Much love for Devo. I recall seeing them on SNL in 1979 doing a cover of "Satisfaction" and scratching my head. I didn't get it, but then, I was a kid, and I didn't understand a whole lot. Now? I get it.
Love the cover! Reminds me of the live version of Gates of Steel on the DEVO Live LP, which is a total banger. My love of DEVO started to wane in 1983, when my mom came home from her Jazzercise class one night and told me that the instructor had played Whip It. I was only 11, but had the sense that it wasn’t really cool that DEVO was on the same exercise rotation as Olivia Newton John. (Early 80s trivia - DEVO appeared on an episode of Square Pegs, a short-lived show that featured a young Sara Jessica Parker.)
You should, if you feel like rolling into Cleveland one weekend, come to "DEVOtional"- an annual DEVO fan festival and convention that happens usually around mid- September at my local venue, the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern. It's as close as you'll probably ever get to seeing them live; think I recall them having more than one tribute band performing over the years.
Much love for Devo. I recall seeing them on SNL in 1979 doing a cover of "Satisfaction" and scratching my head. I didn't get it, but then, I was a kid, and I didn't understand a whole lot. Now? I get it.
They were so SO SHOCKING. Unnerving. Mind blowing.
I remember my older, head-banging brother shattering my “Whip It” 45 against the bedroom wall in disgust…which kinda made me love it more.
Love the cover! Reminds me of the live version of Gates of Steel on the DEVO Live LP, which is a total banger. My love of DEVO started to wane in 1983, when my mom came home from her Jazzercise class one night and told me that the instructor had played Whip It. I was only 11, but had the sense that it wasn’t really cool that DEVO was on the same exercise rotation as Olivia Newton John. (Early 80s trivia - DEVO appeared on an episode of Square Pegs, a short-lived show that featured a young Sara Jessica Parker.)
"...my mom came home from her Jazzercise class one night and told me that the instructor had played Whip It." 🏆
You should, if you feel like rolling into Cleveland one weekend, come to "DEVOtional"- an annual DEVO fan festival and convention that happens usually around mid- September at my local venue, the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern. It's as close as you'll probably ever get to seeing them live; think I recall them having more than one tribute band performing over the years.
Sounds amazing!
Devo Hardcore Vol. 1 and 2 helped make college weirder for me!! Two musts!!
Appreciate this a great deal! I was lucky enough to have a very personal--and very impactful--run-in with DEVO in the '90s:
https://khora.substack.com/p/issue-36-special-edition-gut-feeling