The band releases a career-spanning retrospective box set
Devo marked half a century of de-evolution as the trailblazing band took the road for their global tour this fall. Rhino pays tribute to the influential group this year, too, unveiling a new career-spanning boxed set that encompasses all of Devo’s hits and a selection of rarities. Now, following the global tour and a play at the Darker Waves Festival, the band releases a lyric video by Adult Swim creator Lilfuchs for their iconic, newly remasted track “Post Post-Modern Man (Macro Post-Modern Mix),” made available for streaming for the first time this fall.
“The post-post-modern man navigates through a devolved dystopia. He’s trying to whip it, and he’s ‘doin’ it the hard way,” says Gerald Casale.
50 Years of De-Evolution (1973-2023) arrived in various configurations on October 20th. The first is a 4 LP set pressed on clear vinyl that’s limited to 3,000 copies worldwide, available exclusively from Rhino.com. This deluxe version comes in a slipcase with a 28-page book, a Devo air freshener, and a foldable paper hat that resembles the band’s iconic red energy domes. Additionally, a lithograph of the album artwork is included. A 2 CD version of the 50-song collection is also available alongside a 25-song version on vinyl.
To continue the celebration, Devo has also partnered with the disruptive clothing brand Brain Dead hosted and launched a special Devo event as well as a merchandise capsule. For those seeking to commemorate the occasion in style, a meticulously designed Devo capsule merch collection awaits, courtesy of Brain Dead, exclusively premiered at the Dover Street Market at Freize.
Devo was formed in 1973 by two sets of brothers – Bob and Gerald Casale and Bob and Mark Mothersbaugh – and Alan Myers. The band took its name from the concept of de-evolution – the notion that society is regressing rather than progressing. It was their response to the infamous 1970 shootings at Kent State University, which some band members witnessed while attending the school.
Devo started out performing around Akron, Ohio, and garnered early support from David Bowie and Iggy Pop, helping the group secure a deal with Warner Bros. Records. Soon after, the band began working with legendary producer Brian Eno on its 1978 debut, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!. The album was an underground success despite the mainstream music press overlooking Devo’s insightful cultural satire.
A year later, the band returned with Duty Now for the Future before achieving mainstream recognition in 1980 with its platinum-certified third album, Freedom of Choice, which included the hit single “Whip It.” The song’s iconic music video became a fixture on MTV, contributing to Devo’s growing popularity in the 1980s. That decade saw the band release more hits (“Beautiful World” and “That’s Good”) and a string of memorable studio albums: New Traditionalist (1981), Oh No! It’s Devo (1982), Shout! (1984), and Total Devo (1988). After 1990’s Smooth Noodle Maps, the band took an extended hiatus to pursue film and television projects before returning in 2010 with Something for Everybody.
