AS a 12 and 13 year old kid watching SNL on a beat up black and white mini tv, I remember a lot of musical acts that blew me away. But the big one was The Special playing Gangsters in 1980...I didn't know what to make of it at all...but the mix of 60's influences with something decidedly NOW about the performance was everything for me. They both scared me and drew me in...there were more, but that performance certainly stands out.
"You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC. I wasn't a fan (at the time) of the Bon Scott era. But I remember the first time I heard this song and loved it from the Angus's opening riff.
I was blown away by Alabama Shakes, never hear of them until I saw them preform on a late night show and I was blown away by their live performance of Always Alright. Also when Kurt died I thought Nirvana was over but then Dave started the Foo Fighters didn't realize what a great writer and artist he was
Being totally honest. Freedom of choice hands down was one of the first New Wave songs I heard. I went from being a die hard KISS fan to adopting New Wave into my cassette player! Along with the very starts of KROQ ! Wonderful era!! Priceless memories!
I very distinctly remember watching that episode of SNL, seeing DEVO perform & being so blwn away at how different & cool they were! Truly a benchmark of something totally new, cool, & different in so many ways!
I watched SNL that night, immediately began following DEVO, and still remember the experience 40+ years later. Watching SNL now, most times I won't remember a band 40 minutes later.
I'll tell you what I remember from that SNL performance. I was sitting right off camera in my performance outfit (white lab coat with "Dr. Monitor" name pin) ready to run out in case there was a problem with any of the guys' equipment. I was the band's monitor engineer on the tour that they were on that brought them to NYC and SNL. Great memories of Jerry and the boys.
Great Stuff. They had good instincts when they first started out. Appearing on SNL and Fridays with really great performances got them noticed. They just didn't change society like they hoped. Instead they became part of the capitalist machine and were sold to the great unwashed as a musical group
DEVO on SNL was a sensorial and emotional experience. The sci-fi radiation suits and glasses, performance art, and music melded together and had me glued to the set. Got the same feeling from Uncontrollable Urge with what I call the “ flying vee” formation at the end, I think this was on Fridays.
Numan was *so* influential to musicians, moreso than with the public at large. Just check out the respect he got from Trent Reznor. (This is one of my all time favorite clips on RUclips) ruclips.net/video/6qlUFKFHNIU/видео.html
Seeing them live in their prime was mind altering. I was a fan from a couple of records but had no idea how hard they could rock. Relentless and incredibly tight. Only the Ramones were more machine-like in their approach to kicking your ass.
Loved this interview and loved Devo! What a cool person Jerry Casale is! Loved how he stepped out of frame to bring the art decor into view but just held it in view. Yet staying out of view to focus on the story behind their infamous head gear. Thank you Mr. Casale and Professor for such an interesting and informative interview.
It's very weird for me to watch this video. I still remember when this channel barely had any subscribers, and I was like this is professional quality, it's only a matter of time and this channel will blow up. Here we are now, and we just witnessed one of the best interviews with Devo. It's great to see that you got the acknowledgement you deserved. Also, this is a reminder for those who have amazing ideas to start a channel and give it a shot. "If you build it, they will come"
I'm a newcomer, but believe you me, I'm spreading the gospel. This has become my favorite non-political channel. I could listen to Adam for hours. Thanks, Hoss!
I remember watching DEVO live on SNL when this happened and it is still as odd and out there now as it was then. The only thing more weird and wonderfully out there was seeing The B52's do Rock Lobster on SNL..
@@ProfessorofRock _Roam_ was the only B52's song that resonated with me and your feature video on the history of it is much appreciated. Great interview clips in that one. I love those harmonies.
You nailed those two, we happened to be at our favorite pizza place in Cypress Ca. having post game dinner with those acts up on the big projection TV for the first time. It was a what the hell moments.
That first Devo performance on SNL was mind blowing, but that was something I came to expect from the musical guests on SNL. I was already getting into New Wave myself because I was recording new albums from a local radio station that ran a show called The Album In Review each night. I learned about so many bands I never would have heard that way. I discovered I liked New Wave. So, when Devo hit the stage, I was somewhat ready for it, but it was definitely the most dramatic performance they ever had. Others that stood out were Talking Heads doing Take Me To The River, Elvis Costello with Radio Radio and the B-52s doing Rock Lobster. I was checking out the bands on Wikipedia and they were pretty tame until the end of the 3rd season when Elvis Costello performed. Then Devo hit the beginning of Season 4. That's when they started getting more cutting edge music on the show. I didn't necessarily like all the bands they had on, but they definitely introduced me to artists I would later buy albums from. I had that experience again for the first time in a long time in 2016 when I saw The 1975 perform. I really liked what they were doing and bought their album shortly after. I've recently been showing that Devo performance to my younger friends who aren't even aware of Devo. It definitely holds up. The robotic movements throughout the whole performance are amazing.
Skillful interview- the guest does most of the talking with some questions and guidance from the host. It takes a lot of work and ability to look this easy. Much better than the "how music effected my life" videos.
I remember DEVO coming on the radio and thinking man, what is this stuff-it’s awesome! I was a teenager at the start of the new-wave movement and it carried me through college. Looking back, I was SO lucky to have been that age at that time. I love it all!
Man-O-Man,…I have been watching that DEVO SNL performance over and over for the last six weeks. I was completely blown away by the performance, and not just the “choreography” but the incredible musicianship as well. I’ve played that video for more than a few people and I always point out that this was done LIVE. Absolutely incredible. I really enjoyed your interview. It was so great about hearing how they put the band out there. And I loved the Gary Numan bit,…I’ve always been a huge fan.
Devo is the definition of Nerd music, and I love it! I remember the first time I heard them. It was so different to everything else. They got stuck in my head for days.
