Energy dome
Encyclopedia
Energy dome refers to the red terraced headgear first worn by Devo
during their Freedom of Choice
years. Other incorrect names include "power dome" and "flowerpot
" (often used in a derogatory sense). Energy Domes have been a regular part of Devo's stage costumes since 1980, worn in their 1982, 1988, and 1990 tours, as well as most performances since 1997. They are made of vacuum formed
plastic, in a distinct round, ziggurat
shape.
" on the Solid Gold
television show. In a 1984 Diet Coke
advertisement, Devo sported white Domes. Silver chrome Domes were worn by Devo
in concert in 2002, made by covering a regular Energy Dome in silver tape. In 2004, for Devo's shows on the Nike
-sponsored Run Hit Wonder race/concert, blue Domes were used, and sold to fans. In the music video for "Go Monkey Go", Mark Mothersbaugh
can be seen wearing a white Dome with a purple bottom tier. An appearance by Devo on the VH1
show TrueSpin featured charcoal gray Domes. Assorted prototype and fan-made domes in a rainbow of colors exist, as well.
Energy Domes sold through Club Devo have come in several forms. The original Club Devo domes were of a smaller size than the stage-worn domes, with raised "DEVO" text
on the top and a lip around the edge. This same mold was used again in 2005 for mass-produced Energy Domes sold as Halloween costume
s. In 1996, Devo sold new Energy Domes that roughly matched the stage-worn model, though the new stage domes were slightly smaller than the original. The first versions of these Domes were made of white plastic, spray-painted red. These were later replaced with domes made in a solid red plastic in 2004, manufactured by Chaser Shirts. In 2005, NECA Collectibles began manufacturing Energy domes for Devo out of thin, off-color plastic. These were used until 2008 when a fan began custom manufacturing domes out of thick, red plastic for the band. The new domes revert back to the dimensions of the original stage Energy domes.
in Whistler, British Columbia
, blue Domes were distributed to the audience and worn on stage. Blue domes were later put on sale in April of 2010. The new color for the domes was selected through an online survey and focus group testing as part of the marketing campaign to promote Something for Everybody
, Devo's ninth studio album. The newest edition of the domes are cyan
, while the 2004 domes are a dark blue
.
In keeping with Devo's love of facetious "truths", several origins of the energy domes exist. According to one story, the band took the design for the hats straight out of a Little Lulu
comic book
, or that they were inspired from a passage in the book The Beginning Was the End
. Another involves inspiration from an old art deco
lamp from Jerry Casale's
collection. Mark Mothersbaugh also liked to refer them as "ziggurat hats" in interviews. Another inspiration for the headgear were lamps from their old high school.
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...
during their Freedom of Choice
Freedom of Choice
Freedom of Choice is the third album by New Wave musicians Devo, released on May 16, 1980. It saw the band moving in more of an overt synthpop direction, even though guitars still played a prominent role....
years. Other incorrect names include "power dome" and "flowerpot
Flowerpot
A flower pot or plant pot is a container in which flowers and other plants are cultivated. Historically, and still to a significant extent today, they are made from terracotta. Flower pots are now often made from plastic, wood, stone, or sometimes biodegradable material. An example of...
" (often used in a derogatory sense). Energy Domes have been a regular part of Devo's stage costumes since 1980, worn in their 1982, 1988, and 1990 tours, as well as most performances since 1997. They are made of vacuum formed
Vacuum forming
Vacuum forming, commonly known as vacuuforming, is a simplified version of thermoforming, whereby a sheet of plastic is heated to a forming temperature, stretched onto or into a single-surface mold , and held against the mold by applying vacuum between the mold surface and the sheet.The vacuum...
plastic, in a distinct round, ziggurat
Ziggurat
Ziggurats were massive structures built in the ancient Mesopotamian valley and western Iranian plateau, having the form of a terraced step pyramid of successively receding stories or levels.Notable ziggurats include the Great Ziggurat of Ur near Nasiriyah, Iraq; the Ziggurat of Aqar Quf near...
shape.
Variants
Though the traditional Energy Dome is red, several variants of the dome have existed. In 1981, Devo wore green Energy Domes while performing "Whip ItWhip It
"Whip It" is the title of a 1980 single by the American New Wave band Devo. It appears on the album Freedom of Choice. There were two 7" single releases of "Whip It", one backed with a remix of the track "Snowball" and one backed with "Turn Around"...
