New wave pioneers Devo and The B-52s are bringing their joint 'Cosmic De-Evolution Tour' to the UK this week, with performances scheduled for London's O2 on 20th June and Manchester's AO Arena. The co-headline tour, partly framed as a continuation of their farewell gigs, sees the bands reflecting on their half-century careers and shared history as boundary-pushing artists.
Speaking to NME, members of both groups highlighted their unique artistic origins and enduring impact. Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh recalled the band's formation after witnessing the 1970 Kent State shootings, which galvanised their satirical concept of 'de-evolution' as a critique of societal regression. The B-52s' Kate Pierson also acknowledged the profound effect of the Kent State events on her own artistic development, noting a shared political undertone between the two bands, albeit expressed differently.
The bands' influence stretches across generations, notably impacting seminal artists like Kurt Cobain of Nirvana. Cobain reportedly credited seeing The B-52s on Saturday Night Live in 1980 with broadening his musical horizons, leading him to appreciate 'weird' music. He also lauded Devo, describing them as the most 'challenging and subversive' band to transition from the underground to mainstream success.
Even legendary figures like John Lennon found inspiration in their work. Lennon was known to sing Devo's 'Uncontrollable Urge' and cited The B-52s' hit 'Rock Lobster' as a key motivator for him and Yoko Ono to return to the studio to record their 1980 album 'Double Fantasy'. This testament from a Beatle underscores the profound and unexpected reach of their idiosyncratic sound.
Despite their distinct styles, Pierson described the combination of the two bands as a "meeting of like-minds," with Mothersbaugh playfully adding that Devo's "grumpy, old critical guys" are offset by The B-52s' "up energy." Both bands, originating from the US, were often mistaken for being British in their early days due to their unconventional sound and aesthetics, a testament to their unique appeal that transcended geographical boundaries.
The UK shows promise a dynamic experience, with the bands rotating who closes the evening. Mothersbaugh joked about the friendly rivalry, stating, "We keep trying to fight about who gets to be the opening band so we can go out to the restaurant after the show."
Source: NME