📰 Devo on Bowie Tour? – 1 Page: Mar. 1978
- David Bowie
- Mar 18, 1978
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Date: March 18, 1978
Length: ~3 min read
A brief but electrifying industry whisper: DEVO, freshly signed and freshly recorded, may join David Bowie on the road.
A moment when two future‑shaping forces briefly aligned.
In March 1978, a small press item reported that DEVO — newly signed to Warner Brothers and fresh from recording their debut album with Brian Eno and David Bowie — were likely to support Bowie on several British dates that June. The venues were unconfirmed, but the possibility alone sent ripples through the music press.
📰 Key Highlights
• DEVO confirm worldwide signing with Warner Brothers
• Debut album recorded in Cologne with Brian Eno and David Bowie
• Rumoured support slot for Bowie’s June 1978 UK dates
• Band planning to return to Britain for approximately eight shows
• Early press buzz capturing DEVO’s transition from cult oddity to major‑label act
📰 Overview
By early 1978, DEVO were shifting from underground art‑punk provocateurs to a band on the brink of mainstream recognition. Their collaboration with Brian Eno — with David Bowie involved in the Cologne sessions — positioned them as one of the most intriguing new acts of the year. The rumour that they might join Bowie on tour only amplified the sense that DEVO were entering a new phase.
The article, a compact industry note, reflects the excitement surrounding their signing to Warner Brothers and the anticipation of their debut album. It also captures a moment when Bowie, deep into his Berlin‑era reinvention, was actively championing new experimental artists.
📰 Source Details
Publication / Venue: Unknown (scrapbook clipping)
Date: March 18, 1978
Format: News Brief / Industry Report
Provenance Notes:
• Clipping preserved in scrapbook form
• Content consistent with late‑’70s UK music‑press reporting
• References to MM (likely Melody Maker) suggest original source
📰 The Story
The late ’70s were a period of rapid evolution for DEVO. Their Akron origins, conceptual framework, and confrontational aesthetic had already earned them a cult following, but the involvement of Brian Eno and David Bowie elevated their profile dramatically. Bowie had publicly praised the band as early as 1977, calling them “the band of the future.”
The Cologne sessions, though intense and occasionally chaotic, produced the foundations of DEVO’s debut album. Bowie’s presence — even if intermittent — added a layer of myth to the project. The rumour that DEVO would support him on tour felt like a natural extension of their creative connection.
The clipping reports that DEVO planned to return to Britain for eight shows in June, though no venues were confirmed. Whether or not the Bowie support slot materialised, the mere suggestion placed DEVO firmly within the orbit of one of rock’s most influential figures.
This brief article captures a moment of transition: DEVO stepping into the major‑label world, Bowie continuing to reshape the musical landscape, and the press eager to document every possible intersection between them.
📰 Visual Archive
A monochrome newspaper clipping featuring bold headline typography and a short column of text announcing DEVO’s signing and the possibility of supporting David Bowie on tour.
“Devo on Bowie Tour?” — scrapbook clipping, March 18, 1978.
📰 Related Material
• DEVO — Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978)
• David Bowie — 1978 UK Tour
• Brian Eno / Bowie Cologne Sessions
📰 Closing Notes
This small press item stands as a snapshot of a pivotal moment: DEVO poised for breakthrough, Bowie in a period of reinvention, and the music world watching closely as two visionary forces briefly converged.
📰 Sources
• Scrapbook clipping (unknown publication)
• Contemporary DEVO and Bowie tour documentation
• Archival interviews referencing the Cologne sessions
📝 Copyright Notice
All newspaper excerpts and original text remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.
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