Characters in Devo music videos
Encyclopedia
In Devo
's music videos, early concerts, and short films, the band created a pastiche and parody of the real world via the idea of "Spudland". Many characters and concepts reappeared between videos.
, Booji is considered the infantile spirit of Devolution. He first appeared in The Truth About De-Evolution
as a member of the performing band during the Secret Agent Man segment. He is the son of General Boy
.
.
, is an embodiment of the stereotypical wise Asian master. He does not appear in music videos, except a brief shot in "Secret Agent Man
". He wrote the introduction to Booji Boy's book My Struggle. Chinaman speaks the lyrics to "Social Fools" in the studio / demo version of "Somewhere With Devo".
. She is the girlfriend of Chinaman. Her only appearances were in a handful of early live performances. She also had her own song "Soo Bawlz", which appears on the B-Side of the Devo single release of "Secret Agent Man".
implies that there is an incest
ual relationship between him and his daughter Donut Rooter.
by Laraine Newman
.
. He doesn't care about who Devo are, as long as they make him more money and are kept in line by Rod.
, works for Lifeforms Unlimited and makes sure that Devo are kept in tip top working conditions. He shows nothing but loathing for Rod Rooter.
). The Pilgrims wear business suits topped with pilgrim-style hats. They practice televangelism and believe that disease is God's way of punishing those that are morally unsuitable.
", Parcheesi performed the song Midget in the video "Roll Out The Barrel". They are never shown. The full performance of Midget appears on Hardcore Devo: Volume One
(1990), the first album of a two-volume collection of 1970s demos.
). A recording of this song was played on the Dr. Demento
show, introduced by Booji Boy
.
alter-egos, and the only fake Devo band to actually perform live. Dove performs in yellow leisure suits with green accountants visors. They perform Christian versions of Devo songs. Dove has an appearance in the film Pray TV
, performing the Devo song "Shrivel Up" (actually miming to the album version), and footage of a Dove performance from the 1979 M-80 Festival appears on both The Complete Truth About De-Evolution, and as a bonus feature on Devo Live 1980
.
, The Evil Clowns are Big Entertainment's "mega-metal group". Pictures of the lead singer, Numero Uno, allegedly consist of Mark Mothersbaugh
's head pasted on the body of David Lee Roth
.
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
's music videos, early concerts, and short films, the band created a pastiche and parody of the real world via the idea of "Spudland". Many characters and concepts reappeared between videos.
Booji Boy
Played by Mark MothersbaughMark Mothersbaugh
Mark Allen Mothersbaugh is an American musician, composer, singer and painter. He is the co-founder of the new wave band Devo and has been its lead singer since 1972. His other musical projects include work for television series, films, and video games....
, Booji is considered the infantile spirit of Devolution. He first appeared in The Truth About De-Evolution
The Truth About De-Evolution
The Truth About De-Evolution was the first music video for the band Devo, directed by Chuck Statler. Filmed in May 1976, it contains two separate songs: Secret Agent Man and Jocko Homo. It won First Prize at the Ann Arbor Film Festival in 1977, and was routinely screened before Devo live concerts...
as a member of the performing band during the Secret Agent Man segment. He is the son of General Boy
General Boy
General Boy is a character created around 1975 by New Wave band Devo. He is usually seen portrayed by the father of both Devo's lead singer Mark Mothersbaugh and lead guitarist Bob Mothersbaugh, Robert Mothersbaugh, Sr....
.
General Boy
General Boy, played by Robert Mothersbaugh, Sr., the father of Mark, and Bob Mothersbaugh, serves as a representation and parody of authority figures, though General Boy is on the side of Devo. He made his first appearance in The Truth About De-EvolutionThe Truth About De-Evolution
The Truth About De-Evolution was the first music video for the band Devo, directed by Chuck Statler. Filmed in May 1976, it contains two separate songs: Secret Agent Man and Jocko Homo. It won First Prize at the Ann Arbor Film Festival in 1977, and was routinely screened before Devo live concerts...
.
Chinaman
The Chinaman, played by Gerald CasaleGerald Casale
Gerald Vincent Casale , often known as Jerry Casale, is a vocalist, bass guitar/synthesizer player, and a founding member of the new wave band Devo...
