LMAO! I was 11 when this came out. As a black guy growing up in a rough area, I was a little.....different. I was a B-Boy, listened to this, the hairbands, and tons of R&B and hip-hop before it started to sound like gangster rap. The 80's were something special. Still a nerd. Funny thing is; you would never know until we got into a deep discussion. I'm older; but I realize that i'm a very unique person. I think that goes for most of us brought up during this time frame. :)
Stanley Hunter .. I concur. This was a great record. I’m so lucky I bought it after hearing Through Being Cool and Jerkin’ Back & Forth...then I wound up liking the entire album
This isn't just doing a set on a variety/comedy show, this is "putting on a freakin show." They've got a set/lighting and they do 2 songs back to back each set. DEVO rocks!
SNL just couldn't or didn't want to feature new wave bands the way Friday's did. Devo is timeless & long overdue for induction into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.
I sat excitedly right in front of the telly and recorded this with my Realistic tape recorder that Friday night in '81! "Adventures Of Smart Patrol" still runs chills up my spine 30 years later! Truly unique in every way, never matched...
The infamous Fridays Treadmill set, Metapunk! Devo gets a ton of well deserved loved these days, but at one time there was a price to pay if you were a Devotee.
I didn't know this existed! I'm glad that some off of TRADITIONALISTS got some national media exposure! Jerry looks so different! What a stage setup! I just heard "Don't shoot(I"m a man)" for the first time!
Thanks for posting this. I saw this on TV as a kid and the one thing that always stuck in my mind about this was the use of the conveyor belts and the plastic hair. I was fascinated...I still am. Pop music was never the same...
I saw this live too. I was in 10th grade. The only time I've had an awe inspiring music moment like this was years later when I saw Marilyn Manson sing the Dope Show on the MTV music awards. You just say, HUH????? No way am I seeing this.
I was third row for concert where they had those treadmills...before I had ever seen them do it on TV...my well toasted brain could not process wtf was going on for the 1st several songs. Long Live DEVO
Man, this was (indeed, IS) the greatest band ever! And I agree, they (along with The Cramps) deserve to be in the RaRHoF! The EAGLES got in, so how hard can it be???
I saw this in 1981 and it blew me the fuck away then and it still does today. This is a brilliant display of theatrics, staging and music. Years (if not DECADES) ahead of their time.
Saw them both times they played the Jai-li fronton here in Tampa. [its now a Home Depot] Wife thought I was crazy! One of the best performance bands ever!
wow !!! i saw this same (full) show live in toronto then . the treadmills blew my mind at first cause i was sitting (can u believe that!!!! sitting at a rock show ??) too low to see and it looked like they were going to walk off the stage and float over the audience . then when i realized what was happening i laughed my ass off . (did a lot of acid in the 70's and 80's you know ? ). devo are one of a kind and i luv them . i've seen them 5 times since !! R.I.P. ALAN MYERS ...cancer . too bad and very sad .
i remember hearing the whole concert, the 1981 tour on radio, on the show called the king biscuit flower hour, !!!!! on the other side was U2 , and and at a record convention the vinals records were selling for a lot of money , because of U2,, and i hope that DEVO might have video footage or if some one might have tapped the show, and would love to see it on dvd !!!!!!!!
Back in the day I would have killed for the plastic hair piece or the flower pot hat. I made my own in art/crafts class in high school. I got an A. I bet my teacher liked DEVO too.
Epic,Devastating Machine-Blast played by 5 Live! Humanoid-Spuds from Ohio, This intro is an incredible declaration of intentions to their early-80's period-and never attempted before by a band.....on exercise belts!
That's right! I love it when fellow fans that know what they're talking about set the record straight. I saw them on the New Traditionalists tour on 11/27/81. It was my first concert.
Me and my buddies went to this all the time. Saw DEVO, The Cars, and (cough) Pat Benatar. For DEVO we even had costumed and black/white 'DEVO' signs but were edited out. Good 'ole ABC on Prospect.