Like everyone when I saw that performance on SNL it transformed my musical direction and life. I was a teen living in Akron at the time. The adults all said "That's weird" and I said "That's cool!"
When I first heard Devo I was blown away. I was a huge jazz fan and discounted all pop music as trash. Here was a avant-garde new age band that was not only unusual but good. They don’t get enough credit or being good musicians there performances were tight. They set the bar high with innovations in video and were way ahead on new electronic instruments and sounds. Those performances still sound fresh.
I still have Dr Detroit on “heavy rotation” in my personal collection. Devo was so far ahead of its time. So glad I can share your videos with my kids. My daughter was born in 2001 and has never had the chance to live through musical movements. So sad that commercialism killed creativity
One performance that blew me away on SNL, was when Eddie Van Halen played with the SNL band and that was their music act for that night. Valerie Bertinelli was host, so that's how that happened.
Great interview. Mindblowing to see the actual origin of the hat. You can definitely hear the Numan influence on _New Traditionalists_ - they leveled up hard. Would be cool to hear about their experience of being discovered by Bowie & working with Eno.
I was in art school back then, and it was truly a time of discovery with all of the new bands coming out who were breaking boundaries. Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, XTC, Talking Heads, The Jam, Gary Numan, the B52's… and hundreds more. I also remember watching Devo's premier performance on SN, and I thought… "OK boys, here's Devo, and I'll raise you with Bauhaus."
When I first saw Devo on SNL, My jaw dropped and I knew then the music scene was never going to be the same again. I was totally blown away by their sounds and visuals. I still remember that particular evening 43 years later!
When heard Devo was going to be on SNL I couldn't wait to watch it and what a great performance. Put their cover of Satisfaction in my high school reunion song list they as they were such a major part of the New Wave era.
I knew Devo was going to be on SNL that night, so I recorded it on my Dad’s VCR. He was pissed, because blank tapes were still very expensive then. What a great interview. Thank you.
Aside from Gary Numan, these guys epitomized the ART and INNOVATION of NW. I always saw them as the embodiment of the genre and they have stood the test of time. FWIW: 'That's Good' is hands down my DEVO absolute fave. Still slaps like nobody's business.
Same here...Devo was dynamic on Fridays...it was Elvis Costello on SNL that changed my musical taste from Ted Nugent to New Wave Thank God for Fridays and SNL
It was cool because living in Northeastern Ohio (Cleveland) I was about 40 minutes away from Akron where Devo's origins began. We had heard rumblings of this kind of weird band down there making new music. When I first heard them I loved their approach. I got the whole De-evolution thing and the satire of it. It was clever and good. They made some great music for the time they existed and were ahead of the curve in alot of ways.
I remember being in grade school hanging with a small group of kids who all loved Devo. No idea why I singled this tune out as my favorite, but I listened to Mongoloid over and over.
Then, as we got a little older and drinking SIB became a common morning after quote. We would use the Uncontrollable Urge "Ya, Ya, Ya ya ya ya-ya-ya Ya!" as a team chant and no one had any idea what the heck we were on about. Freaked them out and gave us thus psychological edge though.
When he bought out the white lamp my initial reaction was So THATS what inspired their hats! 😁🤣. Another great interview-I enjoyed the previous one that focuses on Whip it and this one built on it. I say keep doing this.
Seeing and discovering DEVO, Elvis Costello and B-52's while performing live on SNL was mind blowing to say the least. Credit to Lorne Michaels and company for their part in it all!
I just realized that this was such an iconic exaggerated "Nerodivergant Personality" performance - totally programmed, scripted, robotic, expressionless, and no room for "small talk", as that IS meaningless. Everything was on message! I love it! ❤😊
In the 80s Prince blew me away album after album especially when I found out he wrote, performed and produced his own music. After that it was REM and then Radiohead. All had a huge influence in my life.
I agree with the point near the end of your conversation that popular music today has become interchangeable and forgettable, but good music still exists today; the difference is that you have to go and find it. As a host of a weekly radio show that exclusively features independent artists, my faith in music has been revitalized by artists who bypass industry "experts" and follow their muse. There are many, many out there - find them.
Over 40 years later , can't wait to see Devo with Bauhaus , Morrissey & Blondie at the Cruel Festival next spring in Pasadena with many other great acts of the 80's !
This performance, the Elvis Costello appearance, and the Bowie/Klaus Nomi episode were the three SNL shows that I could not get out of my head for weeks. They totally transformed the type of music that I sought out until this day.
oUTstandING woRk PRofeSsor! It was terrific that you talked to Jerry and got his insights with good questions because you can get an idea of what the rock scene was, what inspired him and his band, as well as how and why their musical path even happened. This definitely matters in order to gain an understanding of DEVO's musical story. In addition to technological advancements, the music biz and popular music has has experienced tectonic changes since the time when they were coming up. So, to get the backdrop 1st person from a band member (not just some fan's recollections) of what led to the creation of their unique music, sound and visual style is golden.
Always loved Devo and the whole new wave genre. I guess I was a rebel kid as all my friends were listening to the pop/rock stuff and I’m blasting Devo, Gary Numan and the like from my boom box! Great interview! Keep em coming!
This must be the absolute best interview with any Devo member in my 40 year+ recollection. I really do mean that. I have loved Devo since I was 9 or 10, and honestly appreciate them more today having learned so much of their history and inner thoughts and meanings. That is one of the true blessings of the internet, especially for someone who mostly grew up without it. I have learned so much about my favorite interests in the last 10 or so years, more so than in the 40 years preceding it. (I say last 10 years because of the wealth of information that has accumulated online over time. There wasn't nearly as much info out there when I first got online in 1995, especially since even that was severely limited by my dial up modem....like a 28k I think!) Thank you POR, you really hit a home run with this one!!!!
