Characters in Devo music videos

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In Devo's music videos, early concerts, and short films, the band created a pastiche and parody of the real world via the idea of "Spudland". Many characters and concepts reappeared between videos.

Contents

[edit] Characters

[edit] Booji Boy

Main Article: Booji Boy

Played by Mark Mothersbaugh, Booji is considered the infantile spirit of Devolution. He first appeared in The Truth About De-Evolution as a member of the performing band during the Secret Agent Man segment. He is the son of General Boy

[edit] General Boy

Main Article: General Boy

General Boy, played by Robert Mothersbaugh, Sr., the father of Mark, and Bob Mothersbaugh, serves as a representation and parody of authority figures, though General Boy is on the side of Devo. He made his first appearance in The Truth About De-Evolution.

[edit] Chinaman

Played by Gerald Casale, the Chinaman does not appear in music videos, except a brief shot in Secret Agent Man. He is an embodiment of the stereotypical wise Asian master. He wrote the introduction to Booji Boy's book My Struggle

[edit] Rod Rooter

A parody of music executives, Rod Rooter serves as a higher-up in Big Entertainment, the entertainment conglomerate that owns Devo. His relationship with the band is extremely antagonistic. He sees Devo as a tool for marketing, and is dismissive of their artistic goals. We're All Devo implies that there is an incestual relationship between him and his daughter Donut Rooter. Played by Michael Schwartz.

[edit] Donut Rooter

Daughter of Rod Rooter. Seemingly obsessive with keeping within ever-changing fashion trends. Played by Laraine Newman.

[edit] Daddy Know-It-All

[edit] Pliney the Pinhead

[edit] Mongo the Mongoloid

[edit] Dr. Byrthfood

Played by Timothy Leary.

[edit] Organizations

[edit] Big Entertainment

A satire of the entertainment industry

[edit] Lifeforms Unlimited

[edit] The Pilgrims

[edit] The Smart Patrol

[edit] Fake Bands

Devo impersonated a number of fake bands in their videos and performances to satire the music business.

[edit] Parcheesi

Named after the "oldest game", Parcheesi performed the song Midget in the video "Roll Out The Barrel". They are never shown. The full performance of Midget appears on Hardcore Devo: Volume One (1990), the first album of a two-volume collection of 1970s demos.

[edit] The Cumberbuns

A Latin lounge music group, the Cumberbuns produced one album, We Are Degenero with the song Softcore Mutations (an early version of Going Under from the album New Traditionalists.

[edit] DOVE, The Band of Love

Devo's christian rock alter-egos, and the only fake Devo band to actually perform live. Dove performs in yellow leisure suits with green accountants visors. They perform Christian versions of Devo songs.

[edit] The Evil Clowns

Referenced in We're All Devo, The Evil Clowns are Big Entertainment's "Mega-Metal Group". A picture poster of the lead singer, Numero Uno is allegedly Mark Mothersbaugh's head pasted on the body of David Lee Roth.

[edit] The Big Dirty Farmers

The Big Dirty Farmers appeared in the first, and only "Club Devo" animation for shockwave.com, performing the song It's All Good.

[edit] Skunk Man Fly

Skunk Man Fly were proposed for a later, unfinished installment of "Club Devo", but no material was recorded.