‘Devo’ documentary highlights the difficulties of band life
It’s extremely rare that moviegoers have the opportunity to watch music documentaries on the big screen, so Devo is one that should not be missed.
Bands with few exceptions are like bacteria, they grow, blossom and eventually fade away and become a distant memory.
So was the case with Devo, a 70’s all male group which was accused of being bizarre, fascist, and stupid. This may possibly be the most misunderstood band ever to perform on stage.
The question which was asked by critics at the time was, is Devo the new wave of the future or are they just playing a big joke on just about everybody? Are they from out of space? It seemed they were the band that fell to Earth!
Described as one of the funniest, most innovative non-punk, non-new wave, non-anything actually, but their own unique group – you simply couldn’t categorize them.
From obscurity the band formed and their first show at Kent State University, Ohio in 1973 was described as ‘punishing’.
They wanted their abstract and radical music to capture and expand on people’s perception of the world. They tried to sound like a rock n’ roll band and oddly at one stage considered getting plastic surgery to look alike.
The band gained attention after playing a show in New York during 1977 and finally acquired a record deal in 1978. Their hits include Joko Homo, Satisfaction, Beautiful World, Girl U Want and Whip It.
Devo produced a cheap and exploitative video of the single Whip It – and everybody loved it. When the band performed on the Merv Griffiths Show they were viewed by 15 million people and suddenly their fame skyrocketed. Ultimately a gold album was achieved.
They were told by record executives, “Make sure you do another Whip it!” But Devo never did and just as quickly as their success escalated it declined even quicker…
This documentary gives an insight into the ups and downs in the world of music. Was it important to be commercial? How difficult was it for this band to crack the music market?
Band member Mark Mothersbaugh is interviewed extensively, with audio participation also from the late Alan Myers and Bob Casale.
There are also informative interviews with record executives, entrepreneurs, friends, musicians and Elliot Roberts, the band’s manager, who all discuss different facets of the lives and careers of the band members.
There is a collage of the bands musical achievements, cleverly edited with bizarre images that one would expect from an experimental film.
When asked what the band was attempting to accomplish with their music the response was, “it’s musical laxative for constipated anxiety!”
Devo is a very entertaining musical documentary, humorous and playful at times, suitable for all audiences. If you thought you knew everything about this band, you were mistaken!
★★★★
Screening as part of the Strobe Music Film Festival.
Aug 10 @ Golden Age Cinema
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