Today on Radar - I recently spoke with Gerald Casale, co-founder of Devo and one of the architects of a band that turned the theory of de-evolution into one of the most conceptually rigorous acts ever encountered while also being wildly fun. Along with Mark Mothersbaugh and Bob Lewis, Casale built Devo out of Kent, Ohio in the early 1970s.
Casale was a graduate student at Kent State on May 4, 1970, and witnessed the National Guard shootings that killed four students, two of whom he knew. That day shaped the worldview that de-evolution came from, and it runs through everything Devo has made since.
We got into all of it: the origins of Devo, the band itself, politics, Kent State, his wine making, and his new solo work. In July he released the single and animated video "Just Do It!," the first track from his forthcoming solo album Wetiko. Built with satirical artist Max Papeschi and animator Maurizio Temporin, and co-written with composer Moimir Papalescu, the video is a blistering piece of political satire timed to America's 250th anniversary. We also talked about Devo's recent and upcoming touring, including the co-headlining Cosmic De-Evolution run with the B-52s, and what it means to be finding a new generation of fans this far into the story.
Artist, provocateur, songwriter, director and winemaker. What an incredible life. He joined Radar to talk about all of it.
You can find all things Jerry at geraldvcasale.com and follow along with all upcoming Devo happenings at clubdevo.com and you can find Jerry and Devo across all social of course.
ICYDNK: Dylan Hundley is an artist and performer. She is the lead singer and co-creator of Lulu Lewis, and the creator of all things at Darling Black, one woman brutalist synthpop. She curates and hosts Salon Lulu, a New York-based multidisciplinary performance series, and is also a cast member of the cult-classic New York film Metropolitan.
