Feb 17, 2014 – Bob Casale Jr. aka Bob 2 -(Devo) was born Robert Edward Pizzute, Jr on July 14, 1952 in Kent, Ohio. His birth name was Pizzute because his father had legally changed his name from Robert Edward Casale to that of his foster parents.
He originally trained as a medical radiation technologist, but was recruited by his brother Gerald Casale to join his band, the new wave band Devo. In Devo concerts, Bob played lead-rhythm guitar and keyboards while working with MIDI sampling. He also sang backup vocals both on album and at live shows.
Ohio-based Devo introduced themselves to the world in 1977 by making a frenetic version of the Rolling Stones’ Satisfaction. The new wave band released its Brian Eno-produced debut, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!, in 1978. They reached platinum status in the 1980’s with record Freedom of Choice, largely thanks to the success of Whip It, which became the theme song of a generation.
Devo is short for devolution, the idea that men-kind is regressing into an earlier state of evolution.
The band stopped performing in 1991, but reformed as a musical act in 1995.
As music engineering and production opportunities expanded he began working for TV and movies, including Four Rooms, Happy Gilmore, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, and Rugrats Go Wild.
Bob Casale died from heart failure on February 17, 2014. He was 61.
