Alexei Volkov
The American new wave band Devo is known for wearing red plastic hats, also known as energy dome hats. The dome-shaped hats were first worn by the band during their Freedom of Choice campaign in 1980 and reappeared in subsequent tours in 1982, 1988, and 1990, as well as most performances since 1997. The unique headwear has become an iconic part of the band's visual presentation, which often includes kitsch science fiction themes and satirical social commentary. Devo's red plastic hats have even sparked lawsuits over trademark and publicity rights, highlighting their distinctive nature in popular culture.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Band Name | Devo |
| Band Type | American new wave band |
| Band Members | Mark Mothersbaugh, Bob Mothersbaugh, Gerald Casale, Bob Casale, Bob Lewis, Alan Myers |
| Hat Type | Energy dome |
| Hat Color | Red |
| Hat Material | Plastic |
| Hat Shape | Round, ziggurat |
| Hat Function | Recycles orgone energy, preventing it from dissipating out the top of the head |
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What You'll Learn
- Devo's red plastic hats were called 'energy dome hats'
- The hats were first worn during Devo's 1980 Freedom of Choice campaign
- The energy dome hats were designed by Devo members Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale
- The hats were influenced by the German Bauhaus movement and Aztec temples
- Devo settled a lawsuit over their distinctive hats in 2014
Devo's red plastic hats were called 'energy dome hats'
The red plastic hats worn by Devo, an American new wave band from Akron, Ohio, are called energy dome hats. The energy dome hats were first worn by the band during their Freedom of Choice campaign in 1980. They reappeared in the 1982, 1988, and 1990 tours, as well as most performances since 1997. The hats were custom-made for the band from vacuum-formed plastic, in a distinctive round, ziggurat shape. They are occasionally referred to as "power domes" or "flowerpots".
The energy dome hat was designed by Devo members Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald ("Jerry") Casale. The design was influenced by the German Bauhaus movement, geometric fashion, and Aztec temples. Casale also stated that the hat was designed according to ancient ziggurat mound proportions used in votive worship. The idea behind the hat was that it would collect the Orgone energy that escapes from the top of the human head and recycles it, increasing mental energy and even prolonging life.
The energy dome hats have become an iconic symbol of Devo, with the band even settling a lawsuit in 2014 over trademark violations related to the hats. The band has sold energy dome hats through Club Devo in various forms, including smaller sizes with raised "DEVO" text on the top and different colours such as white, orange, dark blue, and cyan blue.
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The hats were first worn during Devo's 1980 Freedom of Choice campaign
The red plastic hats, known as "energy domes", were first worn by the American new wave band Devo during their 1980 Freedom of Choice campaign. Devo, formed in 1973, consisted of two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs (Mark and Bob) and the Casales (Gerald and Bob), along with Alan Myers. The energy dome hats were custom-made for the band from vacuum-formed plastic and featured a distinctive round, ziggurat shape. The band members designed the hats themselves, drawing inspiration from the German Bauhaus movement, geometric fashion, and Aztec temples. Devo wanted a unique look that set them apart from other bands, and the energy domes certainly achieved that.
The energy domes were more than just a fashion statement, however. According to Mark Mothersbaugh, the co-founder, lead singer, and keyboardist of Devo, the hats served a functional purpose. In an interview with Fecal Face in 2008, Mothersbaugh explained that the energy domes recycled orgone energy, which otherwise dissipates from the top of one's head. By wearing the energy dome, this energy is recycled and showers back down on the wearer, leading to various benefits, including prolonged manliness.
The energy domes became an iconic part of Devo's image and were reapplied in subsequent tours in 1982, 1988, and 1990, as well as most performances since 1997. The band even settled a lawsuit in 2014 over their distinctive hats, asserting violations of trademark and publicity rights. Devo has continued to experiment with different colours and variations of the energy domes, with assorted prototypes and fan-made versions in a rainbow of colours.
The energy domes have also taken on a life of their own beyond the band. For example, when Devo's keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Bob Casale passed away in 2014, his cremated remains were placed in a funerary urn modelled after the energy dome. The band has also sold energy domes through Club Devo, with the first versions being made of white plastic and spray-painted red. These domes have become sought-after collectibles, with various limited editions and custom-made versions appearing over the years.
