r/devo • u/Gagoozle • 1d ago

Are they trolling us?

Post image

I went to see Devo last night in Orlando. Great show! I was a little surprised by the the use of AI in the video playing during Smart Patrol. I also noticed AI "art" at the merch booth. I picked up the tshirt you see because I thought it was a cool callback, but it also ai generated. Its the text at the bottom right that caught my eye. We certainly have devolved. I wish they didn't use AI, but it makes me wonder...

75 Upvotes

79% Upvoted

39 comments sorted by

93

u/Chiveswinston 1d ago

That's not AI, that's real art by Tomo7701. He also did the tour promo art and the album cover for the 50 years compilation.

13

u/WorkDish 1d ago

He uses AI, though, including for other Devo projects.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRPTvktD3zZ/

https://www.instagram.com/p/DNLYqbVxa8_/?img_index=1

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWhNWvnlde4/?img_index=1

I actually can't tell if this is AI-assisted. Maybe not. The faces and nose-cord thing look like they could be AI.

2

u/SaladFantastic4942 19h ago

They've definitely used AI to change the image though. It's the same style with weird uneven lineart that has showed up in their official stuff since around 2023

4

u/Gagoozle 1d ago

Really?? I would feel better about this shirt if so, but it doesn't look right...

28

u/Chiveswinston 1d ago

Yup! He's collaborated with Jerry as well for his solo stuff https://www.instagram.com/tomo7701

5

u/Gagoozle 1d ago

Thanks for bringing this to my attention, it certainly makes me feel better about my purchase.

3

u/lemoneegees 1d ago

The artist has had a pretty consistent visual style since before widespread generative AI

-10

u/JALEPENO_JALEPENO 1d ago

Damn it looks like shit

6

u/audreynstuff 1d ago

It's not AI.

6

u/monsterzro_nyc 1d ago

I'd love to see a reissue of merch with the Club Devo bongo graphic!

3

u/Jazzhole5 1d ago

I’m confused as to what made you jump to the assumption that this was AI? It doesn’t contain any of the usual signatures that would indicate it. While it could possibly be computer graphics, it looks of human origin to me.

17

u/Darnocpdx 1d ago

If there were ever two bands that could and use AI while staying “on brand”, it’s Devo and/or Kraftwerk.

11

u/d13robot 1d ago

If by trolling you mean being lazy/cheap, then yes lol

1

u/Gagoozle 1d ago

I mean, that unfortunately comes along with it.

10

u/wa27 1d ago

They aren't trolling by selling shitty AI merch. Devo has always had great, unique, and unmistakably human art. Mark is a visual artist. It's just a shame to see.

14

u/ThrowItOut43 1d ago

It’s not AI

4

u/wa27 1d ago

Damn, shame on me then for accusing.

7

u/cboogie 1d ago

We are at a super weird point in art history where work created prior to AI can be accused of itself being AI art. It’s such a shame. It’s not fair to artists. These companies need to be sued to oblivion. It’s the biggest plagiarism in human history.

1

u/ThrowItOut43 1d ago

Someone in the comments links the artists IG

2

u/WorkDish 1d ago

The artist has used AI for other DEVO projects, but maybe this isn't entirely AI. The faces look like AI, though.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CRPTvktD3zZ/

2

u/Moe-Scutus2 1d ago

Workin at the nuke plant with Neil Young

2

u/Horta 1d ago

This is based on their appearance in Human Highway, a Neil Young film. Also used in the video for It Takes a Worried Man. 

2

u/HoochShippe 1d ago

It’s a play off “ It Takes A Worried Man”.
Video. Not AI

2

u/d_Composer 1d ago

Yeah I feel like, as an art movement, trolling with AI sounds right up DEVO’s alley!

4

u/ThrowItOut43 1d ago

It’s not AI

-3

u/I_Uh_What 1d ago

It’s clearly intentional.

2

u/capnbeardson 1d ago

Agreed. I picked up a shirt at a concert earlier this year. It’s black with a simple logo on the front. The logo is off center. It’s intentional. The AI art is intentional, they want you to be uncomfortable with it.

-1

u/Electrical_Wonder210 He's a happy guy 1d ago

well they have literally said they like ai so ehhhh

5

u/ProtoGhostal 1d ago

Lol people have a hard time realizing that not everything Devo does is some big intentional critique on society

1

u/VaultBoytheChosenOne 21h ago

They had tubes in their noses in the Human Highway film, it could just be a stylized depiction of that. I do understand the AI concerns though.

1

u/cousinisms 18h ago

Who's trolling who here ..? Orlando last night? AI shirt? No...

1

u/Slosher99 16h ago

While this doesn't appear to be AI based on other comments, Mark has been fairly pro AI. I also heard that they've used AI for the backgrounds visuals in their shows for a while now.
It's been pretty disheartening to hear, and if I'm wrong I'd like to know it. Though I have read that Mark likes AI from a couple places.

1

u/SpyderMaybe 16h ago

It's total DEVO

1

u/usersurnamee 16h ago

Honestly, I’ll miss them but I’m done with devo. I’ll still treasure the albums i already own and fondly remember the performances I’ve already seen, but that’s all in the past. It’s already tough deciding who to patronize and which shows to attend. This stuff makes a tough decision easier but them taking themselves out of the running as an acceptable option

2

u/livefastdieold 14h ago

I don’t see anything about the text on the right that would suggest AI.

-4

u/Everybody_Lucre 1d ago

I get why bands like Devo and the Butthole Surfers would be interested in AI but they really need to just listen to the fans telling them they don’t want it.

0

u/Existing-Dot-6966 1d ago

Devo was not in Orlando last night

-6

u/TheLonesomeBricoleur 1d ago

DEVO uses AI as an indictment of the culture that created it...

but it still feels just plain wrong

-1

u/playtrix 1d ago

The whole world is using AI. 10 years from now people whining about it will be similar to people complaining about photoshop or VFX.