DEVO has announced a return to their native town, Akron, Ohio to support the Summit County Democratic Party, and in turn, presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama. The band, despite now being based in Los Angeles, still has strong family ties to the northeastern Ohio region, and recognize that Ohio is a key state in the final month up to the election.
Band statement and info on the concert below the cut.
Ohio is where we need to be,” says Mark Mothersbaugh, the band’s co-founder and frontman. “My wife Anita convinced me of this after we had attended yet another Obama event here in California. It’s great that we’re all for Obama, but sitting around in our BLUE bubble doesn’t do anything for his chances in the battleground states. We all have a vested interest in what happens here — our families and friends who have been hurt of the nonsense of the past eight years. We hope to make an impact with this concert, and raise consciousness to what’s happened in Ohio in the past — and what will happen again if people are not made aware of what their vote means. Our country is currently struggling under the burden of the unrestrained greed and political blunders of the current administration. We need a presidential team that can pilot us out of this mess. I think that Barack Obama and Joe Biden are our only hope. That’s why we are here.”
Mark Mothersbaugh is a name most readers will recognize from his association with film director Wes Anderson, as well as from creating music for Nickelodeon shows such as Rocket Power, Ahh! Real Monsters, and Rugrats. In addition to Mark, the other members of DEVO include his younger brother Bob Mothersbaugh, and a second set of brothers, Geroge and Bob Casale. They founded DEVO in 1974, the name derived from their concept of “de-evolution.” In 1978, the band recorded their debut album Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! with Brian Eno, and in 1980 reached mainstream success with their third album Freedom of Choice, which included the infamous single “Whip It.”
Tickets are already on sale for the event, with all proceeds going to the Summit County Democratic Party. It is at the Akron Civic Center on October 17th, 2008. In addition to regular tickets, there are also a limited number of VIP tickets, which include a post-show reception with the band.
Ticket prices are $25, $35, and $50 respectively. The VIP tickets are $150.
Tickets are available from the Akron Civic Center and Ticketmaster.
-Rob G.
