EP11: Gerald Casale

Electronically Yours with Martyn Ware

Gerry Casale is a genius. There, I’ve said it. I became a close friend with him when we first met in 1981 when his US management company (DEVO, Neil Young, The Residents, etc.) took on Heaven 17. His friendly and iconoclastic personality has always been a major inspiration for me and many musicians I know. His integrated artistic and philosophical approach is worthy of much more credit than merely his appearance as a rock star. He is a true renaissance man, with a beautiful, humanistic core.

Gerry's music career spans more than 40 years. He came to prominence in the late 1970s as co-founder and bass player of the new wave concept band Devo, which became massively popular worldwide in the late 70’s and 80’s. Casale is the main lyricist and one of the main composers of Devo's music and directed most of Devo's music videos. He is one of only two members (along with lead singer and keyboardist Mothersbaugh) who have been with Devo throughout its entire history.

Enjoy this illuminating conversation. We are all Devo!