No Fooling: April 1 is Devo Day in Akron

AKRON, OH — Akron residents should break out their energy dome helmets — the headgear made famous by hometown new wave group Devo that's often mistaken for flower pots — on Thursday as Mayor Dan Horrigan is set to proclaim April 1 "Devo Day" in the city.

The timing of the announcement may seem like an April Fools' prank, but a city spokesperson confirms the Devo celebration is real. The proclamation is part of a “get out #DEVOTE” campaign to get the band inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later this year, according to Consequence of Sound.

In addition to the Devo Day proclamation, the city will also hold a series of events during April in celebration of the hometown new wave rockers known for hits like "Uncontrollable Urge,” “Girl U Want” and "Whip It.”

Around 50 energy dome sculptures inspired by Devo’s signature red pyramid helmets will pop up around the city. The sculptures will feature QR codes that will take fans to a website where they can vote for the band to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, Consequence of Sound reports.

Life-sized cutouts of the band will be placed along Akron's downtown corridor, and a special video tribute to the band will be on display at a storefront window. The tribute, called a “DEVOtional,” will feature celebrities like Fred Armisen, Jack Black and Tony Hawk singing their praises of the band.

“The city of Akron has an unbelievable sense of pride, especially when it involves the success of our people,” Horrigan said in a statement. “We are, and will continue to be, immensely proud to be the home of Devo and will be rallying this great community to help them achieve the recognition they deserve.”

Devo front man Mark Mothersbaugh told Rolling Stone in 2020 interview, long before news of the band's potential induction, he has somewhat grown out of donning the red energy dome and compared it to someone putting on their high school cheerleading outfit again.

Even before the pandemic, the band had been on hiatus for several years and Mothersbaugh was more focused on his composing career for film and television.

“On one hand, when I’m out there on stage, I love playing them. But on the other hand, the whole thing seems like, ‘Well, yes, that’s what I did when I was 20. I’m 70. Let’s move on,’” he told the magazine. “Also, who knows, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame might begrudgingly let Devo in, so that’ll give us an excuse to get together.”

Devo is one of 16 nominees members of the public can vote on to be potentially inducted into the Hall of Fame. The other nominees include Carole King, Dionne Warwick, Rage Against the Machine and Tina Turner.

Fans have until April 30 to send in their nominations and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is scheduled to unveil its new class of inductees sometime in May.