When Devo hit the new wave scene behind the idea that modern man was moving backward, Gerald V. Casale was the Ohio band’s chief spokesman. With a straight face, the bassist could expound at length about the theory of “de-evolution.” It was comedy with a keen eye for the state of the world and seems even more prescient today.
Now Casale, who wrote and sang Devo’s jittery anthems alongside frontman Mark Mothersbaugh, has been chosen as the next recipient of VideoFest’s Ernie Kovacs Award, named for the groundbreaking comedian. Casale, 75, will come to Dallas in September to accept the honor, which has previously gone to writer-performers like Robert Smigel and Paul Reubens. His visit will include the screening of a new Devo documentary and a VIP meet-and-greet.
“As a primary force behind Devo’s creative vision, Jerry Casale is also responsible for designing the band’s visually striking concert stage shows and Dadaist costumes, including their signature red ‘Energy Dome’ hats,” VideoFest’s organizers said in the announcement. He’s also being cited for directing almost 100 music videos for bands like Rush, Silverchair, the Cars, the Foo Fighters and Soundgarden.
“We were taking a kind of smartass, satirical, ironic approach to things, you know, being subversive,” Casale told The Skinny last year.
Working at Kent State University, he had been radicalized by the National Guard’s fatal 1970 shooting of four student protestors. He knew two of the victims. “It was like canaries in a coal mine. We were warning people about the worst parts of human nature and if you gave into them, here’s what would happen,” he told The Skinny.
Devo is semi-retired but still performs at summer festivals.
Details
Sept. 28-29 at Texas Theatre, 231 W. Jefferson Blvd. Tickets at kovacs.eventive.org.
