Devo

OT: Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh has created a line of art rugs that features his designs.

I’ve got an uncontrollable urge to get one of these for the Synthtopia studio…..

Devo has also announced plans for a series of live shows and some deluxe box set reissues.

via wired

This is Devo-lution

Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale of pioneering synth pop band Devo admit they failed to save the world from backward decline. Music devolves as music tech evolves, so artists no longer need to make decisions.

via wired:

Devo has announced that it’s reuniting and plans to release a new Devo album in the fall.

They’re now in the studio putting the finishing touches on their new album (title TBA), their first one since 1990’s Smooth Noodle Maps. It’ll mark their first new music since the 2007 single Watch Us Work It.

They’ve also got concerts plans, starting with a gig March 20th in Austin.

Here are the details: Read more…

This is a very strange 1984 Pioneer Laserdisc demo featuring Devo and some bad blind jokes via Ray Charles.

What do you think – did this video kill the Laserdisc format? Read more…

Post-punk pioneers Devo are suing McDonald’s over a Happy Meal doll that sports the band’s signature red flower pot hat.

In April, McDonald’s introduced a series of American Idol Happy Meal toys based on a range of music styles, including Disco Dave, Country Clay, Rockin’ Riley and Soulful Selma.

Devo’s complaint is that the toy “New Wave Nigel” is based on the band’s image, and that the doll plays a Devo-esque song.

Bass player Gerald Casale said the band were taking legal action against McDonald’s for using their copyrighted hat without permission.

“We are in the midst of suing them,” Casale told AAP.

“This New Wave Nigel doll that they’ve created is just a complete Devo rip-off,” said Devo bassist Gerald Casale, “The red hat is exactly the red hat that I designed, and it’s copyrighted and trademarked.”

“They didn’t ask us anything. Plus, we don’t like McDonald’s, and we don’t like American Idol, so we’re doubly offended.”

While it’s clear that this toy was derived from Devo’s trademark image, you have to wonder if Devo itself has devolved, when it’s suing McDonalds over appropriating the band’s 25-year old image, instead of doing something new.