Devo has lost a part of the family. Bob Casale, an original member of the eccentric group Devo, has died at the age of 61 from heart failure. His brother and bandmate Gerard Casale, Devo’s founder, announced the news on the band’s official Facebook page.
“Very sad news to report today. Bob Casale of Devo. Born: July 14th, 1952. Deceased: February 17th, 2014,” Gerard Casale wrote on Monday, Feb. 17. “As an original member of Devo, Bob Casale was there in the trenches with me from the beginning. He was my level-headed brother, a solid performer and talented audio engineer, always giving more than he got.”
“He was excited about the possibility of Mark Mothersbaugh allowing Devo to play shows again,” the statement continued. “His sudden death from conditions that lead to heart failure came as a total shock to us all.”
Devo — known as an American New Wave band — formed in 1972 and are best-known for their 1980 hit “Whip It,” the music video for which featured them wearing red energy dome hats. The band’s original members also include brothers Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh and Alan Myers. (Drummer Myers died of brain cancer in June 2013.)
