{"id":1975243,"date":"2025-08-22T21:21:56","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T21:21:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=1975243"},"modified":"2025-08-22T21:21:56","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T21:21:56","slug":"the-new-devo-documentary-on-netflix-reminded-me-just-how-cool-the-very-early-days-of-mtv-were","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/the-new-devo-documentary-on-netflix-reminded-me-just-how-cool-the-very-early-days-of-mtv-were\/","title":{"rendered":"The New Devo Documentary On Netflix Reminded Me Just How Cool The Very Early Days Of MTV Were"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><i>When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.<\/i><\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Credit: DevoVision<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">There is a fantastic new documentary about the chronically underrated band Devo, which you can watch with a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/tech.yahoo.com\/streaming\/articles\/netflix-subscription-plans-price-included-174717448.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Netflix subscription;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">Netflix subscription<\/a>. I\u2019ve been a huge fan of Devo for years, and I think the documentary does an excellent job explaining the artistic ethos of the band and how they were as much a subversive art collective as they were a band. It also reminded me how cool MTV was in the very beginning, because the network had a limited amount of music videos that they could play, including lots of Devo videos.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Devo in yellow hazmat suits performing in the \" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/pz.44azAsvGugauYyEtUWg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/cinemablend_388\/0847f70476c3e944e623804cd2cdcf27\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Credit: DevoVision<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">Devo Made A Ton Of Videos To Accompany Their Songs<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Music videos, in more or less the same form that MTV made so popular in the 1980s, date back to the 1960s, but very few bands bothered to make them. They were pricey, and there really wasn\u2019t anywhere to sell or even air them. Devo, with its DIY aesthetic and ethos, and co-leader Mark Mothersbaugh (who is now best known for his <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/32-unconventional-movie-scores-133448862.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:unconventional movie scores;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">unconventional movie scores<\/a>) didn\u2019t care about how videos would reach the public; they just wanted to create art for art\u2019s sake. In this <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cinemablend.com\/movies\/amazing-documentaries-every-music-fan-should-see\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:excellent music documentary;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">excellent music documentary<\/a>, they talk about those videos.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Starting with their first album, <em>Q. Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!<\/em>, the band produced videos to go along with many of their songs. They made them for songs like their first single, a cover of The Rolling Stones\u2019 \u201cI Can\u2019t Get No Satisfaction,\u201d and other popular songs like \u201cJocko Homo\u201d and &#8220;Come Back Jonee.&#8221; They tried to release these videos as part of bigger video projects, but were thwarted by the powers that be.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"The iconic MTV flag with an astronaut standing next to it. \" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/RcMVOgcSXxmmijZtDRKBxA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/cinemablend_388\/0ea1b3d4b58de3aade72ee9879422012\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Credit: MTV<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">Along Came MTV, So Devo And Other Bands Had A Place For These Videos To Be Scene<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">When MTV launched in 1980, with <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/32-vjs-mtv-personalities-fans-140427865.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:its original crew of \u201cVJs,\u201d;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">its original crew of \u201cVJs,\u201d<\/a> the first video, famously, was \u201cVideo Killed The Radio Star\u201d by The Buggles, a band not dissimilar to Devo. Filling 24 hours of the day with music videos was tricky for the network in the beginning, because there just weren\u2019t a ton of options. That meant something very cool happened \u2013 bands that didn\u2019t get a lot of radio airplay, like Devo, suddenly found themselves getting their songs on MTV a lot, because they actually had the videos available.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Devo wasn\u2019t alone. Similarly-minded DIY bands like The Residents, The Silencers, Kate Bush (in the days before <em>Stranger Things<\/em> <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/rewatched-stranger-things-iconic-running-225827037.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:made her even more famous;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">made her even more famous<\/a>), and Bloto all had videos ready to go when the network launched, and as a result, all had songs in heavy rotation in the early years. For kids like me in the Midwest, it opened our eyes to all kinds of music we had never been exposed to, and even then, I loved the weird aesthetic of these bands and videos. They became foundational to what I love about music, which is often &#8220;the weirder, the better.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Before long, record companies figured out just how much of an impact a video could have on record sales, and soon every pop artist under the sun was creating big-budget <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cinemablend.com\/television\/famous-people-in-80s-and-90s-music-videos\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:videos with stars in them;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">videos with stars in them<\/a> that became the staple of mid-\u201980s MTV, before <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/10-mtv-shows-were-must-000454458.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:moving away from videos in the \u201890s;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">moving away from videos in the \u201890s<\/a>. However, I\u2019ll always prefer those early days with subversive art bands like Devo getting much of the attention.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: DevoVision There is a fantastic new documentary about the chronically underrated band Devo, which you can watch with a Netflix subscription. I\u2019ve been a huge fan of Devo for years, and I think the documentary does an [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1975244,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[352634,307878,22192,352635],"class_list":["post-1975243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-devo","tag-mtv","tag-music-videos","tag-subversive-art"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/The-New-Devo-Documentary-On-Netflix-Reminded-Me-Just-How.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1975243","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1975243"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1975243\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1975244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1975243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1975243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1975243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}