Devo blame “conspiracy” for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame snub
Devo have hit out at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after over two decades of disappointment.
Since their eligibility in 2003, the band have never been granted entry to rock’s most exclusive members club despite being nominated on numerous occasions.
Devo co-founder Gerald Casale put this into words when speaking to Gold Derby. He said, “I don’t think we ever really cared about [the Rock Hall] as a goal, but it’d be disingenuous to say that to be recognized doesn’t vindicate you somehow, or that you wouldn’t like it somehow.”
They were nominated for the honour in 2019, 2021, and 2022, but it never turned out in their favour. Reflecting on this, Casale added, “But after three snubs, I can only speak for myself.”
He continued, “I think we’re done with caring one way or another, because I have to believe those three snubs tell me one thing: that there is someone that actively, on a conspiracy level, doesn’t want Devo in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”
His bandmate Mark Mothersbaugh provided a different reaction, adding grace and humility to the conversation. He mused, “Maybe we don’t fit in with those other bands. And that might be a good thing.”
Despite the sour taste of past snubs, Devo are looking into the future. They have plenty of tour dates scheduled as part of their Cosmic De-Evolution Tour with The B-52s. They will conclude with shows in Denver and St Paul.
While they embarked on a farewell tour three years ago, The B-52’s jumped at the chance to tour with Devo. They said: “In 2022, I swore I’d never get on a tour bus again, but we were careful to say to our fans that we would still perform in special situations that don’t require all of the awful tour travel.”
Devo were missed off again this year by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In the performer category of the Class of 2025, inductees include Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, OutKast, Soundgarden, and The White Stripes.
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