UPDATE 7/8: Devo co-founder Jerry Casale has offered up a statement regarding the band’s recent addition to the Desert Daze lineup.
After more than four decades as one of the most iconic and influential new wave bands on the scene, Devo have revealed they will be packing it in following a farewell tour.
Formed by a number of Kent State University students in the early ’70s, Devo have never been one of those bands to take themselves too seriously.
Releasing their first record – Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! – in 1978, the group were often cited as a “joke band” by the press due to their fun-loving nature, quirky song-writing style, and eye-opening live shows.
Despite this, they kept doing their own thing, releasing a number of classic tracks like ‘Girl U Want’, ‘Whip It’, ‘Through Being Cool’, and their debut single, ‘Mongoloid’.
By the early ’90s, the band had seemingly run its course, and Devo announced their breakup in 1991. However, 1996 saw the group reform, going on to perform a number of live shows, and eventually releasing their first album in 20 years – Something For Everybody – in 2010.
Now, after decades as one of the most influential and unique bands on the scene, Devo have seemingly announced the end of the band, revealing they’ll be kicking off a farewell tour this October.
Check out Devo’s ‘Through Being Cool’:
Taking to Facebook earlier today to reveal they had some big news coming, Devo followed it up soon after by revealing that they would be one of the headline acts at the 2019 Desert Daze festival in California this October.
However, while the band are performing alongside the likes of the Wu-Tang Clan, Ween, The Flaming Lips, and Australia’s Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, fans noted that the band’s billing marks them down as appearing as part of their “farewell tour”.
At this stage, the band have not made any official statement about their supposedly final shows, but at this stage the Desert Daze festival is their only upcoming live date.
Earlier this year, comedian Fred Armisen was interviewed by Rolling Stone, where he was asked about the possibility of performing as Devo’s drummer (again) if they were to embark on a farewell tour.
“I would throw my Devo hat in the ring and say, ‘Of course, I would love to do it,'” Armisen explained. “But that’s up to them.
“They’ve had different drummers: Josh Freese and Jeff Friedl and some brilliant people. That’s up to them, but if they ever asked me I’d do it in a second. In a second!”
As it turns out, Fred Armisen is also listed on the Desert Daze lineup, so there’s no saying whether or not the comedian might find himself donning the energy dome on the live stage once again.
As it stands, Devo’s last Australian tour took place in 2012, so here’s hoping they might find themselves with an uncontrollable urge to visit their Aussie fans once more before they say goodbye for good.
UPDATE 7/8: Devo co-founder Jerry Casale spoke to Consequence Of Sound about the “farewell tour” performance at Desert Daze, noting that the appearance is “not connected to a Farewell Tour”, but could indeed by part of the band’s final leg.
“If ever there is such a tour we certainly will not name it as such. More like The Beginning Was The End Tour,” Casale added. “As it is [Desert Daze] could be the last time DEVO plays on this planet. Who knows?
“Spuds should see us while they can. Let us not talk falsely now, the hour’s getting late as Bob Dylan said 50 years or so ago.”
Check out ‘Uncontrollable Urge’ by Devo:
