We Are Devo!: Are We Not Men?

by Jade Dellinger, David Giffels, Jeff E. Winner (Editor)

"This book is as close as anyone will ever come to explaining where Devo's brilliant absurdity came from—and more importantly, why that absurd brilliance was so culturally essential."—Chuck Klosterman “Extensively researched. . . . The mostly untold story of Devo’s beginnings makes this book so fascinating.”— The Wire “Given the propensity of Devo to propagate misinformation about themselves, it is comforting to finally have a book that appears to draw all threads of these men, who lived so deliberately, into a knot of actual events. Inspiring stuff.”— Rock Sound Magazine The first paperback edition of the highly successful illustrated biography of America’s pioneering art rock spud men, Devo.

Genres: Music, Biography

254 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2007

Reviews

[Arthur Graham]

Instead of reading/reviewing this book, I'm just gonna post a bunch of links to random DEVO tunes instead, thereby PROVING that de-evolution is REAL!!!

Gut Feeling
It Doesn't Matter to Me
Beautiful World
Blockhead
Fresh
Love Without Anger
Come Back Jonee
Peek-A-Boo
Gates of Steel
Freedom of Choice
Secret Agent Man
Jerkin Back and Forth
R U Experienced
Jocko Homo
That's Good
Don't Shoot (I'm a Man)
Worried Man
Girl U Want
Mongoloid
Planet Earth
Through Being Cool
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
Disco Dancer
The Day My Baby Gave Me a Surprise
Be Stiff
What We Do
and (why not?)
Whip It

I'll probably read this book one day and you should probably read it too, but until then you can learn more about pretty much the greatest American band ever here.

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever want to know about DEVO? This is THE book to have.

The authors have taken into account the many conflicting stories various band members have given through the years (via interviews), and rather than attempt to sort out the one truth, accepted the band's idea that an objective truth doesn't exist... and played along with the joke. If it was a joke.

Primarily covering the early history of DEVO, the main concern are the band's influences, ideas, philosophy, and crazy cast of in-jokes that led them to prominence in early '80s pop culture. It's only in the final 40 pages were we get to hear a little about how the band's humorous philosophy turned out to be true in so many ways.

Seriously, if you're a DEVO fan, interested in '70s/'80s pop/punk art music, or just curious about why us fanatics were (and still are) so entranced by these guys, find yourself this book!

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the great Devo books (along with the 33 1/3 book) that goes into great depth into Devo's inception and how things played out over time. I hear there is a lot of 'facts' in here that should be taken with a pinch of salt but that doesn't bother me too much and doesn't detract from the fact that a lot of effort was put into this book which comes across. I feel it loses it's way toward the end though sadly with Oh No! It's Devo onwards being relegated to very condensed sections that could have been greatly greatly expanded upon. I hope one day this book gets a reissue and these issues are addressed.

[T.S. Hottle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devo wasn't so much a new wave band as a multimedia art project before they signed a record contract. A product of the Akron music scene and the most successful act to come out of it (Chrissy Hynde had to go to London and teach Steve Jones how to ay guitar), they are also the most un-Akron-like band from that movement in any era.

Having had a few teachers who went to Kent State with the various members and a mutual friend with one of their siblings, nothing surprises me about except how they embraced being a rock band.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This is the DEVO book to own. Whether you have a passing interest in the band or have been a fan for years, this one's for you. But here's how it breaks down for me:

FOR THE NOVICE SPUD - Even though this is the official story, this book will make you want to seek out more info about this enigmatic band. It will make you want to buy the newly remastered catalog. Some of the references or names may throw you off a bit, but you don't have to really know high-diddy squat about DEVO to enjoy it. It's the book version of THE BEATLES film "Let It Be." A classic tale of a band that envisioned the end clearly at the beginning. A band that predicted de-evolution and then succumbed to it.

FOR THE SPUD GURU - This is like the curtain being thrown back, revealing the Wizard of Oz. Stories and anecdotes you might've heard over the years will be retold by the source. These are recent interviews with the guys. And the stuff you learn about Jerry Casale might just break your heart. A ball-busting prick, according to all involved. On the flipside, you'll learn where 'dancing the poot,' 'Booji boy,' 'the Chinaman' and even 'Jocko Homo' come from. This was a calculated concept from beginning to end. As a read, you'll devour it.

Here's a bit of warning though to both Spud divisions. The bulk of this book deals with their early lives, pre-record deals, recording of their first album. This is some REALLY interesting shit, given. But once "Are We Not Men" is recorded, this book fast-forwards in a BIG WAY. If you wanted cool stories about "Freedom Of Choice" to "Oh No! It's Devo," you're outta' luck. The latter years are noted, but seriously glossed over, like the author was fighting a deadline.

But all told, fantastic book. I'm giving it 4 stars because of its lopsided storytelling.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

The emphasis of this book is on the formation and early success of Devo, so maybe another book is in order to cover the band's decline. It's a generous amount of info about a rather obscure era and place, and anyone genuinely interested in Devo should read it.

As someone who has tracked with the band from their earliest days in the public eye (as many people of a certain age who grew up in Akron have), I have to say that this book changed my perception of Devo dramatically. I always thought that they were just brainy, midwestern, suburban smart alecks who figured out that acting demented and sardonically subversive attracted attention and annoyed jocks and Steve Miller Band fans to death. That they wore their diapers and monkey masks on stage, but it was pretty much a hilarious joke at the expense of record companies and critics gone too far. That in the off hours they probably wore slacks, penny loafers and high thread count oxford shirts. I was wrong. They were sincerely demented.

[John Treanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Can't believe I didn't know all this stuff! Devo did a pretty good job of de-invidualizing themselves to the public, so I don't think many people really had the straight scoop. Kind of a bummer to read about the behind the scenes shenanigans typical of almost every rock band, given their high-concept atypical rock band stance, but it just goes to show you how difficult it is to be in a rock band with other people and make an impact in any way. This book is a must read for spuds everywhere.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

DEVO was part of my soundtrack in my late high school and early college days. The stories of their early days at Kent State (during the shootings!), their beginnings as an art project, and their eventual development into a band that would be featured in a Honda commercial, are all pretty fascinating. At last the truth can be told ... we're all DEVO!

[Ted Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book. So happy to finally have re-acquired a copy.