Didn ' t work so well the first time . <| sep |> Devo artist picimg 2 . akamaized . netiu 2523 fa 0 e 925 e 1454 ae 6 b 595 d 1 d 0 f 6462615 . png Devo is an American rock group formed in Akron , Ohio , United States in 1972 . The band split in 1991 and returned in 1996 . The band currently consists of Gerald Casale vocals , bass , Mark Mothersbaugh vocals , synthesizer , Bob Mothersbaugh guitar and Josh Freese drums . Former members include Bob Casale guitar , keyboards born July 14 , 1952 died February 17 , 2014 and Alan Myers drums born 1955 died 2013 . The band released their first album in 20 years , Something for Everybody on June 15 , 2010 . Their style has been variously classified as punk , industrial and rock , but are most often considered to be the 70 searly 80 s New Wave band that ushered in the synth pop of the 1980 s , along with other acts such as Gary Numan and The B 52 s . Devo ' s music and stage show mingle kitsch science fiction themes , deadpan surrealist humor , and mordantly satirical social commentary , often dealing with the concept of DeEvolution , in sometimesdiscordant pop songs that often feature unusual synthetic instrumentation and time signatures . Their work has proved hugely influential on subsequent popular music , particularly New Wave , alternative and grunge music , they created some memorable music videos popular in the early days of MTV . The name Devo comes from the concept of Devolution also referred to by the band as deevolution . This idea was developed as a joke by Kent State University art students Gerald Casale and Bob Lewis as early as the late 1960 s . Casale and Lewis created a number of art pieces in the vein of Devolution . At this time , Casale had also performed with the local band 156075 . They met Mark Mothersbaugh around 1970 , who introduced them to the pamphlet Jocko Homo Heavenbound , which would later inspire the song Jocko Homo . The pivotal moment for the formation of Devo was the Kent State shootings of May 4 1970 . Casale knew two of the murdered students , and even saw one student , Allison Krause , with exit wounds from the M 1 Garand rifle . At this moment , Casale claims he changed the idea of Devolution into a serious concept . The first form of Devo was the Sextet Devo which performed at the 1973 Kent State performing arts festival . It included Casale , Lewis and Mothersbaugh , as well as Gerald ' s brother Bob Casale on guitar , and friends Rod Reisman and Fred Weber on drums and vocals , respectively . This performance was filmed and a part was included on the home video The Complete Truth About Deevolution . This lineup only performed once . Devo returned to perform in the Student Governance Center featured prominently in the film at the 1974 Creative Arts Festival with a lineup including the Casale brothers , Bob Lewis , Mark Mothersbaugh , and Jim Mothersbaugh on drums . Devo later formed as a quartet focusing around Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale . They recruited Mark ' s brothers Bob Mothersbaugh and Jim Mothersbaugh . Bob played electric guitar , and Jim provided percussion using a set of homemade electronic drums . This lineup of Devo lasted until 1976 when Jim left the band . The lineup was occasionally fluid , and Bob Lewis would sometimes play guitar during this period . In concert , Devo would often perform in the guise of theatrical characters , such as Booji Boy , and The Chinaman . Live concerts from this period were often confrontational , and would remain so until 1977 . A recording of an early Devo performance from 1975 with the quartet lineup appears on DEVO Live The Mongoloid Years , ending with the promoters unplugging Devo ' s equipment . Following Jim Motherbaugh ' s departure , Bob Mothersbaugh found a new drummer in Alan Myers , who played a conventional , acoustic drum set with mechanical precision . Casale rerecruited his brother Bob Casale , and the popular lineup of Devo was formed . It would endure for nearly ten years . Devo will embark on a EuroTour 2007 on June 16 th in Barcelona . They will perform concerts in Brighton , London , Manchester and Glasgow . For more info about the tour , click on the following link Read more on Last . fm . 686 , 016 listeners , 12 , 408 , 293 plays tags new wave , postpunk , 80 s , alternative , rock Please downvote if incorrect ! Selfdeletes if score is 0 .