH GREAT MUSIC!

[@JinzoCrash]

I think one of their best creations is the "Peek-A-Boo" video, and preferably the fan-extended one on youtube. Love the lyrics and visuals to that.

[@garlowe8565]

Two genius innovators. I never knew if letterman actually got any of how brilliant these artists are.

[@tombodensick4437]

Their cover of 'Satisfaction" is incredible

[@MothGirl007]

🔥🔥🔥

[@1968scottyd]

I need to see them again. Paso Robles here I come!!

[@lynnmitzy1643]

And here we are in 2023😂devolution in full effect 😂😂

[@marklonearrow4292]

I was wondering when they we're questioned on the origins of Devo, if they we're going to mention the Kent state shooting. They we're both there at the time. They we're disgusted by humanity, they came up with devolution. You could see the emotion on Jerry's face for a moment, restraining himself. So many musicians and other artists have been influenced greatly admire the courage and intelligence the group had. While so many of the world at the time just saw gimmick. Duty Now For The Future!

[@smbake]

They didn't come up with the concept of devolution. That was started by a guy named BH Shadduck.

[@marklonearrow4292]

@@smbake Yeah, I kinda figured. "De-e volution" is a pretty easy concept figuratively. Like "Ultra violence" or "Spork". Basically a a combination of words. I just wanted to give them rightful merit on their origin. Rightfully, they developed because of frustration and the disillusionment of the time period. Which certainly could be said about this current period. Kent state shooting was horrible. They saw

[@marklonearrow4292]

Humanity revert to it's basic primal element. Abandoning all the progress humanity made to that point. Sadly, this is a recurring theme. Devo where punk Rick pioneers. ✊✌️

[@smbake]

@@marklonearrow4292 I agree. I actually had someone get mad because they called them New Wave and I said they're more punk rock than new wave, particularly their early stuff. I thought punk was an attitude and they fit that genre more than new wave. Kent State most definitely was a pivotal event for them. I just wish I was a little older when they came out. I was only 8 when they appeared on SNL and sadly my dad wasn't cool enough to take me to see them. One of my biggest regrets is never seeing them live.

[@marklonearrow4292]

@@smbake Yeah, same here. I guess on musical elements their considered "New Wave" but the spirit and lyrics are Totally punk. Even an early interview with Kurt Cobain, he mentioned that he felt they were the biggest " Fearless Punk" band to make it main stream. I've little debates as well on the subject. Lol. They're vastly underated. But it is nice to know that the fans who hold them in high regard are, surprisingly many, and that their contribution is still felt many years later. I took wish I heard them in their hey day. Buying a vinyl or tape as it came out. 😃✌️

[@manonbassguitar]

Music genius & visionaries

[@johns2688]

"Live long enough to be subjected to rDNA experimentation." Boy, they were prophets!

[@cosmicsunbeams]

Devo!❤

[@pauldudley8837]

My first concert was the who at the spectrum in Philadelphia one week after the tragedy in Cincinnati. But my second concert was Devo at the Tower theater on 69th Street in Upper Darby PA

[@andrewpotok2661]

Saw em at the tower in Philly. I believe in 81. I remember the singer climbing up to the balcony at the tower. Devos greatest hits tape kept me awake driving home from the Poconos In my 1968 chevy

[@soonova8150]

Yes, we are devolving , every day, more and more......how accurate Devo were.

[@hpatss4966]

See you fascists are the ones Devo was warning us against

[@hugovandofficial8865]

Dam they are so authentic to themselves but fun too. What a great bunch of guys

[@lobabobloblaw]

Mark really turned up the cyber rotors for this one.

[@trevorrandom]

We're all DEVO now Duty now for the Future Spuds!

[@zazenbo]

I miss my wife

[@AlmostReady504]

Alan Myers was an incredible drummer. Rest in peace

[@dettigs]

the human metronome

[@themvsthemvsus]

Time out for fun!

[@NitroModelsAndComics]

My spud ring collar is lost to the ages but I had one As soon as I bought that album I fell in love with it. Just brilliant.

[@gareth5000]

I love Devo:)

[@majicweather4890]

Their corporate theme is masterful, considering the deeper meaning of their songs

[@thundershirt1]

When creativity rose over corporatism. We will not see that on this level ever again.

[@thelmc]

Mark had the Tik-Tok haircut before it was cool.

[@ShamrockParticle]

Real punks and nerds don't do what all the other punks and nerds do 😁

[@mobius273]

Zoomer hair mark mothersbaugh 😭

[@timgibson2540]

Loved this band since my school days, saw this band in Sheffield uk

[@menswear2112]

Devo were such insolent nerds, in the right way. They didn’t take themselves nor you seriously.