1977...A mini truck with Devo, Blondie and The Blues Brothers on constant rotation while cruising PCH. Those memories have a permanent place in my heart.
Devo was unlike anything before. It was like a personal treasure in music I found. Met another kid in junior high and went to see Devo live in '81. Great times.
Massive respect to Gerry and DEVO for pushing the boundaries of pop music into a new and exciting direction. It was a good decade before I realized there was an operating philosophy behind their work and another decade before I realized their philosophy was on-point. Now with every new 'innovation' that somehow drives humanity backward [mp3s anyone?], I credit it to de-evolution.
How about communicating with shorter and less meaningful content, like tic toc.Heiroglyphs were sentences abbreviated .just like lmfao and smh.Emojis are cave paintings.I have bad eyes and attitude so I don't bother deciphering them.De-evolved to be sure smh lmfao happy sad laughing crying emoji.
Devo, Genesis, the Police, Elvis Costello, the Cars, and the list goes on. The evolution of Rock over the years blows my mind. I saw a video the other day of Leon Russell performing on Shin Dig in 1964 and was speechless. The great ride of American rock/pop music just never stops (although sometimes it hiccups). A comment I made on a Styx video a few months back had the guitar player basically asking me/amazed that I was still watching their videos after all this time (I'm 67). I told him, get real dude, have you heard what they're playing on radio these days? Music keeps evolving, once in a while there's a gem.
Jerry Casale is a great subject for an interview. Always interesting, always entertaining. In my opinion, Devo weren't the best experimental group, they weren't the best 'new wave' group, they were one of the best & most innotative bands ever. Bear in mind that there was strong competition in that field, especially from the mid sixties to the mid eighties.
Pretty wild and fascinating takes on Devo and that infamous SNL performances. Those hats were the icing on these eclectic geniuses. Love this professor!
I remember when I first saw and heard Devo. They were very different and original. They were definitely pioneers of the New Wave movement which would be one of the most dominant musical genres of the 1980s.
My wife and I sat front and center at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano and it was unforgettable. Thank you Devon, and thank you for another amazing interview.
When all this music was coming out in the early 80's, I was a high school dance DJ in a northern Ontario mining town. Oddly enough, it was a very accepting market... I, and the group of people I worked with, were very much into the whole New Wave thing, and we mixed a LOT of it in at our dances, alongside the Top 40 Pop of the time.
Professor, you've done it again! I'm 64, was a teen when DEVO rose to fame, and wasn't into them. This is so effing interesting I want to go listen to all their stuff.
The band I remember first hearing on SNL was The Roches. They did Handel's Hallelujah Chorus and I was so blown away by their harmony. Two of the sisters are still alive. I know their not really "rock" but I'd love to see an interview with them.
I was thirteen when that SNL performance aired, and it completely rearranged my musical tastes overnight. I'm 56 now and I remain a staunch Devo supporter.
Amazing Interview Professor! Your voice is as professional as it gets. Wouldn’t be surprised to hear you narrate programs on TV or Movies. I was always bashed as a younger man when I listened to Devo or other “modern” music in the early 80’s. Years later those whom did the bashing ended up loving the same style of music as Devo or New Wave in general.
The mid to late seventies was , for me, the most exciting time for music. Television, Suicide, Blondie, Ramones, Talking Heads, B52's, Pere Ubu from the US. Cabaret Voltaire, The Associates, Human League, Buzzcocks, Joy Division, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Cure, Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, Graham Parker, Ian Dury, Dr. Feelgood, The Jam, OMD, XTC, Tubeway Army, Ultravox, Japan, Police, Pretenders, Pistols, Clash, Damned, The Fall, Squeeze, Stranglers, Skids, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Teardrop Explodes, Specials, Madness, Roxy Music. I am so glad that I was a teenager in that era & that I had the chance to see some of those bands live. It seemed to me, that most of the exciting US music at the time was coming out of New York or Ohio.
We love and grew up with the same music...I was 13 in 1977 and saw Elvis on SNL...changed my musical taste instantly...I've seen most of those great bands live...concerts were cheap in the late 70s to mid 80s...$5- 10 Those were the days
Great interview. They did what today’s generation is scared to do, they were themselves and played what they enjoyed. Music and people today are afraid to be themselves, to think differently, dress different, and to play and write the music they would like to be doing. We should all be more like DEVO and bring back the beautiful individuality that is missing from today’s society.
I am not sure that an anti-establishment sound can even be developed today. There are not dominant styles to turn away from (to devolve, if you will) in the same way. Can't have a counter culture without a culture. So I fear we will likely continue to have this incessant drivel for a long time to come. I can relate to the lament of the character in 'Singles': "...where are the anthems of our youth...?"
There is individuality, though it is hard to be a "pioneer" after all these years, people do all kinds of weird stuff on RUclips and Soundcloud, it's just all diluted in all the cultural static noise and it is so hard to make any money anymore. A fringe act used to be able to make money actually selling music (only way to hear it was to buy it) and playing dive clubs. Now even medium level acts who used to be considered successful lose money recording music.
Devo was and still will be true innovators of both music and presentation these guys were one of the first bands to use music video as an art form just pure brilliance
@@ProfessorofRock I love all of their albums probably top 3 favorites for me are q are we not men a we are Devo, duty now for the future, and oh no it's Devo!
