Oh no! Not DEVO!
August 31, 2020 3:48 PM Subscribe
DEVO's Mark Mothersbaugh nearly died from COVID-19. “Everything’s become more devolved than I would have imagined possible." [SLLAT]
The big question is how much he retained of the DEVO album he wrote whilst hospitalised, and whether it, and/or the AR-based live show, will be realised.
posted by acb at 4:01 PM on August 31, 2020 [13 favorites]
posted by acb at 4:01 PM on August 31, 2020 [13 favorites]
I don’t know if I could have handled this one. Thank you, Patricia Lineweaver, thank you Anita and the rest of the family, and thank you Cedars-Sinai.
To the people having the party across the street, to the COVID19 hoaxsters, to everyone who’s in this joke of an administration who has done less than 1% of what intelligent, evolved people would have done, fuck all of you. You want to die, fine, but all of us are stuck in this devolved anti-science, anti-humanity hellscape because of you and you will never understand the depth of hatred the rest of us have for you.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 4:13 PM on August 31, 2020 [110 favorites]
To the people having the party across the street, to the COVID19 hoaxsters, to everyone who’s in this joke of an administration who has done less than 1% of what intelligent, evolved people would have done, fuck all of you. You want to die, fine, but all of us are stuck in this devolved anti-science, anti-humanity hellscape because of you and you will never understand the depth of hatred the rest of us have for you.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 4:13 PM on August 31, 2020 [110 favorites]
So glad he made it through this. "Everything is Awesome"...
posted by Windopaene at 4:16 PM on August 31, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by Windopaene at 4:16 PM on August 31, 2020 [5 favorites]
Reagan stood by and watched while 80k or so Americans died from AIDS. He could have used his office to move mountains, but simply passively let them die. The survivors and friends, partners, and other family of victims all learned to hate that man with a supreme passion. And rightfully so.
Covid has already taken away many who should not have died so soon. Mark Mothersbaugh may have been another name on that list. He may prove to be — this disease seems to have severe long-term health consequences, the full extent of which we have yet to see.
Once we have treatments and vaccines, and once the excess death tally is finally counted, I wonder if most everyday Americans of all political stripes will have learned by then to hate this current president* with the same fire. I can't imagine history being too kind to someone so callous and unempathetic at 180k+ deaths in the space of a few months.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 4:24 PM on August 31, 2020 [25 favorites]
Covid has already taken away many who should not have died so soon. Mark Mothersbaugh may have been another name on that list. He may prove to be — this disease seems to have severe long-term health consequences, the full extent of which we have yet to see.
Once we have treatments and vaccines, and once the excess death tally is finally counted, I wonder if most everyday Americans of all political stripes will have learned by then to hate this current president* with the same fire. I can't imagine history being too kind to someone so callous and unempathetic at 180k+ deaths in the space of a few months.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 4:24 PM on August 31, 2020 [25 favorites]
He caught it shuttling between his house and his Sunset Strip offices and studios in late May. His family was in Palm Springs. After he tested positive, he insisted on isolating by himself.
At least he tried to detect it.
posted by dr_dank at 4:53 PM on August 31, 2020 [41 favorites]
At least he tried to detect it.
posted by dr_dank at 4:53 PM on August 31, 2020 [41 favorites]
Once we have treatments and vaccines, and once the excess death tally is finally counted, I wonder if most everyday Americans of all political stripes will have learned by then to hate this current president* with the same fire. I can't imagine history being too kind to someone so callous and unempathetic at 180k+ deaths in the space of a few months.
While I wish it were true, I don't hold out much hope for that. History and collective memory doesn't give a fuck. Get justice while the offence is fresh, or likely never.
posted by lalochezia at 4:56 PM on August 31, 2020 [17 favorites]
While I wish it were true, I don't hold out much hope for that. History and collective memory doesn't give a fuck. Get justice while the offence is fresh, or likely never.
posted by lalochezia at 4:56 PM on August 31, 2020 [17 favorites]
At least he tried to detect it.
It wasn't too late.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 5:02 PM on August 31, 2020 [29 favorites]
It wasn't too late.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 5:02 PM on August 31, 2020 [29 favorites]
To the people having the party across the street, to the COVID19 hoaxsters, to everyone who’s in this joke of an administration who has done less than 1% of what intelligent, evolved people would have done, fuck all of you. You want to die, fine, but all of us are stuck in this devolved anti-science, anti-humanity hellscape because of you and you will never understand the depth of hatred the rest of us have for you.
I hope, some day, wearing a mask is like not smoking; just something you do to be a responsible citizen around others, and like smoking, if you insist on not wearing one where you've been asked to do so you're not a freedom fighter, you're just an asshole.