[@duanegeorges9339]

I'm still DeVoiDing - and I can't stop !😮 My teeth are glowing at night !

[@acbenepe]

Dave Letterman could be snarky on occasion but you can tell he was aware he among greatness this time.

[@BarbaraKelly-d4v]

David was a j*rk here Devo is so cool Love them ! I remember seeing this and feeling bad when Davis said “ so you’ll come and stomp it” ?

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

The Legend’s 👌🤣👍👉♥️love Devo!😂

[@philliptree1742]

Lovely guys an wonderful visionaries

[@xnavynuc]

Their “Muzak” album is excellent! I could listen to them at work and not get crazy looks from my coworkers.

[@InfinityOf6]

Great guys... I love them. Thank you DEVO!

[@patches6309]

I remember watching this very program back in 81 and these guys were red hot back then. Great group who became ICONS of the "New Wave" genre of Rock that took over the airwaves, first from college radio stations to the mainstream.

[@funfact8660]

I remember watching my girlfriend do some stuff with me

[@mikehersh6192]

82

[@cartertheunstoppablefaxmac902]

Fascinatingly weird and cool band who happen to have made some very catchy tunes to boot

[@jasenweitekamp2036]

"So if you put it in the oven, you'll come over and stomp it?"... Dave's comment after Mark explained what happens to the Devo hat after it's placed in a °450 oven. Hilarious!

[@user-so5tj4cp8u]

Mark is a super talented man.

[@JCStorm76]

Gerard Casale has more hair now than he did 40 years ago

[@chuckhagen]

Letterman was a good interviewer with people he understood. Clearly he doesn’t understand DEVO.

[@hjermsted22]

I recall some very upset Boomers who believed Devo's cover of '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' was an insult. Best cover ever!

[@wbfaulk]

You realize that the members of Devo _are_ boomers, right?

[@LegendOfGames]

@@wbfaulk boomers can be upset at other boomers.

[@Cuckold_Cockles]

suprised theres not more laughs. i'm crackin tf up

[@digidrum2003]

2023 and still.....we are all DEVO!

[@charlesflint9048]

Devo are one of my favourite bands of all time (not to forget ‘The Residents’) at a time when music was at a creative peak.

[@howiehall4622]

Dude! Love the Residents! Some of their stuff can get a little painful though....

[@rockahbilly76]

Spud Boys!

[@butziporsche8646]

Back in like the 80s my wife and I had tickets to DEVO at the Paramount in Seattle but we sold our tickets because I had to fly to Alaska.

[@pamm8608]

Whip It (intro) has been my ringtone since my first cell phone.

[@framemartgallery4619]

Very ahead of their time.

[@jonnymac9262]

ahead of their time for sure.

[@taosmar1]

I can honestly say my eyes well up in warm saline tears (every time) -when I hear Bob#1 step forward and just short-burst shreds guitar!! - the cutting-edge solo guitar in BLOCKHEAD! Don’t really know what it is, but I do know, it is a huge emotional release. . . One of the most cutting edge, intelligent, resistant, defiant, bands of my youth- thanks uploaded , you!

[@howiehall4622]

Blockhead is a fantastic song!

[@user-ft6og5vl6n]

They weren't wrong about man deevolving, itr happening right before our eyes.

[@lastdaycults]

Man that was an awesome interview!

[@williambarry8015]

Gerald Casale is a good entertainer. Smart Dudes both of them.

[@ozzymd1]

WHIP IT !!! ...... WHIP IT GOOD !!!

[@1oolabob]

Everything about this is great. Gerald Casale was an honest-to-goodness artist whose art was strange music and fashion that asked social questions. I love seeing him having a good time being as open and forthright as he is in this clip. This greatness could not have happened without Dave Letterman. Lots of people say Barbara Walters was the best interviewer of all time, and it's true that she was great...but Barbara often made her guests cry, and Dave gets his guests to laugh. A matter of personal taste, I suppose, but I think Dave is the greatest.

[@bjmcfarland1]

I saw devo at Northrup auditorium. On the University of Minnesota Campus. It was a great show

[@TheLordGoat]

Still way ahead of time, it didn't happen yet.

[@majorpuggington]

8:51 and now half the world is doing it! 😂

[@marcellavlooijen3605]

I saw them in the Hague and they run around and they would fall on their knees and elbows and on and on ..they had protection but it still looked painful.....never saw that video ..thats a pity cause you could see how far they would go.........amazing original like a lot of men back than

[@MothGirl007]

I have a selfie of myself with Mark and I treasure it.