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The energy dome hats were designed by Devo members Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale
The red plastic hats, known as "energy dome hats", were worn by the American new wave band Devo. The energy dome hats were designed by Devo members Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale. Mothersbaugh and Casale founded Devo at Kent State University in the late 1960s, developing the band's concept as a joke based on the idea of "de-evolution". Casale and Mothersbaugh designed the energy dome hats, drawing inspiration from the German Bauhaus movement, geometric fashion, and Aztec temples. The unique headwear featured a distinctive round, ziggurat shape, crafted from vacuum-formed plastic.
The energy dome hat was introduced during Devo's Freedom of Choice campaign in 1980 and reappeared in subsequent tours in 1982, 1988, and 1990. It became an iconic symbol of the band, with its distinctive shape and bright red colour. The hats were originally made from white plastic and spray-painted red, but later versions were manufactured in solid red plastic. Devo's keyboardist and co-founder, Mark Mothersbaugh, explained the significance of the energy dome, claiming that it recycles orgone energy, which otherwise dissipates from the top of one's head.
Over the years, Devo's energy dome hats have undergone various iterations, with different colours and materials used. For instance, during their performances at the Nike-sponsored Run Hit Wonder race/concert in 2004, the band wore dark blue domes. In 2010, to promote their ninth studio album, "Something for Everybody", Devo introduced cyan blue domes, distributing them to the audience during their appearance at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler, British Columbia.
The energy dome hats became so synonymous with Devo that the band took legal action in 2014 to protect their trademark. Devo settled a lawsuit over the distinctive hats, asserting violations of trademark, trade dress, and their right of publicity. The terms of the settlement were kept confidential, but it highlighted the cultural impact and recognition of the energy dome hats as an integral part of Devo's image and branding.
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The hats were influenced by the German Bauhaus movement and Aztec temples
The red plastic hats, known as "energy domes", were worn by the American new wave band Devo. The energy dome hats were first worn during the band's Freedom of Choice campaign of 1980 and reappeared in the 1982, 1988, and 1990 tours, as well as most performances since 1997.
The energy dome hats were influenced by the German Bauhaus movement and Aztec temples. The Bauhaus movement, which originated as a German school of the arts in the early 20th century, is known for its unique approach to architecture and design, combining fine arts with arts and crafts. The movement influenced the band's hat design with its emphasis on abstract shapes and unique aesthetic.
Aztec temples, with their distinctive and imposing structures, also inspired the energy dome hats. The band members mentioned that they liked how the hats made them look like Lego toys, reflecting the playful and quirky nature of their band persona.
In addition to these influences, Jerry Casale of Devo mentioned that the hat was inspired by an art deco light fixture cover. He stated that they turned it upside down and painted it red. The band also attributed functional purposes to the hats, believing that the energy dome design recycled the orgone energy that flows from a person's head, keeping the wearer "manly" for an additional 150 years of their life.
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Devo settled a lawsuit over their distinctive hats in 2014
The American new wave band Devo, formed in Akron, Ohio, in 1973, is known for its distinctive red "energy dome hats". The dome-shaped headgear, which first appeared during the band's Freedom of Choice campaign in 1980, has become an iconic part of the band's visual presentation.
In 2014, Devo settled a lawsuit over their famous hats, alleging that their unique design had been infringed upon by a merchandiser. The band filed the lawsuit in Indiana state court, claiming that their cylindric red "energy dome hats" were protected by the state's generous publicity rights statute. This statute protects a personality's distinctive appearance from being used in connection with commercial merchandise.
Devo's iconic energy dome hats were custom-made for the band from vacuum-formed plastic and featured a distinctive round, ziggurat shape. The hats were designed by band members Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale, who cited influences from the German Bauhaus movement, geometric fashion, and Aztec temples. The energy dome hats were meant to recycle the orgone energy that flows from a person's head, enhancing their longevity and vitality.
While the specific terms of the settlement were not disclosed, Clare Neumann, an IP licensing executive providing counsel to Devo, indicated that the parties involved were satisfied with the resolution. This lawsuit affirmed the importance of protecting the intellectual property rights of musicians and their distinctive appearances, ensuring that their unique identities are not exploited for commercial gain without their consent.
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Frequently asked questions
The American new wave band Devo wore red plastic hats, also known as 'energy dome' hats.
The energy dome hats were worn by the band as part of their stage outfits. The dome-shaped hats were custom-made from vacuum-formed plastic and were first worn during the band's Freedom of Choice campaign in 1980.
Band member Mark Mothersbaugh explained that the hats were designed to recycle orgone energy, which otherwise dissipates from the top of one's head.
