Devo
The Complete Truth About De-Evolution
Rhino/Warner                           

Michael Weldon, the gonzo-genius who gave us Psychotronic, has always been ranting about how much incredible, cool stuff came out off Ohio in the ‘70's. Watching this, I'm realizing he is 100% accurate. Ohio's seventies gave us Pere Ubu, Electric Eels, Peter Laughner, Dead Boys, The Cramps, Psychotronic and Devo. That means 90% out of everything worthwhile in the polyester decade came from the Rubber State. (Rap was, coincidentally, also invented in Ohio, but in the 50's by the foaming-at-the-mouth, 185 IQ, middle age honkie DJ the Mad Daddy).

Ponder it kiddos; Pere Ubu and Electric Eels defined the entire incomprehensible art-rock genre, Laughner and Dead Boys were what those limey ad agency Pistols tried to copy in their death-punk schtick, Psychotronic started the whole trash movie cult and Devo were all of the above—with a monkey suit too boot! Drop yer jaw below your waist at the first incarnation of Devo confusing art chicks at Kent State in ‘72 with out-of-control oscillators and gorilla suits. The films from ‘76 to ‘81 are sheer genius and leave me screaming in outrage from all the stuff that was stolen by later big bucks video directors. The major diff is of course that Devo's stuff aged a lot better than say, anything by Underworld (did you REALLY think we didn't hear that you ripped that entire intro from the Butthole Surfers?).

Any band that gets a subliminal endorsement from Bob Dobbs in 1980 will prevail. The only hang-up here is that we don't get the "R U Experienced" vid. Guess the Hendrix estate is a bunch of untrippy dollar sucking scrooges who don't get it. Very few do actually, that's why we have all these "new" electro bands that just suck Suicide/Devo dick. If more of you saw this, all pseudo rock'n'roll would be out of a job.

KARL MAX