" on the Solid Gold
Solid Gold (TV series)
Solid Gold is an American syndicated music television series that debuted on September 13, 1980. Like many other shows of its genre, such as American Bandstand, Solid Gold featured musical performances and various other elements such as music videos...
television show. In a 1984 Diet Coke
Diet Coke
Diet Coke is a sugar-free soft drink produced and distributed by The Coca-Cola Company. It was first introduced in the United States on August 9, 1982, as the first new brand since 1886 to use the Coca-Cola trademark...
advertisement, Devo sported white Domes. Silver chrome Domes were worn by Devo
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...
in concert in 2002, made by covering a regular Energy Dome in silver tape. In 2004, for Devo's shows on the Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
-sponsored Run Hit Wonder race/concert, blue Domes were used, and sold to fans. In the music video for "Go Monkey Go", 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....
can be seen wearing a white Dome with a purple bottom tier. An appearance by Devo on the VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
show TrueSpin featured charcoal gray Domes. Assorted prototype and fan-made domes in a rainbow of colors exist, as well.
Energy Domes sold through Club Devo have come in several forms. The original Club Devo domes were of a smaller size than the stage-worn domes, with raised "DEVO" text
Written language
A written language is the representation of a language by means of a writing system. Written language is an invention in that it must be taught to children, who will instinctively learn or create spoken or gestural languages....
on the top and a lip around the edge. This same mold was used again in 2005 for mass-produced Energy Domes sold as Halloween costume
Halloween costume
Halloween costumes are costumes worn on or around Halloween, a festival which falls on October 31. The Halloween costume has a fairly short history. Wearing costumes has long been associated with other holidays around the time of Halloween, even Christmas...
s. In 1996, Devo sold new Energy Domes that roughly matched the stage-worn model, though the new stage domes were slightly smaller than the original. The first versions of these Domes were made of white plastic, spray-painted red. These were later replaced with domes made in a solid red plastic in 2004, manufactured by Chaser Shirts. In 2005, NECA Collectibles began manufacturing Energy domes for Devo out of thin, off-color plastic. These were used until 2008 when a fan began custom manufacturing domes out of thick, red plastic for the band. The new domes revert back to the dimensions of the original stage Energy domes.
2010 Blue Domes
On February 22, 2010 at an appearance during the 2010 Winter Olympics2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
in Whistler, British Columbia
Whistler, British Columbia
Whistler is a Canadian resort town in the southern Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in the province of British Columbia, Canada, approximately north of Vancouver...
, blue Domes were distributed to the audience and worn on stage. Blue domes were later put on sale in April of 2010. The new color for the domes was selected through an online survey and focus group testing as part of the marketing campaign to promote Something for Everybody
Something for Everybody (Devo album)
Something for Everybody is the ninth studio album by American New Wave band Devo. The album was released on June 15, 2010, after previously being slated for release in May 2010, having been pushed back from its original release date of late 2009 due to "radical remixing." Something for Everybody...
, Devo's ninth studio album. The newest edition of the domes are cyan
Cyan
Cyan from , transliterated: kýanos, meaning "dark blue substance") may be used as the name of any of a number of colors in the blue/green range of the spectrum. In reference to the visible spectrum cyan is used to refer to the color obtained by mixing equal amounts of green and blue light or the...
, while the 2004 domes are a dark blue
Blue
Blue is a colour, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 440–490 nm. It is considered one of the additive primary colours. On the HSV Colour Wheel, the complement of blue is yellow; that is, a colour corresponding to an equal...
.
Mythology
According to Gerald Casale on the Devo website:
It was designed according to ancient ziggurat
mound proportions used in votive worship. Like
the mounds it collects energy and recirculates it.
In this case the Dome collects energy that escapes from the crown of the human head and pushes it
back into the Medula Oblongata for increased
mental energy. It's very important that you buy
a cheap plastic hardhat liner, adjust it to your head size and affix it with duct tape or Super Glue to
the inside of the Dome. This allows the Dome to
"float" just above the cranium and thus do its job.
Unfortunately, without a hard hat liner, the
recirculation of energy WILL NOT occur.
In keeping with Devo's love of facetious "truths", several origins of the energy domes exist. According to one story, the band took the design for the hats straight out of a Little Lulu
Little Lulu
"Little Lulu" is the nickname for Lulu Moppett, a comic strip character created in the mid-1930s by Marjorie Henderson Buell. The character debuted in The Saturday Evening Post on February 23, 1935 in a single panel, appearing as a flower girl at a wedding and strewing the aisle with banana peels...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
, or that they were inspired from a passage in the book The Beginning Was the End
The Beginning Was the End
The Beginning Was the End is a 1971 pseudo-scientific book written by Oscar Kiss Maerth that claims that humankind evolved from cannibalistic apes...
. Another involves inspiration from an old art deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
lamp from Jerry Casale's
Gerald 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...
collection. Mark Mothersbaugh also liked to refer them as "ziggurat hats" in interviews. Another inspiration for the headgear were lamps from their old high school.