, is an embodiment of the stereotypical wise Asian master. He does not appear in music videos, except a brief shot in "Secret Agent Man
Secret Agent Man (song)
"Secret Agent Man" is a song written by Steve Barri and P. F. Sloan. The most famous recording of the song was made by Johnny Rivers for the opening titles of the American broadcast of the British spy series Danger Man, which aired in the U.S. as "Secret Agent" from 1964 to 1966...
". He wrote the introduction to Booji Boy's book My Struggle. Chinaman speaks the lyrics to "Social Fools" in the studio / demo version of "Somewhere With Devo".
Soo Bawlz
Played by Toni BasilToni Basil
Antonia Christina Basilotta , better known by her stage name Toni Basil, is an American singer-songwriter, actress, filmmaker, film director, choreographer, and dancer, best known for her multi-million-selling worldwide #1 hit "Mickey" from 1982.-Early life:Basil was born Antonia Christina...
. She is the girlfriend of Chinaman. Her only appearances were in a handful of early live performances. She also had her own song "Soo Bawlz", which appears on the B-Side of the Devo single release of "Secret Agent Man".
Rodney Ethan Rooter ( a.k.a. "Rod The Man")
A parody of music executives, Rod Rooter, played by Michael Schwartz, serves as a higher-up in Big Entertainment, the entertainment conglomerate that owns Devo. His relationship with the band is extremely antagonistic. He sees Devo as a tool for marketing, and is dismissive of their artistic goals. We're All DevoWe're All Devo
We're All Devo! is the second home video release by new wave band Devo. Released on VHS and Laserdisc in 1984, We're All Devo! is a collection of Devo music videos from 1976 to 1983.-Synopsis:...
implies that there is an incest
Incest
Incest is sexual intercourse between close relatives that is usually illegal in the jurisdiction where it takes place and/or is conventionally considered a taboo. The term may apply to sexual activities between: individuals of close "blood relationship"; members of the same household; step...
ual relationship between him and his daughter Donut Rooter.
Floyd & Boyd Kalimba
From the PC game Adventures of the Smart Patrol. Floyd and Boyd are Rod Rooter's trendy twin henchmen. They are also featured in My Struggle.Donut Rooter
Daughter of Rod Rooter. Seemingly obsessed with keeping within ever-changing fashion trends. Played in We're All DevoWe're All Devo
We're All Devo! is the second home video release by new wave band Devo. Released on VHS and Laserdisc in 1984, We're All Devo! is a collection of Devo music videos from 1976 to 1983.-Synopsis:...
by Laraine Newman
Laraine Newman
Laraine Newman is an American comedienne, actress, and writer, and was part of the original Saturday Night Live cast.-Personal life:...
.
Daddy Know-It-All
The embodiment of all that is corporate evil. He is Rod Rooter's boss, and Rod can be seen ingratiating himself to him in the film The Men Who Make the MusicThe Men Who Make the Music
The Men Who Make the Music was the first home video released by new wave band Devo. Finished in 1979, the film was set to be the first Video LPunder the title "DevovVision" , but was shelved by Time Life due to concerns about its anti-music industry content. It was released in 1981...
. He doesn't care about who Devo are, as long as they make him more money and are kept in line by Rod.
Dr. Byrthfood
Dr. Byrthfood, played by Timothy LearyTimothy Leary
Timothy Francis Leary was an American psychologist and writer, known for his advocacy of psychedelic drugs. During a time when drugs like LSD and psilocybin were legal, Leary conducted experiments at Harvard University under the Harvard Psilocybin Project, resulting in the Concord Prison...
, works for Lifeforms Unlimited and makes sure that Devo are kept in tip top working conditions. He shows nothing but loathing for Rod Rooter.
Lifeforms Unlimited
Lifeforms Unlimited is a bio-engineering company that tries to improve humanity through science. Among their employees are: Dr. Byrthfood (Devo's personal aide) and scientists Sun Wang Pin and Yoni Wang Pin. Lifeforms Unlimited inadvertently creates the horror known as "Turkey Monkey", which spreads the disease osso bucco myelitis.The Pilgrims
The Pilgrims are a group of religious zealots led by Reverend Vince Gassale (portrayed by Gerald CasaleGerald Casale
Gerald Vincent Casale , often known as Jerry Casale, is a vocalist, bass guitar/synthesizer player, and a founding member of the new wave band Devo...