Awesome!!!!!! These guys have been my favorite band since 79' when I was 11!!!! Still listen to them every day at 41 . Keep up with the great classic footage!!!
Awesome.. Searching my memory data banks..... I somewhat remember seing this. I was 8 in 81. But i was alowed to watch fridays.. it was a great time...
@JohnnyMcMormon Right... The other missing point is that Devo brought ironic humor to the mix and presented a complete theme with music, visuals and concept all tied together to send a message the world is only now figuring out. When was Kraftwerk ever funny?
'Fridays?' Why does that sound so familiar?!? I keep thinking of Friday Night Flight a late night television venue....anyhow, this is another first for me seeing this video....excellent!! Devo!!
Great stage set-up. I wish SNL's stage was that big. I remember Friday's as a rival to SNL back in the 80s. Saw alot of great bands on there. That's the first time I saw King Crimson too.
I watch this video a few times a year and this is still so freakin' cool. Love, love, LOVE the instrumental intro. My brothers played Pink Floyd and KISS and other rock bands from that era back then, and I was so sick of that stuff. Then I heard DEVO and my life changed. I don't listen to them much any longer, but if you're first band you like is DEVO, then you can imagine the type of music I've been listening to ever since.
strange connections: Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo would go on to write the music for Rugrats. Melanie Chartoff of Friday's would go on to do the voice of Didi Pickles of Rugrats.
they were so ahead of their time its not even funny...but really...they were singing about genes and dna in the late 70's...no one had even even heard of that!....an amazing band and the best part is...they STILL play!! if you ever get a chance, see em live..i swear you wont regret it
@cretinbob You're joking-they have surpassed that phase-nowthey have an instrumental track,a wall of electronic sound,a mission,concentrated expressions un-fased by beer,and importantly,a musical talent unbeknown to 'punk' groups.And I like punk too...
I HOPE THAT ONE DAY THAT , ABC WILL RELEASE THE ENTIRE FRIDAYS SHOW ON DVD WITH THE STARS ,LARRY DAVID MICHAEAL RICHARDS AND SPECIAL GUEST THE LATE GREAT ANDY KAFFEMAN !!!!!!!!!!! CASALE ONCE SAID IN AN INTERVIEW THAT 1981 TOUR THE VIDEO FILMS WERE RUINED ??? TOO BAD THE 1981 TOUR WOULD BEEN GREAT ON DVD !!!!!! ALSO ON FRIDAYS , WERE THESE OUTER GREAT MUSIC ARTISTS , THE CARS THE CLASH HEART , WAR AND TWO MORE DEVO SHOWS PLEASE VOTE DEVO FOR THE NEXT FUTURE LEGENDS!!!!!! AND DOCTOR RON PAUL!!
Great synths! I always loved how well DEVO mixed that thumping synth bass sound circa- "New Traditionalists" over the Linn LM-1 drum machine! It sounds great!
![David Lee Roth - California Girls (Official Video) [HD]](/img/n.gif)
LMAO! I was 11 when this came out. As a black guy growing up in a rough area, I was a little.....different. I was a B-Boy, listened to this, the hairbands, and tons of R&B and hip-hop before it started to sound like gangster rap. The 80's were something special. Still a nerd. Funny thing is; you would never know until we got into a deep discussion. I'm older; but I realize that i'm a very unique person. I think that goes for most of us brought up during this time frame. :)
Stanley Hunter .. I concur. This was a great record.
I’m so lucky I bought it after hearing Through Being Cool and Jerkin’ Back & Forth...then I wound up liking the entire album
This isn't just doing a set on a variety/comedy show, this is "putting on a freakin show." They've got a set/lighting and they do 2 songs back to back each set.
DEVO rocks!
SNL just couldn't or didn't want to feature new wave bands the way Friday's did. Devo is timeless & long overdue for induction into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.
You know you're old when:
You can remember watching this in your bedroom LIVE back in March 1981.
