Mothersbaugh attended Kent State University as an art student , where he met Devo co-founders Gerald Casale and Bob Lewis . In early 1970 , Lewis and Casale formed the idea of the " devolution " of the human race after Casale 's friend Jeffrey Miller was killed by Ohio National Guardsmen on university grounds during what came to be known as the Kent State shootings . Intrigued by the concept , Mothersbaugh joined them , building upon it with elements of early post-structuralist ideas and oddball arcana , most notably unearthing the infamous '' Jocko-Homo Heavenbound '' pamphlet ( the basis for the song " Jocko Homo " ) . This association culminated in 1973 , when the trio started to play music as Devo . In 1987 , Devo reformed with new drummer David Kendrick , formerly of Sparks to replace Myers . Their first project was a soundtrack for the flop horror film '' Slaughterhouse Rock '' , starring Toni Basil and they released the albums '' Total Devo '' ( 1988 ) and '' Smooth Noodle Maps '' ( 1990 ) , on Enigma
Kent State shootings
Kent State shootings
Mark Mothersbaugh