So happy to see you get to Devo! New Wave really was art, and truly a movement as you said. I was young and just beginning to discover pop music as New Wave was hitting its peak. Seeing some of the videos on MTV for the first time was a surreal experience -- Devo's Freedom of Choice was this weird Sci Fi gem amongst all the glam metal videos, and I thought, how did they "get it" so perfectly? In their videos and music, it was like Devo just melded all the counterculture, marketing schlockiness with a modern tech aesthetic, expressing ideas and thoughts that I never knew other people shared, LOL. Bands like Devo sort of validated us fringe nerds, almost made it cool to be geeks. Long Live Devo!
I loved the DEVO appearance, and your interview was fantastic. But the musical performance on SNL that really struck me was David Bowie in 1979. My middle school art teacher turned me on to him with “Young Americans”. When I heard that he was going to be on, I had to watch (even though my parents disapproved of my watching the show). I remember he performed “The Man Who Sold The World”, “TVC 15”, and “Boys Keep Swinging” (from my favorite Bowie album “Lodger”), with Klaus Nomi, Joey Arias and a toy pink poodle TV monitor. I’d never seen anything like that performance. It cemented my love for him. Unfortunately, I was never able to see him perform live in person. I did, though, get to see DEVO in 2011. Such a fantastic experience. Your interview was awesome. So cool to see the history behind the energy dome. 💜💜💜
I remember Devo and The Tubes starting to get airplay at about the same time, and loved them both. What saddened me later is the way radio eventually reduced them (and many other bands) to one song each. I'm glad I still have the vinyl, along with CDs I bought later.
Professor, Outstanding content, Devo were pioneers and had a sound unlike any other band out there at that time. I really appreciate and enjoy the work you put into your uploads for us. Thank you Professor, And remember boys and girls De-Evolution is real!!!
I was a sophomore in high school when DEVO made their SNL debut. The Monday morning following the show, I remember it was all anyone was talking about at school - at least among anyone who's parents let them watch SNL. Led to me being a lifelong DEVO fan, seeing them live, and me and a couple friends that had a garage band that never went anywhere covering a few of their songs.
I remember DEVO on Saturday Night Live! I thought they were quirky and fun... and I appreciate them more now than ever! I also remember Blondie (Debbie Harry and her amazing and crazy drummer Clem) as landmark artists on SNL. I'll never forget Clem hitting his own head with the drumsticks before tearing into his kit... a memorable gimmick and he could really play!
Aww yiss! Loved the last Devo video and interview and I'm stoked you covered their Satisfaction cover! I remember in college having a friend on my floor who was obsessed with Devo, more than anyone else I've ever met! Thanks Professor 🙏
SNL is still the frontrunner to see the artists perform their hits, most of the time it's the first time I see their live performances, SNL picked up the ball after The Midnight Special ended, imho
Awesome interview! Awesome to learn the story on the hats! Devo was the future for me back in the day, hard to believe how long ago it's been now! thanks for sharing Professor!
OMG...I fell asleep Listening to KROQ late one Friday night and woke up to the opening riff of Holliday in Cambodia...scared me to death...love that song...lol
Poll: What band and song snuck up on you and blew you away?
AS a 12 and 13 year old kid watching SNL on a beat up black and white mini tv, I remember a lot of musical acts that blew me away. But the big one was The Special playing Gangsters in 1980...I didn't know what to make of it at all...but the mix of 60's influences with something decidedly NOW about the performance was everything for me. They both scared me and drew me in...there were more, but that performance certainly stands out.
"You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC. I wasn't a fan (at the time) of the Bon Scott era. But I remember the first time I heard this song and loved it from the Angus's opening riff.
R.E.M with Fall On Me in 1986
I was blown away by Alabama Shakes, never hear of them until I saw them preform on a late night show and I was blown away by their live performance of Always Alright. Also when Kurt died I thought Nirvana was over but then Dave started the Foo Fighters didn't realize what a great writer and artist he was
Being totally honest. Freedom of choice hands down was one of the first New Wave songs I heard. I went from being a die hard KISS fan to adopting New Wave into my cassette player! Along with the very starts of KROQ ! Wonderful era!! Priceless memories!
When DEVO came out you knew there was gonna be a shift in pop rock music, that SNL performance is legendary
So legendary. They really changed everything that night.
This one and the B-52's
I would say that and FEAR’s anarchic performance.
It made an instant fan out of me at the tender age of 13. Elvis Costello too. Such punchy performances.
It was head turning for main stream America
I very distinctly remember watching that episode of SNL, seeing DEVO perform & being so blwn away at how different & cool they were! Truly a benchmark of something totally new, cool, & different in so many ways!
I watched SNL that night, immediately began following DEVO, and still remember the experience 40+ years later. Watching SNL now, most times I won't remember a band 40 minutes later.
It was a life-changing moment for me. I was hooked on DEVO and have been ever since.
NUMAN and DEVO in the same video. Heavenly!
Seeing King Crimson on Fridays do Elephant Talk changed how I listened to and appreciated music ever since
Been a Devo fan from the start. I love Devo, what a great band and so much great music! They should be in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame!
I'll tell you what I remember from that SNL performance. I was sitting right off camera in my performance outfit (white lab coat with "Dr. Monitor" name pin) ready to run out in case there was a problem with any of the guys' equipment. I was the band's monitor engineer on the tour that they were on that brought them to NYC and SNL. Great memories of Jerry and the boys.
Devo's live performance of "Uncontrollable Urge" on Fridays stands to this day as one of my all-time favorite performances from any band of any era.
Great Stuff. They had good instincts when they first started out. Appearing on SNL and Fridays with really great performances got them noticed. They just didn't change society like they hoped. Instead they became part of the capitalist machine and were sold to the great unwashed as a musical group
DEVO on SNL was a sensorial and emotional experience. The sci-fi radiation suits and glasses, performance art, and music melded together and had me glued to the set.
Got the same feeling from Uncontrollable Urge with what I call the “ flying vee” formation at the end, I think this was on Fridays.
