57' | Arts&Culture | HD | 4K

AUS 2019

Escapade Media

DEVO, are an American musical group formed in Akron (Ohio) in 1972. Abbreviation of De-evolution, the theory according to which humanity, instead of continuing to evolve, would have begun to regress, as shown by the dysfunctions and the narrow mindset of the American company. This theory was the result of a joke by Casale and Lewis, born in the late sixties, when the two attended Kent State University.
They saw that the world was in a downward spiral. That society was no longer evolving, what they were experiencing was actually a de-evolution.
Humanity was regressing ... They were destroying the planet. They believed that the world was dominated by greed and consumerism and that the planet would eventually be destroyed by the only species that could not live in harmony with its environment, MAN.
In music they found a vehicle to share their terrifying prediction of human decay.
Brothers Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh joined Gerald Casale and his brother Bob along with drummer Alan Myers. They wanted to "sound different, look different and act different". With their signature synth sound and conflicting lyrics they defied musical norms. They are best remembered for their 1980s hits and bizarre music videos for "Whip it" and "Freedom of choice", but their comedic facade has distracted many listeners from a grave message that is disturbing today.
The group's style, ironic, pungent, irreverent and critical of modern society, inserted in an aesthetic context that refers to a sort of science fiction bordering on kitsch, earns him the sympathy of famous artists such as Neil Young and David Bowie. Their musical style has been classified as punk, art rock or post-punk, but they are mostly remembered as one of the iconic New Wave bands. Today they are considered by critics as a fundamental group for the evolution of contemporary rock.
The group will also be pioneers in the use of video clips, the best known of which, Whip It, will enjoy a massive presence in MTV's first months of life.
In the 1980s their punk scientist attitude was seen as extravagant and extreme. They shared a pioneering environmental message but their predictions were often mocked, now 40 years later we wonder: were the DEVOs right?
40 years after the release of their timeless classic "Beautiful World", we follow the remix and launch of "Beautiful World 2", a dark tribute to a world that proved them right.
This film enters the mind of one of the most misunderstood bands in history and shares their vision of a world that is now paying the highest price. They have always been political through and through and today they think the world has a lot to answer for.
"We just wanted to be a crazy art group, we didn't want to be right."