Producers: Danny Gabai, Chris Holmes, Anita Greenspan, David C. McCourt

Thursday, August 14th – Vidiots is thrilled to welcome legendary documentarian Chris Smith and post-punk gods Mark Mothersbaugh, Bob Mothersbaugh, and Jerry Casale for a special theatrical screening of the new documentary DEVO.

It’s just the doc, the doc U want! Explore DEVO’s 50-year career through never-before-seen archival and interviews with co-founders Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale. Born in response to the Kent State massacre, DEVO took their concept of “de-evolution” from a cult following to near-rock star status with their groundbreaking 1980 hit “Whip It”, all while preaching an urgent social commentary. The film is directed by Chris Smith, whose credits include American Movie, Wham!, Fyre, and Bad Vegan. The film is a co-production of VICE Studios, Fremantle, and Library Films.

And hang out after the screening and grab a drink at the bar with Mark, Bob, and Jerry!

Friday, August 15th – Screening Only

DEVO – Band Biography

In 1973, out of the remnants of late ’60s political activism and the rising post-punk music climate, the seminal band DEVO was born. The formative lineup consisted of two sets of brothers—Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh, and Gerald and Bob Casale—along with drummer Alan Myers, all hailing from Akron, Ohio. The band’s prophetic message of “Devolution” and their strikingly original fusion of electronics and punk made them a singular influence throughout the ’80s and into the ’90s.

DEVO began when Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale met as students at Kent State University and began exchanging ideas about art and music. Deeply influenced by the Vietnam War, campus protests, and the tragic Kent State shootings of May 1970, the duo started making films and writing songs that would evolve into a wholly unique performance style. Their art-meets-music ethos quickly propelled them into the spotlight as one of the most high-profile acts in the New Wave movement, earning them a fervent cult following that included David Bowie, Iggy Pop, and Neil Young.

In 1978, after an impromptu endorsement at Max’s Kansas City where David Bowie declared them “the band of the future,” DEVO was whisked off to Germany. There, Brian Eno—along with Bowie’s collaboration—produced their debut album Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are DEVO!. The record caught the attention of both critics and the industry, helping the band build a devoted following. It wasn’t until their third album, Freedom of Choice—produced by Bob Margouleff and featuring the double-platinum single Whip It—that DEVO became a worldwide phenomenon.

The band continued to evolve, releasing influential albums such as New Traditionalists,, Oh No! It’s DEVO, and Shout. Their visual and sonic innovations helped define the aesthetic of the early MTV era.

“Editor Joe Scoma gives “DEVO” a relentless pace, painting a portrait of a group, and an era, that borders on impressionistic. Its energetic montages draw the eye, and allow the viewer to settle into an electric rhythm — a state of hypnosis that, paradoxically, involves hyper-awareness.” – Siddhant Adlakha, Indiewire

“DEVO shows the creativity and insight that went into the band’s music and act. It’s bittersweet because they were unable to affect the course of society, but it is great food for thought for people revisiting these unique artists.” – Fred Topel, UPI

“A music doc that matches the tone and spirit of its subject, bursting with energy and creativity.” – Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com

Accessibility Options: Amplified Audio, please see the box office for devices.