Bob Casale, the guitar maestro and a founding member of the new wave rock band Devo, died due to heart failure Monday at the age of 61.
In 1972, Bob and his brother Gerald formed Devo (short for "devolution") along with Robert Mothersbaugh and Mark Motherbaugh in Akron, Ohio. The band found itself in the limelight in 1977 following the release of their frantic version of the original Rolling Stones' album "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."
There were two Bobs in Devo, and Casale was known as "Bob 2," while Robert Moutherbaugh was known as "Bob 1." While Gerald Casale and Mark Motherbaugh were the singers of the band, the two Bobs took care of the sound.
On Tuesday, Gerald issued a statement saying, "As an original member of Devo, Bob Casale was there in the trenches with me from the beginning," adding, "He was my level-headed brother, a solid performer and talented audio engineer, always giving more than he got. He was excited about the possibility of Mark Mothersbaugh allowing Devo to play shows again. His sudden death from conditions that lead to heart failure came as a total shock to us all."
The band earned huge success in the post-punk era. Its debut album, "Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!," released in 1978, not only increased its following, but was popular among critics. The album, produced by Brian Eno, was an instant hit among music lovers for its simple and straight lyrics, off-kilt cadences and use of electronics.
In 1981, Devo released its iconic single "Whip It," which turned out to be one of its major hits, reaching No. 14 on Billboard Hot 100. Another single in the same album, "Freedom of Choice," proved to be the highest-charting endeavor of the band on the Billboard 200. It remained on the list for 51 weeks, reaching No. 22. Eventually, the Recording Industry Association of America certified it as a platinum disc for selling 1 million copies.
The band split in 1991, but reformed again five years later. Devo released "Something for Everybody" in 2010 - its first new album in two decades.
Bob Casale is survived by his wife Lisa, his son Alex and daughter Samantha.
