Bob Mothersbaugh
The wiry, bespectacled guitarist whose spiky riffs and wild costumes defined Devo's sound and their philosophy of de-evolution.
Born 1952 (age 74)·American songwriter, composer, and musician·Birthday: August 11·Baby Boomers
Biography
Bob Mothersbaugh, often known as Bob 1, emerged from the Kent State art scene as a foundational member of Devo, a band that packaged social satire in jerky rhythms and matching yellow jumpsuits. As lead guitarist, his taut, minimalist playing—a blend of punk energy and robotic precision—became the sonic backbone for anthems like 'Whip It' and 'Jocko Homo.' Beyond the stage, Mothersbaugh channeled Devo's quirky aesthetic into a prolific career composing music for television, bringing the band's off-kilter sensibility to shows like 'Rugrats' and 'The Fairly OddParents.' His journey from Ohio art student to cult rock icon and sought-after composer illustrates a unique path where avant-garde ideas found a surprisingly mainstream audience.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Bob was born in 1952, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bob Was Born
The biggest hits of 1952
#1 Movie
The Greatest Show on Earth
Best Picture
The Greatest Show on Earth
#1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
Bob's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1952Born
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1957Started school
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1965Became a teenager
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1968Could drive
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1970Could vote
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1973Turned 21
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1982Turned 30
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1992Turned 40
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2002Turned 50
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 60
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 70
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 74 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-founded the influential new wave band Devo, serving as their lead guitarist and contributing songwriter.
- Composed the iconic theme music and score for the long-running animated series 'Rugrats.'
- Performed on and co-wrote Devo's hit single 'Whip It,' which reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Built a successful second career composing music for over 50 television shows and films.
Did You Know?
He and his brother Mark (Devo's keyboardist) are both legally blind and wear thick corrective lenses.
He created the sound for the 'Power Loader' exosuit in James Cameron's film 'Aliens.'
His stage name 'Bob 1' distinguished him from fellow Devo member Bob Casale, who was 'Bob 2.'
He studied art at Kent State University, where the 1970 shootings directly influenced Devo's formation.
“We were serious about being ridiculous.”