Music of the New Wave post punk was so original and creative.. Just about every band had their own unique sound.. I miss those times..
I sat excitedly right in front of the telly and recorded this with my Realistic tape recorder that Friday night in '81! "Adventures Of Smart Patrol" still runs chills up my spine 30 years later! Truly unique in every way, never matched...
They didn't really 'sell out', they just grew up (conformed) and followed the money like we all end up doing.
The infamous Fridays Treadmill set, Metapunk! Devo gets a ton of well deserved loved these days, but at one time there was a price to pay if you were a Devotee.
Jerkin' Back and Forth is one of the best duet song for Gerry and Mark : )
one of the best bands in the world...period...
I didn't know this existed!
I'm glad that some off of TRADITIONALISTS
got some national media exposure!
Jerry looks so different!
What a stage setup!
I just heard "Don't shoot(I"m a man)" for the first time!
Jerry and the boys are wearing
The JFK pumps
Something For Everybody and Something Else For Everybody
are great albums !
Did see What We Do DEVO posted by Devoviision
and Fresh DEVO posted by Clay Konner and
That's Good DEVO posted by Electronictomato
?
Thanks for posting this. I saw this on TV as a kid and the one thing that always stuck in my mind about this was the use of the conveyor belts and the plastic hair. I was fascinated...I still am. Pop music was never the same...
OMG I remember that too. Wait a second that means we are OLD.... Grrrrr.
If you saw them at the Palladium last night , you DID see them in their prime. It was incredible.
I was there! It is one of my fondest remembrances!
First concert ever: This tour, this setup. An amazing show for a 15 year old kid.
I saw this live too. I was in 10th grade. The only time I've had an awe inspiring music moment like this was years later when I saw Marilyn Manson sing the Dope Show on the MTV music awards. You just say, HUH????? No way am I seeing this.
OMG I MISS THE 80s!!!
Devo is soooo cool.
Greetings from Berlin (Germany)
I was third row for concert where they had those treadmills...before I had ever seen them do it on TV...my well toasted brain could not process wtf was going on for the 1st several songs. Long Live DEVO
Man, this was (indeed, IS) the greatest band
ever! And I agree, they (along with The
Cramps) deserve to be in the RaRHoF!
The EAGLES got in, so how hard can it be???
I saw this in 1981 and it blew me the fuck away then and it still does today. This is a brilliant display of theatrics, staging and music. Years (if not DECADES) ahead of their time.
I love Devo. I do remember watching this on Tv in my mother's bedroom.
Saw them both times they played the Jai-li fronton here in Tampa. [its now a Home Depot] Wife thought I was crazy! One of the best performance bands ever!
we need more DEVO. ! yes even in 2018!
wow !!! i saw this same (full) show live in toronto then . the treadmills blew my mind at first cause i was sitting (can u believe that!!!! sitting at a rock show ??) too low to see and it looked like they were going to walk off the stage and float over the audience . then when i realized what was happening i laughed my ass off . (did a lot of acid in the 70's and 80's you know ? ). devo are one of a kind and i luv them . i've seen them 5 times since !! R.I.P. ALAN MYERS ...cancer . too bad and very sad .
Don't forget Bob Casale R.I.P. :(
yes , sad .
i remember hearing the whole concert, the 1981 tour on radio, on the show called the king biscuit flower hour, !!!!! on the other side was U2 , and and at a record convention the vinals records were selling for a lot of money , because of U2,, and i hope that DEVO might have video footage or if some one might have tapped the show, and would love to see it on dvd !!!!!!!!
Unique is understatement for DEVO. Long live the 80s!
I remember seeing this live on TV when it first aired in 1981. I was and still is soooo cool!
Back in the day I would have killed for the plastic hair piece or the flower pot hat. I made my own in art/crafts class in high school. I got an A. I bet my teacher liked DEVO too.
Epic,Devastating Machine-Blast played by 5 Live! Humanoid-Spuds from Ohio,
This intro is an incredible declaration of intentions to their early-80's period-and never attempted before by a band.....on exercise belts!