Devo on Saturday Night Live was formative for me and my band. We weren't good, but we were odd and Devo gave us inspiration
Gary Numan was WAY AHEAD of his time…Devo showed me that you can be “different” and still rock..great interview!
Pleasure Principle was the first LP I bought myself👍👊, still have it. Dang, that was 1979, I was 12/13, probably got it with Christmas money.
Numan was *so* influential to musicians, moreso than with the public at large. Just check out the respect he got from Trent Reznor. (This is one of my all time favorite clips on RUclips)
ruclips.net/video/6qlUFKFHNIU/видео.html
@@ikepigott -- just watch it 2x's, awesome. Thanks for the link👍👊
Seeing them live in their prime was mind altering. I was a fan from a couple of records but had no idea how hard they could rock. Relentless and incredibly tight. Only the Ramones were more machine-like in their approach to kicking your ass.
When Cars came out it was the perfect time to move away from 70's Country music and embrace the Top 40/Rock genre as a new teen.
Loved this interview and loved Devo! What a cool person Jerry Casale is! Loved how he stepped out of frame to bring the art decor into view but just held it in view. Yet staying out of view to focus on the story behind their infamous head gear. Thank you Mr. Casale and Professor for such an interesting and informative interview.
Agreed. How did you like his direction of Jane Siberry's "One More Colour" video's U.S. version?
I saw this live as a teenager. It changed my life, literally.
The history of the Energy Dome is so classic
I was blown away when he went and got it!
It's very weird for me to watch this video.
I still remember when this channel barely had any subscribers, and I was like this is professional quality, it's only a matter of time and this channel will blow up.
Here we are now, and we just witnessed one of the best interviews with Devo.
It's great to see that you got the acknowledgement you deserved.
Also, this is a reminder for those who have amazing ideas to start a channel and give it a shot.
"If you build it, they will come"
Thanks you for you support from the beginning!
Yup. Matter of time. Great content.
Content is king, and I keep finding myself coming back here. Keep up the awesome work!
I'm a newcomer, but believe you me, I'm spreading the gospel. This has become my favorite non-political channel. I could listen to Adam for hours. Thanks, Hoss!
@spook75a2 I typically DO!!!
PoR is my “go-to” on ”The RUclips”!
I remember watching DEVO live on SNL when this happened and it is still as odd and out there now as it was then. The only thing more weird and wonderfully out there was seeing The B52's do Rock Lobster on SNL..
Agree 100% What a time.
@@ProfessorofRock _Roam_ was the only B52's song that resonated with me and your feature video on the history of it is much appreciated. Great interview clips in that one. I love those harmonies.
You nailed those two, we happened to be at our favorite pizza place in Cypress Ca. having post game dinner with those acts up on the big projection TV for the first time. It was a what the hell moments.
What about FEAR?
@@nayrecitsuj7426 FEAR was maybe the scariest Punk concerts I ever saw. They loved to antagonize the audience- just like on SNL
That first Devo performance on SNL was mind blowing, but that was something I came to expect from the musical guests on SNL. I was already getting into New Wave myself because I was recording new albums from a local radio station that ran a show called The Album In Review each night. I learned about so many bands I never would have heard that way. I discovered I liked New Wave. So, when Devo hit the stage, I was somewhat ready for it, but it was definitely the most dramatic performance they ever had. Others that stood out were Talking Heads doing Take Me To The River, Elvis Costello with Radio Radio and the B-52s doing Rock Lobster. I was checking out the bands on Wikipedia and they were pretty tame until the end of the 3rd season when Elvis Costello performed. Then Devo hit the beginning of Season 4. That's when they started getting more cutting edge music on the show. I didn't necessarily like all the bands they had on, but they definitely introduced me to artists I would later buy albums from. I had that experience again for the first time in a long time in 2016 when I saw The 1975 perform. I really liked what they were doing and bought their album shortly after. I've recently been showing that Devo performance to my younger friends who aren't even aware of Devo. It definitely holds up. The robotic movements throughout the whole performance are amazing.
I remember being a kid and watching this performance live on SNL. Hat tip to my brother for introducing his little sister to this awesome band.
Still one of my best memories from childhood. Devo is in my top 5 bands of all time.
Skillful interview- the guest does most of the talking with some questions and guidance from the host. It takes a lot of work and ability to look this easy. Much better than the "how music effected my life" videos.
I remember DEVO coming on the radio and thinking man, what is this stuff-it’s awesome! I was a teenager at the start of the new-wave movement and it carried me through college. Looking back, I was SO lucky to have been that age at that time. I love it all!
Man-O-Man,…I have been watching that DEVO SNL performance over and over for the last six weeks. I was completely blown away by the performance, and not just the “choreography” but the incredible musicianship as well. I’ve played that video for more than a few people and I always point out that this was done LIVE. Absolutely incredible. I really enjoyed your interview. It was so great about hearing how they put the band out there. And I loved the Gary Numan bit,…I’ve always been a huge fan.
It's amazing and beautiful the humble influence he gathered from Gary Numan.
Saw them live, beyond great. Conceptually beyond the time
Devo is the definition of Nerd music, and I love it! I remember the first time I heard them. It was so different to everything else. They got stuck in my head for days.
Like everyone when I saw that performance on SNL it transformed my musical direction and life. I was a teen living in Akron at the time. The adults all said "That's weird" and I said "That's cool!"
When I first heard Devo I was blown away. I was a huge jazz fan and discounted all pop music as trash. Here was a avant-garde new age band that was not only unusual but good. They don’t get enough credit or being good musicians there performances were tight. They set the bar high with innovations in video and were way ahead on new electronic instruments and sounds. Those performances still sound fresh.