). The Pilgrims wear business suits topped with pilgrim-style hats. They practice televangelism and believe that disease is God's way of punishing those that are morally unsuitable.
The Smart Patrol
From the PC game Adventures of the Smart Patrol. The Smart Patrol consist of Jamie Rega, Jeremy Welt, Tanya Olszewski, Max Leidermann, and Grady Sain. (Their music is played by Devo themselves.) The Smart Patrol are the equivalent of a police force in Spudland.Fake bands
Devo impersonated a number of fake bands in their videos and performances to satire the music business.Parcheesi
Named after the "oldest gameParcheesi
Parcheesi is a brand name American adaptation of the Indian Cross and Circle game Pachisi. Created in India perhaps as early as 500 AD, the board game is subtitled Royal Game of India because royalty played using color-costumed members of their harems as pieces on large outdoor boards. Such a court...
", Parcheesi performed the song Midget in the video "Roll Out The Barrel". They are never shown. The full performance of Midget appears on Hardcore Devo: Volume One
Hardcore Devo: Volume One
Hardcore Devo: Volume One is the first of two collections of demos released by the post-punk/new wave band Devo. It is currently out of print.-Overview:...
(1990), the first album of a two-volume collection of 1970s demos.
The Cumberbuns
A Latin lounge music group, the Cumberbuns produced one album, We Are Degenero with the song Softcore Mutations (an early version of Going Under from the 1981 album New TraditionalistsNew Traditionalists
New Traditionalists is the fourth studio album by the New Wave rock band Devo, released in 1981. It features the minor hits "Through Being Cool" and "Beautiful World." The sound continued in the vein of the previous album Freedom of Choice, with synthesizers moved to the forefront and guitars more...
). A recording of this song was played on the Dr. Demento
Dr. Demento
Barret Eugene Hansen , better known as Dr. Demento, is a radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present....
show, introduced by Booji Boy
Booji Boy
Booji Boy is a character created in the early 1970s by American New Wave band Devo. The name is pronounced "Boogie Boy"—the strange spelling "Booji" resulted when the band was using letraset to produce captions for a film, and ran out of the letter "g"...
.
DOVE, The Band of Love
Devo's Christian rockChristian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
alter-egos, and the only fake Devo band to actually perform live. Dove performs in yellow leisure suits with green accountants visors. They perform Christian versions of Devo songs. Dove has an appearance in the film Pray TV
Pray TV
Pray TV is a 1980 comedy film spoofing televangelism.-Synopsis:Failing UHF TV station KRUD, Channel 17, is "reborn" as Christian television station KGOD. The new format is a big success but attracts an incompatible mix of fringe ministries and broadcasters wanting time on the station...
, performing the Devo song "Shrivel Up" (actually miming to the album version), and footage of a Dove performance from the 1979 M-80 Festival appears on both The Complete Truth About De-Evolution, and as a bonus feature on Devo Live 1980
Devo Live 1980
DEVO Live 1980 is a DualDisc release by pioneering New Wave/Alternative rock band Devo.The release documents a performance by the influential quintet during their Freedom of Choice tour, when the band was gaining mainstream success on the strength of the Freedom of Choice album and their first...
.
The Evil Clowns
Referenced in We're All DevoWe're All Devo
We're All Devo! is the second home video release by new wave band Devo. Released on VHS and Laserdisc in 1984, We're All Devo! is a collection of Devo music videos from 1976 to 1983.-Synopsis:...
, The Evil Clowns are Big Entertainment's "mega-metal group". Pictures of the lead singer, Numero Uno, allegedly consist of Mark Mothersbaugh
Mark Mothersbaugh
Mark Allen Mothersbaugh is an American musician, composer, singer and painter. He is the co-founder of the new wave band Devo and has been its lead singer since 1972. His other musical projects include work for television series, films, and video games....
's head pasted on the body of David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
.