Mark Mothersbaugh Talks To Google Play

Stereogum recaps:

Mark Mothersbaugh was born legally blind. It wasn’t until he was in second grade that he was finally diagnosed with myopia and got his first pair of glasses. In a new animated video made for Google Play, the DEVO member narrates how his discovery of the world led him to want to become an artist. Then, he recounts the first time he saw the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show and how that made him want to become a musician, too. “We decided we weren’t observing evolution, we were observing de-evolution, and we decided to write music about that,” he explains the start of DEVO’s mission.

Besides his work in Devo, Mothersbaugh has written scores for dozens of movies, video games, and television shows, including the theme song for Pee-Wee's Playhouse.

Devo's Bob Casale Dies At 61

Devo's Bob "Bob 2" Casale has died of heart failure at the age of 61. Via Billboard Magazine:

The Casale brothers formed Devo in Akron, Ohio in 1972 with Mark Motherbaugh and Robert Mothersbaugh (Bob Casale was known as "Bob 2" in the group, with Robert Mothersbaugh called "Bob 1"). The group's spastic post-punk earned a cult following in the mid-70's, and 1978 debut album "Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!," produced by Brian Eno, earned critical acclaim. Devo's biggest success on the Billboard charts came with its iconic single "Whip It," which reached No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1980. The act charted two more singles: "Working In the Coal Mine" (No. 43 in 1981) and "Theme from 'Doctor Detroit'" (No. 59 in 1983). The album that contained "Whip It," 1980's "Freedom of Choice," was the group's highest-charting effort on the Billboard 200. It hit No. 22 and spent 51 weeks on the list, and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (for one million copies sold).

I first saw Devo at Orlando's Great Southern Music Hall in 1980. I think the ticket cost $7. My souvenir from the show was late drummer Alan Myers' paper jumpsuit, which I stupidly lent to a friend to wear for Halloween and never got back.

Devo - Don't Roof Rack Me, Bro!

Devo has teamed up with Dogs Against Romney for a new song ripping the GOP candidate for his infamous Seamus incident. Band member Jerry Casale:

"It's disconcerting," he said. "I could even say that I'm pissed off. I am an animal lover. This story is not about being from a red or blue state, being a Democrat or Republican. There are seven billion people on a planet that's going to hell in handbasket. The United States is the most formidable force on the planet. And do you want a man whose character is like that to take charge? It just tells me something about him. He'll do more harm than has already been done."

Headline Of The Day

Love the tour name, but sadly no NYC date so far. (Tipped by JMG reader Fritz)

Devo To McDonald's: Whip It (Out)

Devo wants McDonald's to whip it out and pay them for appropriating their iconic flowerpot hat costume for a Happy Meal toy.

The U.S. rock band Devo is suing McDonald's over the New Wave Nigel toy the restaurant chain is including in its Happy Meals. The New York Post said the new wave band, whose song "Whip It" was one of the most popular songs of the 1980s, is suing for copyright infringement because the "American Idol"-themed Happy Meal character is dressed in a costume, similar to the ones Devo wore on stage, and plays music much like the group's. "This New Wave Nigel doll that they've created is just a complete Devo rip-off," the Post quotes Devo member Gerald Casale as saying. Casale added that McDonald's did not reach out to the band before distributing the toys.

When a problem comes along, you must sue them.