Big Mess (1982-10-30)

[GrantTarredus]

@MrMiister What book is the image from?

[coprographia]

is there any better inspiration in the world than an incoherent fan letter?

[Vlern]

bklimt - hilarious! right on.

[MrMiister]

they should have released this backing tape on the ez listening disc, its pretty good

can anyone else see what famous book cowboy kims head was taken from? ;)

[TruSlack]

but how many of you are singing along anyway... :)

[globalmack]

it's a big mess - i mean a really big mess - it's a big big mess yeah a really mixed up - they didn't know -it was a big mess. a big big mess yeah a really mixed up, kinda like the video.

[Watcher3223]

It's out of sync, and everyone around them hears that something is wrong.

It's out of sync, their signal's out of time, messing up this great song.

It's out of sync 'cause the rhythm's off time.

With five people playing, not all parts were played live.

With screw ups like this, you'd want Corona with lime.

You'd need a drink 'cause the performance's a dive.

It's out of sync.

[generovox]

More often than not... the "live" volume level (on stage) exceeded that of the track volume level (the video tape)... it happens a lot... the band needs to hear both... it's tough... you need a drummer with a click track in his ear and a band that will follow his beat! ~ Volume levels are crucial!

[Kohntarkosz]

There's two interesting things about this:

1. The band couldn't figure out how to get back into synch with the film/backing track. You'd think they could at least find a place where they could just count off and have everyone come back in on the chorus or the second verse or whatever.

2. They apparently had to let the film/backing track keep running even after they'd given up on the song. I guess that would have been the only way to get to the next song.

[DreadfulRay]

My band has synched projections that we play in front of too and I'm scared to death of something like this happening. But back when this happened it was a much harder feat to pull off.

[rwk1983]

this was a big mess (yeah im sure im the thousinth person to say that or something like it)

[Blackfire74]

the microphone is out jaaa

[frizzlefrap]

our film is not in sync with our sss

[10pauin]

What is saying Mark at 1:14??

[1devo6587]

our film is not in sync with us

[bobshubey]

@10pauin Sounds like it was Jerry saying that, not Mark.

[1devo6587]

does any one notice that at 0:07 mark and jerry switch positions?

[hypobusa]

The song title is right..

Big Mess...

[Moonheartgirl]

That is exactly what I thought. LOL How ironic it happened on this tune. Damn, I have this on the original Spudboy stand-up LP but no way to play it and I was so excited when I saw this clip on here. Sigh.

[hypobusa]

just go and buy a cheapie record player from kmart, $100.00.

[evelau]

@hypobusa

Would have also been appropriate for the song "Out of Synch". ;)

Shame it's not working. It's a great song!

[sanspoint]

0:51 "I Quit." I love Bob 2

[NESSHEAD]

Devolution is real.

[anpnymous123]

Agh. I hope one day they will release the backing video on this, along with Out of Sync and Speed Racer.

[robcif]

its proposital !

[owwnvm]

yeah that was a big mess..

[1devo6587]

i know that its kind of a wierd question to ask on this on a devo viedo but is that alan myers or stuart copland playing drums on this viedo? i wanted to know beacause not olny does the drummer look alot like him here,but a few of my friends and my dad said that he was a backup drummer for devo at 1 time.

[stapler942]

It's Alan Myers. You can tell by the general shape of his face. I don't think the line-up changed during this period of Devo (1976-1986-ish). I don't know if there were ever replacement members, since Devo was a full-time thing for all of them until the mid-80's. Anyone else know?

[sanspoint]

Alan was Devo's sole drummer from 1975 to 1985. His replacement was David Kendrick.

[viewerguy27]

@sanspoint 1976 - 1985. During 1975, their drummer was Jim Mothersbaugh.

[sanspoint]

@viewerguy27 Okay, I was one off.

[Kohntarkosz]

There were a few people who were in the band during the early days, including Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh's brother Jim (who later went to work for Roland, and was involved in developing a lot of MIDI technology). Another early member, Bob Lewis, later sued the band for theft of intellectual property.

But during most of the time they were signed to Warner Bros, the line up was Jerry, Mark, Bob 1, Bob 2, and Alan. I've never heard of Stewart Copeland playing with Devo.

[viewerguy27]

@1devo6587 Devo has only had six drummers play with them. Rod Reisman played with them only once, Jim Mothersbaugh helped them out during their quartet phase, Alan Meyers left in 1985, David Kendrick left in 1991. Neil Taylor performs occasionally, but their permanent drummer is Josh Freese.

[kappappa]

Really a shame this got screwed up. This is one of Devo's best songs and a great backing video. MLK and Lennon make an appearance. Heavy stuff.

[bklimt]

So you'd say it was a Big Mess when the video got Out of Sync and they had to take a Time Out (for Fun)? At least we got to watch the Patterns on the screen. That's Good.

[lizs004]

It's Not Right!

[omgwtfwhoami]

It wasn't that hard to find out.

[creeker275]

maybe the mongoloid?

[DmRofAtoZ]

@bklimt -- Yeah, well at least it all stopped short of any actual Explosions !

The band soldiered on, and you know what they say . . That's Pep !

[MissingNo11]

@bklimt

nice way of getting all those titles in. good thing you're not a mongoloid and didn't have an uncontrollable urge to randomly say a bunch of titles. Here on planet earth, things don't always make sense, like devo, they come around with a good song, and just keep on like a speed racer, they have been here and there for a while, but every time they come back, it's like a game of peek a boo, and it's awesome. by using our praying hands, our dream has come true for a new album

[bklimt]

@MissingNo11 Yes, they always said they'd make a new album later. But Later is Now. One of them must have said "Let's Get to It! It's What We Do." So then they Step Up and March On and create a Fresh new album. It's really Sumthin'! I mean, they Don't Shoot new videos everyday. And once they have the Signal Ready, we will Knock Boots (by which I mean dance, you perv), and they can Watch Us Work It.

[MissingNo11]

@bklimt oh yeah i also noticed all the songs you mentioned are from Oh no! it's devo

that's one of my favorite albums by devo.

[gabrielgabriel2000]

awesome

[onetwobestiff]

ITS HALLOWEEN?

[docwadd]

whoops.

[ohare100]

ace track sill