I still have Dr Detroit on “heavy rotation” in my personal collection. Devo was so far ahead of its time. So glad I can share your videos with my kids. My daughter was born in 2001 and has never had the chance to live through musical movements. So sad that commercialism killed creativity
I saw Devo perform live 4 weeks ago. First time live in Norway since 1990. Greatest show I’ve ever seen! Blew my mind!🤯
One performance that blew me away on SNL, was when Eddie Van Halen played with the SNL band and that was their music act for that night. Valerie Bertinelli was host, so that's how that happened.
That track was called Stompin’ in 8H, you can find it on RUclips sometimes, but it seems to get taken down often.
I ran to the record store the following Monday to find Are We Not Men.. that performance of Satisfaction totally blue my mind..
I miss 80s New Wave...so awesome!!!
Great interview. Mindblowing to see the actual origin of the hat. You can definitely hear the Numan influence on _New Traditionalists_ - they leveled up hard. Would be cool to hear about their experience of being discovered by Bowie & working with Eno.
I thought it was so cool when he Gary props.
I was in art school back then, and it was truly a time of discovery with all of the new bands coming out who were breaking boundaries. Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, XTC, Talking Heads, The Jam, Gary Numan, the B52's… and hundreds more. I also remember watching Devo's premier performance on SN, and I thought… "OK boys, here's Devo, and I'll raise you with Bauhaus."
When I first saw Devo on SNL, My jaw dropped and I knew then the music scene was never going to be the same again. I was totally blown away by their sounds and visuals. I still remember that particular evening 43 years later!
I've been going down the live Devo rabbit hole on here recently. They are an amazingly tight live act!
When heard Devo was going to be on SNL I couldn't wait to watch it and what a great performance. Put their cover of Satisfaction in my high school reunion song list they as they were such a major part of the New Wave era.
The 70s were incredibly productive and produced so much new and unusual music continuously and the 80s and 90s bands reaped the rewards!
I knew Devo was going to be on SNL that night, so I recorded it on my Dad’s VCR. He was pissed, because blank tapes were still very expensive then.
What a great interview. Thank you.
Aside from Gary Numan, these guys epitomized the ART and INNOVATION of NW.
I always saw them as the embodiment of the genre and they have stood the test of time. FWIW: 'That's Good' is hands down my DEVO absolute fave. Still slaps like nobody's business.
It was DEVO's Performance on Friday's that really got me.
The Plasmatics on Fridays got me!
Same here...Devo was dynamic on Fridays...it was Elvis Costello on SNL that changed my musical taste from Ted Nugent to New Wave
Thank God for Fridays and SNL
“Whip It” makes a perfect segue with “Oh Pretty Woman” by Roy Orbison! Old School meets New - and they get along BEAUTIFULLY!
It was cool because living in Northeastern Ohio (Cleveland) I was about 40 minutes away from Akron where Devo's origins began. We had heard rumblings of this kind of weird band down there making new music. When I first heard them I loved their approach. I got the whole De-evolution thing and the satire of it. It was clever and good. They made some great music for the time they existed and were ahead of the curve in alot of ways.
I remember being in grade school hanging with a small group of kids who all loved Devo. No idea why I singled this tune out as my favorite, but I listened to Mongoloid over and over.
Then, as we got a little older and drinking SIB became a common morning after quote. We would use the Uncontrollable Urge "Ya, Ya, Ya ya ya ya-ya-ya Ya!" as a team chant and no one had any idea what the heck we were on about. Freaked them out and gave us thus psychological edge though.
When he bought out the white lamp my initial reaction was So THATS what inspired their hats! 😁🤣. Another great interview-I enjoyed the previous one that focuses on Whip it and this one built on it. I say keep doing this.
Holy FVCK! They played this a week after THE STONES were on SNL?!? Cojones Grande!
I remember seeing Devo on that SNL broadcast at the time. I was young, but intrigued.
Seeing and discovering DEVO, Elvis Costello and B-52's while performing live on SNL was mind blowing to say the least. Credit to Lorne Michaels and company for their part in it all!
I just realized that this was such an iconic exaggerated "Nerodivergant Personality" performance - totally programmed, scripted, robotic, expressionless, and no room for "small talk", as that IS meaningless. Everything was on message! I love it! ❤😊
In the 80s Prince blew me away album after album especially when I found out he wrote, performed and produced his own music. After that it was REM and then Radiohead. All had a huge influence in my life.
I agree with the point near the end of your conversation that popular music today has become interchangeable and forgettable, but good music still exists today; the difference is that you have to go and find it. As a host of a weekly radio show that exclusively features independent artists, my faith in music has been revitalized by artists who bypass industry "experts" and follow their muse. There are many, many out there - find them.
Over 40 years later , can't wait to see Devo with Bauhaus , Morrissey & Blondie at the Cruel Festival next spring in Pasadena with many other great acts of the 80's !
I really want to go to that. We will see. Good for you for scoring tix.
Is that the Cruel World Festival? Other acts include Blondie, 45 Grave, and Christian Death.
Oh, and I think Drab Majesty is on that venue, too. They are a relatively new band (around less than ten years), but they are absolutely outstanding.
I believe the Psychedelic Furs will perform also 🙂
@@flavellinator Yes , they are on the bill !
Devo, B52’s, Gary Newman, Thomas Dolby, such a great era! Will you be doing anything on the B52’s or Thomas Dolby?
Please b52s.
