New Wave Outpost Forum

According to "Rip It Up & Start Again" by Simon Reynolds, in 1978 Richard Branson of Virgin Records invited Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerry Casale of Devo to Jamaica to discuss the possibility of making Johnny Rotten lead singer of Devo. Mark shot that down.


Imagine what would have happened. Might have been good but probably would have been horrible.

that's an odd one. But if you can imagine that coupling, it might actually work.

Mothersbaugh said it was the stupidest decision DEVO made, not hooking up with Lydon. Although to be fair, Lydon wasn't interested in the partnership.

I just can not see anyone else other than Mothersbaugh leading Devo. I'm sure that goes right down the line for alot of great bands...but Devo were just [b]SO[/b] unique..and Marks voice just said DEVO: [b]nasal-primal-alien-bug-on-a-monkey-spud-bender....[/b]

Lydon is just too 'concrete' to be DEVO...

Mc Laren's early choice for frontman of what became The Sex Pistols was Syl Sylvain of The New
York Dolls(McLaren managed the Dolls briefly before 'the Pistols' was created

Steve Jones's white Les Paul originally belonged to Sylvain. McLaren brought it back to the UK with the understanding that Sylvain would show up later to front the Pistols and reclaim his guitar.

Devo was already perfect then (see: French TV performance, '78). It would have been a disaster. Though not much longer on, Devo wasn't exactly pumping out great material anyway.

[quote][i]Originally posted by toyah[/i]
<br>Mc Laren's early choice for frontman of what became The Sex Pistols was Syl Sylvain of The New
York Dolls(McLaren managed the Dolls briefly before 'the Pistols' was created
[/quote]Midge Ure was also asked to front the Sex Pistols, but he declined.