We are all DEVO!

Darwin, perhaps, was missing a trick or two. Mankind is in fact regressing into a dysfunctional cesspit of ineptitude. So, at least, according to the theories of Jerry Casale and his DEVO cohorts (DEVO takes its name from their concept of 'de-evolution'). Since 1972, these American art students have railed against the herd mentality of current civilisation – their music a social commentary incorporating elements of punk, art-rock, and New Wave electronica, all delivered with deadpan surrealist humour and a sense of discordance reflecting the times we live in. The Skinny, in our ongoing quest to make sense of it all, was honoured to receive the wisdom of these pioneers. The fact they're a bit weird (check out those Energy Domes) also helps. Their first album, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo (produced by Brian Eno) was released in 1978. We thought it was time for some more Q & A...

Q. So, Jerry, 35 years of Devo? Congratulations, but is the human race still de-evolving and is there anything we can do about that?

A: "De-evolution is real. You need not look further than the US president for indisputable proof. We tried to humorously warn everyone, now the future is past. We are the house band on the Titanic and the Titanic is the Mothership."

Q. Bet they play DEVO on the Mothership. Truth is, your sound has taken many forms over the years, but is mostly associated with being at the vanguard of electronica. Which current acts have taken up your mantle as music culture groundbreakers?

A: "We fused primal rock energy to tech-driven, machine-like precision. We had substance and a philosophy in addition to style. While groups artists such as The Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk and Crystal Method on the tech end and artists like Franz Ferdinand and The Killers on the rock end have superseded DEVO they don't do what we did, possessing elements that we combined into one entity. Nine Inch Nails is really the best today at style and substance."

Q. Perhaps I was hasty in suggesting you would be superseded as pioneers, as you've hinted that there may be new material soon. Is this true?

A: "If in fact we release new music we still are no longer pioneers, just pioneers who got scalped."

Q. Your live reputation is beyond reproach, even after all these years. How do you keep things fresh and interesting for yourselves?

A: "The fact that no one today acts, sounds or looks like DEVO keeps it fresh for us. The fact that you will see grown men playing with as much intensity and physicality as 27 year-olds is downright scary, like a hybrid of Horror and Sci-Fi."

Q. Jihad Jerry and the Evildoers [Jerry's solo project] released an album, Mine is not a Holy War, last year. Good to see tongue remains as ever in cheek, but how bad is the world situation, where vast cultural tracts eye each other with mutual suspicion?

A: "We live in corporate feudal state. Ideologues and fundamentalists of all stripes have all but buried rational discourse and scientific method. The tail wags the dog and corrupt, cynical politicians use 24/7 cable news cycles to feed stupid, anti-intellectual people a diet of fear. That's why Jihad Jerry fights an unholy war against morons. It's futile."

Q. The futility of it all eh? Tell me about it! What other things have the last 35 years taught you?

A: "That there is no justice. If you throw a party expecting to get invited through reciprocation of your generosity you're setting yourself up to get burned. If you create art expecting a reward you're going down. You look through your glasses, the rest of the world looks at them. We're all DEVO…"