This performance, the Elvis Costello appearance, and the Bowie/Klaus Nomi episode were the three SNL shows that I could not get out of my head for weeks. They totally transformed the type of music that I sought out until this day.
oUTstandING woRk PRofeSsor! It was terrific that you talked to Jerry and got his insights with good questions because you can get an idea of what the rock scene was, what inspired him and his band, as well as how and why their musical path even happened. This definitely matters in order to gain an understanding of DEVO's musical story. In addition to technological advancements, the music biz and popular music has has experienced tectonic changes since the time when they were coming up. So, to get the backdrop 1st person from a band member (not just some fan's recollections) of what led to the creation of their unique music, sound and visual style is golden.
Saw that when it aired. I was like 6. I went to the record store the next day and got the record.
Always loved Devo and the whole new wave genre. I guess I was a rebel kid as all my friends were listening to the pop/rock stuff and I’m blasting Devo, Gary Numan and the like from my boom box! Great interview! Keep em coming!
This must be the absolute best interview with any Devo member in my 40 year+ recollection. I really do mean that. I have loved Devo since I was 9 or 10, and honestly appreciate them more today having learned so much of their history and inner thoughts and meanings. That is one of the true blessings of the internet, especially for someone who mostly grew up without it. I have learned so much about my favorite interests in the last 10 or so years, more so than in the 40 years preceding it. (I say last 10 years because of the wealth of information that has accumulated online over time. There wasn't nearly as much info out there when I first got online in 1995, especially since even that was severely limited by my dial up modem....like a 28k I think!) Thank you POR, you really hit a home run with this one!!!!
The last season of the original cast Saturday night live had a very eclectic group of musicians. Devo was one of them. Blondie was also in that season
I remember watching them on SNL, and I was hooked. One of my favorite bands ever.
Great stories from Jerry! From that 'grade school' memory/Art Deco inspiration, to the late realization that Lorne Michaels IS Dr. Evil.
I’ve loved DEVO since the late 70’s in high school. This makes me love Gerald even more than before. ❤
1977...A mini truck with Devo, Blondie and The Blues Brothers on constant rotation while cruising PCH. Those memories have a permanent place in my heart.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS!!! I’m still blown away by this performance and their take on this song!
Wasn't it amazing? It really was a time when anything was possible.
Just the fact that he had an example of that light fixuture handy tells you everything you need
Devo was unlike anything before. It was like a personal treasure in music I found. Met another kid in junior high and went to see Devo live in '81. Great times.
Massive respect to Gerry and DEVO for pushing the boundaries of pop music into a new and exciting direction. It was a good decade before I realized there was an operating philosophy behind their work and another decade before I realized their philosophy was on-point. Now with every new 'innovation' that somehow drives humanity backward [mp3s anyone?], I credit it to de-evolution.
Well said!
How about communicating with shorter and less meaningful content, like tic toc.Heiroglyphs were sentences abbreviated .just like lmfao and smh.Emojis are cave paintings.I have bad eyes and attitude so I don't bother deciphering them.De-evolved to be sure smh lmfao happy sad laughing crying emoji.
Devo, Genesis, the Police, Elvis Costello, the Cars, and the list goes on. The evolution of Rock over the years blows my mind. I saw a video the other day of Leon Russell performing on Shin Dig in 1964 and was speechless. The great ride of American rock/pop music just never stops (although sometimes it hiccups). A comment I made on a Styx video a few months back had the guitar player basically asking me/amazed that I was still watching their videos after all this time (I'm 67). I told him, get real dude, have you heard what they're playing on radio these days? Music keeps evolving, once in a while there's a gem.
Jerry Casale is a great subject for an interview. Always interesting, always entertaining. In my opinion, Devo weren't the best experimental group, they weren't the best 'new wave' group, they were one of the best & most innotative bands ever. Bear in mind that there was strong competition in that field, especially from the mid sixties to the mid eighties.
Pretty wild and fascinating takes on Devo and that infamous SNL performances. Those hats were the icing on these eclectic geniuses. Love this professor!
Fabulous interview.
I remember when I first saw and heard Devo. They were very different and original. They were definitely pioneers of the New Wave movement which would be one of the most dominant musical genres of the 1980s.
You can say that again. They were so unique. Unlike anything before or since.
My wife and I sat front and center at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano and it was unforgettable. Thank you Devon, and thank you for another amazing interview.
When all this music was coming out in the early 80's, I was a high school dance DJ in a northern Ontario mining town. Oddly enough, it was a very accepting market... I, and the group of people I worked with, were very much into the whole New Wave thing, and we mixed a LOT of it in at our dances, alongside the Top 40 Pop of the time.
I hope for your sake it wasn't Balmertown. On tour we spent a month there one week.
Professor, you've done it again! I'm 64, was a teen when DEVO rose to fame, and wasn't into them. This is so effing interesting I want to go listen to all their stuff.
The band I remember first hearing on SNL was The Roches. They did Handel's Hallelujah Chorus and I was so blown away by their harmony. Two of the sisters are still alive. I know their not really "rock" but I'd love to see an interview with them.
I was thirteen when that SNL performance aired, and it completely rearranged my musical tastes overnight. I'm 56 now and I remain a staunch Devo supporter.
my favourite band! Thank you professor.
You're welcome. More to come.
This interview shows clearly that Devo was genius personified.
Amazing Interview Professor! Your voice is as professional as it gets. Wouldn’t be surprised to hear you narrate programs on TV or Movies.
I was always bashed as a younger man when I listened to Devo or other “modern” music in the early 80’s. Years later those whom did the bashing ended up loving the same style of music as Devo or New Wave in general.
Well thank you! I appreciate you support!
