Recombo DNA: The story of Devo, or how the 60s became the 80s

by Kevin C. Smith

Devo may have become synonymous with the crass commercialism of 80s new wave, but many of their inspirations and guiding principles are firmly rooted in the idealism of the 60s. They took a willfully non-traditional approach to the surprisingly conservative world of rock music, seeking inspiration instead from Dada and Pop Art, comic books and homemade electronics, and in the process becoming a sort of musical Zelig, crossing paths with everything from late 60s psychedelia to punk, krautrock to new wave. Their idiosyncratic philosophy may not always have been consistent, but it served as a deep well of inspiration, and led to them working with such legendary characters as art-rock pioneer Brian Eno and Beatles/Bowie engineer Ken Scott. Published to coincide with the groups 40th anniversary in 2013, Recombo DNA is the first book to evaluate in the proper context the innovations and accomplishments of this truly groundbreaking band. Beginning in 1970, with the transformative effects of the Kent State University shootings which the band-members witness firsthand, and ending a decade later with Devo on the cusp of superstardom (with "Whip It"), it traces the sounds and ideas that the group absorbed and in turn brought to prominence as unlikely rock stars. For anyone who has ever wondered where the band who fell to earth came from, here it the answer.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

318 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2013

Reviews

[Tosh]

A fascinating read on DEVO, but also the surroundings of that world with respect to the music business, regional music scenes, Los Angeles life in the 1970s, and the punk/new wave landscape as well. Well researched and extremely thoughtful this is an excellent study on DEVO.

Kimley and I discuss this book on our Book Musik podcast. You can hear it here: Book Musik podcast

[Barry Hammond]

Starting with careers in art, graphic design, writing and performance art at Kent State University, Jerry Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh found themselves drawn to music and with others, including both their brothers at one point, they formed Devo in the 1970's. Although they were variously labelled as "punk" and "new wave," with their film-making skills, humor and performance art sensibility they were actually closer to the Dadaist movement, underground film-makers, or avant-garde musicians like Captain Beefheart. Drawing on a range of influences from Wonder Woman comics, 1920's anti-evolution religious pamphlets, 1950's science fiction films, collage art, electronic music pioneers, Andy Warhol and the Three Stooges, they had a popular music career that included singles and MTV videos like a twisted version of The Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction" to "Jocko Homo," "Secret Agent Man," "Uncontrollable Urge," "The Day My Baby Gave Me A Big Surprise," "Whip It," "That's Good," "Freedom Of Choice," and "Girl U Want."

Kevin C. Smith has done a smart and knowledgeable job of tracing the history of the band and all their various influences with breadth and precision. I could argue that he ended the book at their peak rather than following up for a few more years but that's just a quibble. He's caught the essence and that's the main thing. - BH.

[Jan]

I read this book a couple of years ago and still keep thinking about it. It's such a thorough, well-researched, thoughtful and well-written book about a band so much more complicated than their hits might imply. My copy is dog-eared and highlighted from all of my notes for details and tidbits I needed to research further.

The book ends part way through Devo's lengthy career. I'd love a follow-up.

So good!! Thank you, Kevin C. Smith!

[Kimley]

Tosh and I discuss this on our Book Musik podcast.

Smith takes a deep dive examining just what made Devo tick and twitch. From 1970 to 1979, he takes us through the background and influences of this Ohio band who experienced the Kent State shootings, discovered Dada, enjoyed manipulating the ideas of de-evolution, experimented with film and multimedia shows and ultimately became a band with top 40 appeal. They managed to find themselves in the company of the people best suited to further their cause from Toni Basil to Brian Eno to Neil Young. Talent and timing is everything.

[Rick Sanders]

Plenty good read. Nicely adheres to a central theme (Devo as an earnest and considered reaction to both the culture and counterculture of the Nixon era). Lots of good name-dropping and interesting side-stories.

[Chandra Easton]

This was such a fascinating exploration of the cultural history of the time. Devo represents so much more than I thought as a youth coming of age in the eighties. Kevin C. Smith’s excellent writing is clear and engaging. I highly recommend this book!

[Eric Wrazen]

I had only a marginal interest in Devo back in the 1980s... and I picked this book up on a whim because I love band / music histories. It really opened me up to an entire world of music art anc concepts that this band created. IF you're a Devo fan, you've probably already read this... If you're a fan of music & art, underground art, or electronic music.... I recommend checking this out for an amazing time capsule of a time when avant-garde and punk rock merged and became mainstream for a very brief period in the 80's.

[Richard]

Awesome. I love Devo and I loved this book.

[TrumanCoyote]

The only knock against this book is that occasionally the author descends into the sort of squeamishness that is all too fashionable nowadays. This would naturally be an annoyance in any circumstance, but is especially so when the subject is a group like DEVO. However, nowadays one must I suppose feel relief that such intrusions are merely infrequent, rather than irritation that they exist at all. That being said, this is a wonderfully readable account of the group from its inception. The background material (about Dada and so forth) is seamlessly incorporated into the text, and Smith manages to discuss their work without that heavy-handed critical presence which so many seem to feel is de rigueur in such matters. Oh yes, and the coda regarding the collapsed woodshed provides a perfect capstone to the whole experience (one last nyuk-nyuk from the gods, as it were). :)

[Sean Williams]

Everything I ever wanted to know about the early days of Devo and much, much more!

[John]

pretty interesting although not very well-written