In early 1970 , Bob Lewis and Gerald Casale formed the idea of the " devolution " of the human race after Casale 's friend Jeffrey Miller was killed by Ohio National Guardsmen firing on a student demonstration . Mothersbaugh joined Devo in 1974 . After the band underwent a few line-up changes , Bob Mothersbaugh became part of the most popular five-piece incarnation , which included the Casale brothers : Gerald and Bob ( " Bob 2 " ) and the Mothersbaugh brothers : Mark and Bob ( " Bob 1 " ) , as well as drummer Alan Myers . In 1981 , Mothersbaugh with Devo served as Toni Basil 's backing band on '' Word of Mouth '' , her debut album , which included versions of three Devo songs , recorded with Basil singing lead
firing on a student demonstration
Kent State shootings
Bob Mothersbaugh