Someday. Maybe.
posted by lon_star at 5:11 PM on August 31, 2020 [10 favorites]
What is the opposite of a dot?
I never knew he was ill, but I’m so glad he survived.
posted by sjswitzer at 5:17 PM on August 31, 2020 [3 favorites]
I never knew he was ill, but I’m so glad he survived.
posted by sjswitzer at 5:17 PM on August 31, 2020 [3 favorites]
I've been worried one of my favorite musicians would get Covid and that would be the end of them... and Mark was at the top of my list for people to worry about, along with the other DEVO members. (Followed very closely by Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks.)
Thank fuck he's recovering. Maybe I'll get to see the Spudboys one more time before they completely call it quits. Eight shows isn't enough.
posted by SansPoint at 5:37 PM on August 31, 2020 [2 favorites]
Thank fuck he's recovering. Maybe I'll get to see the Spudboys one more time before they completely call it quits. Eight shows isn't enough.
posted by SansPoint at 5:37 PM on August 31, 2020 [2 favorites]
From Devo's "Freedom of Choice" (1980):
Freedom of choice
Is what you got
Freedom from choice
Is what you want
I remember being very surprised and a bit alarmed the first time I heard this track.
The lyrics actually exhort the listener to use their freedom of choice. However, the lyrics point to a dangerous tendency that's only become more apparent in the last 40 years.
I'm glad Mothersbaugh made it through.
posted by Sheydem-tants at 6:04 PM on August 31, 2020 [11 favorites]
Freedom of choice
Is what you got
Freedom from choice
Is what you want
I remember being very surprised and a bit alarmed the first time I heard this track.
The lyrics actually exhort the listener to use their freedom of choice. However, the lyrics point to a dangerous tendency that's only become more apparent in the last 40 years.
I'm glad Mothersbaugh made it through.
posted by Sheydem-tants at 6:04 PM on August 31, 2020 [11 favorites]
I'm so glad he made it through. I had the opportunity to work with him about a decade ago. He was such a good person, and has so much talent - I also hope that he can find a way to realize the hallucinated album.
posted by Mchelly at 6:16 PM on August 31, 2020 [10 favorites]
posted by Mchelly at 6:16 PM on August 31, 2020 [10 favorites]
The link to LA Times worked fine for me, it did ask me to turn of my ad blocker (totally worth it, at least in this case).
posted by lhauser at 6:19 PM on August 31, 2020
posted by lhauser at 6:19 PM on August 31, 2020
FUCK I need new glasses. You scared me for a good thirty seconds.
posted by swift at 6:43 PM on August 31, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by swift at 6:43 PM on August 31, 2020 [4 favorites]
There's a radio interview he did in NZ that came out yesterday.
posted by Catblack at 6:45 PM on August 31, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by Catblack at 6:45 PM on August 31, 2020 [3 favorites]
Heard a stat today that COVID is now the third largest cause of death in the US this year, behind cancer and heart disease. It’s displaced the perennial third-place cause of death in the US, automobile accidents.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:43 PM on August 31, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Thorzdad at 7:43 PM on August 31, 2020 [1 favorite]
“If you have anyone that you know who’s in ICU with COVID, contact them and keep them in touch with the outside world, because it’s easy to lose track of where you are and why you are. I had no idea I was on a ventilator for 10 days. Time meant nothing.”The more I read about people’s experiences under sedation with this thing, the louder I hear “Shrivel Up” in the back of my head.
God only knows what it’s like not to make it out the other end.
Glad he made it. Glad you shared this, Capt. Renault. Still furious with a society hell-bent on pretending it’s No Big Deal™️.
posted by armeowda at 9:26 PM on August 31, 2020 [7 favorites]
At least he tried to detect it.
It wasn't too late.
And he whipped it
He whipped it good.
posted by chavenet at 3:20 AM on September 1, 2020 [25 favorites]
It wasn't too late.
And he whipped it
He whipped it good.
posted by chavenet at 3:20 AM on September 1, 2020 [25 favorites]
What is the opposite of a dot?
A dash? —
posted by w0mbat at 3:37 AM on September 1, 2020 [9 favorites]
A dash? —
posted by w0mbat at 3:37 AM on September 1, 2020 [9 favorites]
Heard a stat today that COVID is now the third largest cause of death in the US this year, behind cancer and heart disease.
