Devo have been nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame three times — in 2019, 2021, and 2022 — but still haven’t been inducted. Mark Mothersbaugh, lead singer of the Akron, Ohio band, says they’ve “struck out three times, so that’s probably it for us.” Being from Akron, the home turf of the Cleveland-based Hall, that lack of official recognition still stings.
So Mothersbaugh has floated a better idea. The Hall has a parking lot next door, and Ohio law is pretty lax when it comes to burial permissions. He proposes that when the band members eventually pass, they could all be buried in a single parking-space plot, right next to the Rock Hall. That way, Devo would forever be “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame adjacent,” even if they never make it inside. He joked that since the Hall already displays Devo’s suits and hats, being next door doesn’t feel entirely wrong.
Mothersbaugh even suggested it might become a tourist draw — “you can charge an extra buck,” he said, half-seriously.
The classic lineup of Devo still includes Mothersbaugh, his brother Bob, and Gerald Casale. Two founding members are deceased: Alan Myers (died 2013) and Bob Casale (died 2014).
Devo is staying active with new audiences. Their 50 Years of DeEvolution… continued! shows have been drawing in young fans who relate to their message more than ever. Mothersbaugh believes that the idea of “de-evolution” resonates now, as people question what’s happening in the world and look for art that reflects discomfort and change.
Right now, Devo are headed out on the Cosmic De-Evolution Tour with The B-52’s and Lene Lovich. It kicks off September 24 in Toronto and runs through early November.
