Category: We’re All DEVO

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The Soul Of Rock ‘n’ Roll Is Mistakes

Google Books has archived every issue of SPIN, which is what my original post was going to be about. Then I started digging around in an old issue from the summer after I graduated college (August, 1991), and rediscovered an excellent Paul Westerberg interview. Apparently, rock has always been on the verge of imminent collapse, to quote the man himself. We bastards were just the other day discussing rock’s back seat in pop culture, and this edition of SPIN is 27 years old! Anyhoo, I was amused by this …

SPIN: Is rock dead?

Westerberg: Well, is jazz dead? That’s the way I look at it. Rock ‘n’ roll is underground once again, but it won’t die, just like jazz won’t. It’s not the popular music of the day, but it’s not dead.

A little later, the interviewer asks if Elvis was king, which leads to this exchange …

SPIN: What about somebody like Alex Chilton? You made him a rock hero in your song.

Westerberg: No. I don’t know what Alex represents. Now I listen to his new Rhino compilation, and it’s like, I can’t make up my mind whether Alex is some brilliant chameleon or just a guy who fucking lost it real quick. I almost regret writing that song. It’s sad, because kids will come and ask me about Alex and you’ll see this look in their eyes, and they think he’s some guy in leather pants that jumps from amplifiers or something. It’s like, if they only knew.

Interview here, every issue of SPIN here.

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Bob 2 Throbblehead

We must repeat!

Bob Casale, one of the 5 essential gears in the original Devo Fab 5, gets honored posthumously with this hand-numbered, limited edition, 7″ sculpted figure of 1,000 units. Bob is outfitted for devolved action with his “Duty Now for the Future” era helmet and protective pads circa 1979 and his classic Devo Tee and 3-D glasses.

This year marks legendary Devo’s 40th anniversary release of their iconic debut record, “Are We Not Men?, We Are Devo!” Commemorate Bob 2 (and his famous facial mole) by stepping up and becoming one of the few Throbblehead owning members of the Devolutionary Army.

Get yourn here.

UPDATE: Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! came out 40 years ago. In its honor, 99% Invisible‘s Sean Cole investigates the creation of that iconic cover, interviewing all involved – INCLUDING CHI-CHI RODRIGUEZ.

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Original “Eye of the Beholder” Prosthetic Up For Auction

Lot 208 of 401, with a starting bid of $5,000.00. It’s expected to go for as much as $15,000.00!

From the auction site …

A male nurse ‘Pig Face’ makeup appliance from Rod Serling’s essential anthology series The Twilight Zone. This foam latex makeup appliance is painted in a light flesh tone with pink lips and large nostrils, and has been professionally conserved by LACMA object conservator Irena Calinescu and pin-mounted to an oval museum board. The appliance was made by prolific Hollywood makeup artist William Tuttle, who previously worked on H.G. Welles’ The Time Machine. It was acquired from science fiction writer and memorabilia collector Forrest J. Ackerman. This appliance has been meticulously cared for and stored in a light, climate and humidity controlled fine art warehouse. As a result, though the appliance is delicate and the foam is now brittle with age, the shape, color and appearance remain intact, and it is in good vintage condition overall.

In the episode ‘The Eye of the Beholder’ (206), the appliance is worn during the trademark twist ending, when the medical staff is repulsed by their patient’s ‘horrific’ beautiful appearance, one of the seminal moments in television history.

There’s actually TONS of cool shit in this auction. Check it out here.

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Jac Mac And Rad Boy Go!

Any of you bastards remember this from Night Flight?

Interestingly, Wes Archer was one of the original three animators (along with David Silverman and Bill Kopp) on The Simpsons, Tracey Ullman shorts, and subsequently directed a number of The Simpsons episodes. He’s also directed episodes of King of the Hill, Futurama, The Goode Family, Bob’s Burgers, Allen Gregory, Rick & Morty, and Disenchantment.

There’s a great article about Archer and his cult classic (which my place of business chooses to block, because of course it does) right over here.

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And The Nominees Are…

The 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees just came out. Makerbot will be happy to know that Devo made the list for the first time. Radiohead, The Cure, Kraftwerk, LL Cool J, Janet Jackson, Rage Against the Machine, and several others made the list as well. I was a little surprised to see John Prine’s name on there. Here’s more information and all the people that made the list  

You can vote for your favorites here.

Only one vote per day though.

What say ye bastards? Who do you think gets in, and does it even matter….

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Holy Shit, This Game Looks Good

I returned to console gaming last year after acquiring my son’s never-used PS4. I’m pretty picky about what I play, but I quickly realized that anything Naughty Dog releases will be top notch. I bought The Last of Us Remastered at Target on a whim and I couldn’t put it down. After that, it was The Last of Us: Left Behind, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and then Uncharted: The Lost Legacy.

Rumor has is that The Last of Us Part II is coming sometime next year.

Can’t. Wait.