This came up for me in a BLM context, but it’s also relevant here: COVID has killed more police officers this year than all other causes combined.
posted by gauche at 4:27 AM on September 1, 2020 [19 favorites]
This came up for me in a BLM context, but it’s also relevant here: COVID has killed more police officers this year than all other causes combined.
posted by gauche at 4:27 AM on September 1, 2020 [19 favorites]
I definitely want to focus on what's important: a truly great artist, nearly taken from us by the pandemic.
but real talk: I would also really like to know where to get chrome eyglasses like those
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:37 AM on September 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
but real talk: I would also really like to know where to get chrome eyglasses like those
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:37 AM on September 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
Mothersbaugh Eyewear. Years ago, he had the original "Akronite" eyeglass frames in the collaboration with Shane Baum; they sold out online, but were carried by this shop, among others.
The current Postcards for Democracy project with Beatie Wolfe is neat.
About a month before Mothersbaugh’s illness, he called Rolling Stone to break down 10 key TV and film scores from his long career. In unpublished remarks from that interview, he revealed that Devo were supposed to go on a mini-tour this year before the pandemic hit. “We were slated to do three or four shows in September,” he said. “One of them [the Cruel World Festival] was centered around Morrissey. There was also a festival in New York and something in Cleveland.” Devo hasn’t toured since 2014, although Mothersbaugh has been contemplating a farewell outing for years. “I just couldn’t get enough momentum going around it with other people who had different interests,” he said. “I tried to make it something really big.”
“It would be like a day with Devo or a weekend with Devo,” he continued. “It would almost be like an Easter Egg hunt where they’d be events going on around the city we were at. That would be more interesting than just going and watching Devo perform songs from the Seventies and Eighties one more time. But it didn’t happen.” - Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh Says He Nearly Died From Covid-19, Rolling Stone, Aug. 31, 2020.
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:59 AM on September 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
The current Postcards for Democracy project with Beatie Wolfe is neat.
About a month before Mothersbaugh’s illness, he called Rolling Stone to break down 10 key TV and film scores from his long career. In unpublished remarks from that interview, he revealed that Devo were supposed to go on a mini-tour this year before the pandemic hit. “We were slated to do three or four shows in September,” he said. “One of them [the Cruel World Festival] was centered around Morrissey. There was also a festival in New York and something in Cleveland.” Devo hasn’t toured since 2014, although Mothersbaugh has been contemplating a farewell outing for years. “I just couldn’t get enough momentum going around it with other people who had different interests,” he said. “I tried to make it something really big.”
“It would be like a day with Devo or a weekend with Devo,” he continued. “It would almost be like an Easter Egg hunt where they’d be events going on around the city we were at. That would be more interesting than just going and watching Devo perform songs from the Seventies and Eighties one more time. But it didn’t happen.” - Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh Says He Nearly Died From Covid-19, Rolling Stone, Aug. 31, 2020.
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:59 AM on September 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
I curiously saw Devo their 2012 tour co-headlining with Blondie. The t-shirt is truly excellent. The concert was 1/2 Devo being really really great and 1/2 Debbie Harry being sort of vague and uninspired while her band tried to pull her along. So, Devo FTW in that instance. I've read other reviews that said Blondie was really strong, but not that night.
Devo, on the other hand, was truly fun, more fun than I expected. I'd never seen them before. I'm glad I got the chance even at such a late date!
posted by hippybear at 9:46 PM on September 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
Devo, on the other hand, was truly fun, more fun than I expected. I'd never seen them before. I'm glad I got the chance even at such a late date!
posted by hippybear at 9:46 PM on September 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
hippybear: Everyone I know who's had the chance to see DEVO has been blown away. I've been lucky enough to see them eight times—I was blown away by the first show I attended, and still am when I rewatch it. Every time I saw them after, they've only been better.
posted by SansPoint at 9:12 AM on September 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by SansPoint at 9:12 AM on September 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
Agreed. I saw them in 97(?) at Lollapalooza. They were absolutely the most entertaining band I have ever seen. And, I have seen a loooooooooooooooooooot of shows.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 4:18 PM on September 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 4:18 PM on September 4, 2020 [1 favorite]
Well, back in '82? Devo played in Minneapolis. I didn't have the cash for a ticket, so everyone went but me. And I guess they played for like, 45 minutes? Everyone who went felt totally ripped off. Glad I don't have that negative on my Devo ledger...
posted by Windopaene at 1:39 PM on September 5, 2020
posted by Windopaene at 1:39 PM on September 5, 2020
And SansPoint, that looks like a good show...
posted by Windopaene at 1:48 PM on September 5, 2020
posted by Windopaene at 1:48 PM on September 5, 2020
No funeral for Booji Boy yet!
So glad we didn't lose him. He's one of my heroes.
Donated blood to CS last week as a thank-you.
posted by luckynerd at 11:29 AM on September 7, 2020
So glad we didn't lose him. He's one of my heroes.
Donated blood to CS last week as a thank-you.
posted by luckynerd at 11:29 AM on September 7, 2020
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