The mid to late seventies was , for me, the most exciting time for music. Television, Suicide, Blondie, Ramones, Talking Heads, B52's, Pere Ubu from the US. Cabaret Voltaire, The Associates, Human League, Buzzcocks, Joy Division, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Cure, Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, Graham Parker, Ian Dury, Dr. Feelgood, The Jam, OMD, XTC, Tubeway Army, Ultravox, Japan, Police, Pretenders, Pistols, Clash, Damned, The Fall, Squeeze, Stranglers, Skids, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Teardrop Explodes, Specials, Madness, Roxy Music. I am so glad that I was a teenager in that era & that I had the chance to see some of those bands live.
It seemed to me, that most of the exciting US music at the time was coming out of New York or Ohio.
We love and grew up with the same music...I was 13 in 1977 and saw Elvis on SNL...changed my musical taste instantly...I've seen most of those great bands live...concerts were cheap in the late 70s to mid 80s...$5- 10
Those were the days
Great interview. They did what today’s generation is scared to do, they were themselves and played what they enjoyed. Music and people today are afraid to be themselves, to think differently, dress different, and to play and write the music they would like to be doing. We should all be more like DEVO and bring back the beautiful individuality that is missing from today’s society.
I am not sure that an anti-establishment sound can even be developed today. There are not dominant styles to turn away from (to devolve, if you will) in the same way. Can't have a counter culture without a culture. So I fear we will likely continue to have this incessant drivel for a long time to come. I can relate to the lament of the character in 'Singles': "...where are the anthems of our youth...?"
There is individuality, though it is hard to be a "pioneer" after all these years, people do all kinds of weird stuff on RUclips and Soundcloud, it's just all diluted in all the cultural static noise and it is so hard to make any money anymore. A fringe act used to be able to make money actually selling music (only way to hear it was to buy it) and playing dive clubs. Now even medium level acts who used to be considered successful lose money recording music.
Devo was and still will be true innovators of both music and presentation these guys were one of the first bands to use music video as an art form just pure brilliance
They are quite amazing.
@@ProfessorofRock I love all of their albums probably top 3 favorites for me are q are we not men a we are Devo, duty now for the future, and oh no it's Devo!
So happy to see you get to Devo!
New Wave really was art, and truly a movement as you said. I was young and just beginning to discover pop music as New Wave was hitting its peak. Seeing some of the videos on MTV for the first time was a surreal experience -- Devo's Freedom of Choice was this weird Sci Fi gem amongst all the glam metal videos, and I thought, how did they "get it" so perfectly? In their videos and music, it was like Devo just melded all the counterculture, marketing schlockiness with a modern tech aesthetic, expressing ideas and thoughts that I never knew other people shared, LOL. Bands like Devo sort of validated us fringe nerds, almost made it cool to be geeks.
Long Live Devo!
Devo is amazing. They are one of a kind.
I loved the DEVO appearance, and your interview was fantastic. But the musical performance on SNL that really struck me was David Bowie in 1979. My middle school art teacher turned me on to him with “Young Americans”. When I heard that he was going to be on, I had to watch (even though my parents disapproved of my watching the show). I remember he performed “The Man Who Sold The World”, “TVC 15”, and “Boys Keep Swinging” (from my favorite Bowie album “Lodger”), with Klaus Nomi, Joey Arias and a toy pink poodle TV monitor. I’d never seen anything like that performance. It cemented my love for him. Unfortunately, I was never able to see him perform live in person. I did, though, get to see DEVO in 2011. Such a fantastic experience. Your interview was awesome. So cool to see the history behind the energy dome. 💜💜💜
Seeing Devo on Saturday Night Live is what turned me on to the New Wave craze. 🙂
Great show and great artist DEVO❤
I watched this episode of Saturday night live.. live. I was super high, and Devo's performance definitely blew my mind.
How cool was this!
Saw Devo in the early 80s, what a great show! =)
I remember Devo and The Tubes starting to get airplay at about the same time, and loved them both. What saddened me later is the way radio eventually reduced them (and many other bands) to one song each. I'm glad I still have the vinyl, along with CDs I bought later.
Professor,
Outstanding content,
Devo were pioneers and had a sound unlike any other band out there at that time. I really appreciate and enjoy the work you put into your uploads for us.
Thank you Professor, And remember boys and girls De-Evolution is real!!!
Absolutely another amazing interview and vid. Thanks again Professor!!
I was a sophomore in high school when DEVO made their SNL debut. The Monday morning following the show, I remember it was all anyone was talking about at school - at least among anyone who's parents let them watch SNL. Led to me being a lifelong DEVO fan, seeing them live, and me and a couple friends that had a garage band that never went anywhere covering a few of their songs.
I remember DEVO on Saturday Night Live! I thought they were quirky and fun... and I appreciate them more now than ever! I also remember Blondie (Debbie Harry and her amazing and crazy drummer Clem) as landmark artists on SNL. I'll never forget Clem hitting his own head with the drumsticks before tearing into his kit... a memorable gimmick and he could really play!
Aww yiss! Loved the last Devo video and interview and I'm stoked you covered their Satisfaction cover! I remember in college having a friend on my floor who was obsessed with Devo, more than anyone else I've ever met! Thanks Professor 🙏
You're welcome Allison! Thanks for always supporting the channel.
Almost 50 years of the best show of all time. I still discover new music artists every year on the show
Haha, no. It isn't even the best comedy show of all time. MadTV was better
Saturday Night Live hasn't been good in decades
SNL is still the frontrunner to see the artists perform their hits, most of the time it's the first time I see their live performances, SNL picked up the ball after The Midnight Special ended, imho
I haven't watched in a while.
I agree.
Awesome interview! Awesome to learn the story on the hats! Devo was the future for me back in the day, hard to believe how long ago it's been now! thanks for sharing Professor!
devo, dead kennedys were my favorites in HS.
OMG...I fell asleep Listening to KROQ late one Friday night and woke up to the opening riff of Holliday in Cambodia...scared me to death...love that song...lol