I wish Devo inc. would issue a DVD w/ footage from this tour! still ahead of their time....even now.
That's right! I love it when fellow fans that know what they're talking about set the record straight. I saw them on the New Traditionalists tour on 11/27/81. It was my first concert.
man brings me back to the 80's!
I remember waiting all week long to see this show. Ahh the good ol days.
Me and my buddies went to this all the time. Saw DEVO, The Cars, and (cough) Pat Benatar. For DEVO we even had costumed and black/white 'DEVO' signs but were edited out. Good 'ole ABC on Prospect.
Devo, Kraftwefk, and The Ramon's...three bands pretty ahead of their time's....
DEVO , next future legends !
saw this on Fridays...blew my mind.
Fridays was a awesome show....it had "lude man " if I'm not mistaken.
Saw this the night it aired in 1981. Incredible.
Dito, I was 14 yrs old and I was up late watching Fridays - good times.
Same here! Made an audio cassette from it which I played to death!
thanks for posting! you are a true disciple worshipping at the church of devo
the treadmill's are asume can't remember the band but every one loved 'THEAR IDEA" to use treadmills DEVO truly ahead of thear time
Love them! They were years ahead of their time. Still sounds ultra modern!
rare footage,very cool!
Love that Theme From Adventures of The Smart Patrol.
It reminds me of The Super Thing and Going Under !
Maybe it's called The Nutra Theme !
have a newfound respect for Alan Myers..wow a total machine.
Alan myers one of the best ,so fucking sad he passed away ! It hurts RIP Alan you were so great !!!!!!
I am a New Traditionalist! Mark, TOUR MORE. There are more devolutionists out here than you might guess..
YUP
According to Wikipedia, all professionally shot footage of the 1981 New Trad tour was destroyed somehow. Very sad, it's one of my favorite Devo eras.
Alan Myers was one hell of a drummer.
I think sounding like a drum machine is genius 2refinish.
just look at them today , i couldn t believe my eyes, and i watched this too
Awesome!!!!!! These guys have been my favorite band since 79' when I was 11!!!! Still listen to them every day at 41 . Keep up with the great classic footage!!!
These guys were so underrated as musicians and songwriters. Their lyrics were often very insightful and they played live great
Awesome..
Searching my memory data banks.....
I somewhat remember seing this. I was 8 in 81. But i was alowed to watch fridays.. it was a great time...
@JohnnyMcMormon Right... The other missing point is that Devo brought ironic humor to the mix and presented a complete theme with music, visuals and concept all tied together to send a message the world is only now figuring out. When was Kraftwerk ever funny?
'Fridays?' Why does that sound so familiar?!? I keep thinking of Friday Night Flight a late night television venue....anyhow, this is another first for me seeing this video....excellent!! Devo!!
Really Cool to see this again, I forgot the show Fridays was ever on.
Wow! I haven't seen this since it aired on Fridays back in the 80's!
Aww all the people with those sexy pomps!
Please post more!
Great stage set-up. I wish SNL's stage was that big. I remember Friday's as a rival to SNL back in the 80s. Saw alot of great bands on there. That's the first time I saw King Crimson too.
As a show, "Fridays
sucked, being a second-rate copy of SNL. But, they did have great music acts, and Devo was primo at the time. Rhanks for posting!
@TheWhanfried you can buy the New Traditionalist pompadour hair they are wearing on their official website now
The audience is great!
Heh, as many times as I've watched this, I never noticed her.
HAPPY NEW YEAR ! 2018 great DEVO FANS !
Im jealous! I missed this tour, and Hill woulda been a great place to see them!
I watch this video a few times a year and this is still so freakin' cool. Love, love, LOVE the instrumental intro. My brothers played Pink Floyd and KISS and other rock bands from that era back then, and I was so sick of that stuff. Then I heard DEVO and my life changed. I don't listen to them much any longer, but if you're first band you like is DEVO, then you can imagine the type of music I've been listening to ever since.
Yes!! Devo rocks!!! Clip speaks for itself.
@thegreatreverendx jumped the shark with Shout- that damn Fairlight synth.
strange connections:
Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo would go on to write the music for Rugrats.
Melanie Chartoff of Friday's would go on to do the voice of Didi Pickles of Rugrats.
Thanks for posting, I have a tinny "cassette recorder held to the tv speaker" of the intro here someplace and had no idea that part even had a title.
Art and punk rolled into one
Thank you furionhazard!! you've made the world a better place!
I saw them on this tour, in Boulder, Colorado. It was the 2nd concert I'd ever been to, and it was just awesome.
@pazzensutra Yeah. I enjoyed the Jamaican Pharmacist and the dude that played with toy soldiers. Don`t remember much more but it was good tv.
i love devo, and i enjoy watching videos of their live performances! please post more!
Truly awesome. Kudos from a diehard DEVOtee.
Saw this tour at Hill in A2.
Mind blowing!!!!!!
GENIUSES on so many levels
So was Devo, it's recorded on their show from Kent State in 1973 or 72.
I remember recording this years ago. Don't have it anymore. Great performances! Thanks for posting this!
so ahead of their time musically!! Hell Yeah!!
they were so ahead of their time its not even funny...but really...they were singing about genes and dna in the late 70's...no one had even even heard of that!....an amazing band and the best part is...they STILL play!! if you ever get a chance, see em live..i swear you wont regret it
Wow, just wow. This really takes me back. If you have more, I'd love to see them!
@cretinbob You're joking-they have surpassed that phase-nowthey have an instrumental track,a wall of electronic sound,a mission,concentrated expressions un-fased by beer,and importantly,a musical talent unbeknown to 'punk' groups.And I like punk too...
I HOPE THAT ONE DAY THAT , ABC WILL RELEASE THE ENTIRE FRIDAYS SHOW ON DVD WITH THE STARS ,LARRY DAVID MICHAEAL RICHARDS AND SPECIAL GUEST THE LATE GREAT ANDY KAFFEMAN !!!!!!!!!!! CASALE ONCE SAID IN AN INTERVIEW THAT 1981 TOUR THE VIDEO FILMS WERE RUINED ??? TOO BAD THE 1981 TOUR WOULD BEEN GREAT ON DVD !!!!!! ALSO ON FRIDAYS , WERE THESE OUTER GREAT MUSIC ARTISTS , THE CARS THE CLASH HEART , WAR AND TWO MORE DEVO SHOWS PLEASE VOTE DEVO FOR THE NEXT FUTURE LEGENDS!!!!!! AND DOCTOR RON PAUL!!
I hope so too
I hope it's available for sale in
2019 ?
The big hair glam era of which you speak didn't come along until AT LEAST the MID-80's.
Great performance. The drumming is straight from Can.
I love how creative they are =D
OHIOANS AT THEIR BEST!
I SAW THIS LIVE 42 YEARS AGO!
OHIO ROCKS, DEVO ROCKS!
GOD BLESS OHIO!
I think it's too common a misconception that DEVO is just a "weird 80's band" - they can actually rock really hard.
Jerry was asked about the R&RHOF, and it involves getting Alan Myers to come back. Will we live to see this, I ask.
Great vid! I'd never seen this. Cool idea with the 'moving sidewalk'...totally Devo.
@JohnnyMcMormon Many people will disagree but the truth of the matter is, this is punk rock.
one of my fav devo songs!!
i wanna cover pity you
long live DEVO !!!!!!!!
Great synths! I always loved how well DEVO mixed that thumping synth bass sound circa- "New Traditionalists" over the Linn LM-1 drum machine! It sounds great!
Alan Myers - the human metronome
love the J F K haircuts !
Awesome! i haven't ever seen this footage!
Alan Meyers WAS a Drumming Man Machine(@ll puns intended)!!
the intro piece is called "Nutra Theme"