Devo front man Jerry Casale is upset with a recent trailer posted on Korn's website. The trailer, for Korn's upcoming untitled album, talks about Devolution, the theory that mankind is regressing as time goes on.
Devo has been referencing the theory of Devolution since the band's early career in the 1970s. Casale wrote on the Devo website:
Korn Runs Rampant w/ Devolution - No Nod to DEVO. We denounce this as imposters playing with fire.
After Korn fans lashed out, Casale spoke to Rolling Stone about the ordeal:
Their fanbase, being pretty cretinous, took it like a serious smackdown. They started writing vicious hate-filled e-mails saying, "You guys don't own the word 'devolution' What makes you think you can come out of retirement and say stuff about the great Korn?" We went, "Wow, this is insane. This is a perfect example of devolution. You're a case in point, pal. Gee, I'm sorry we thought all this up thirty years ago and have been putting it out there and preaching it ever since."
I wouldn't hope for anything from people today, are you kidding? We live in a subhuman mean-ass society where everyone has learned to be totally disgusting and spiritless. It starts at the top and trickles down.
Settle down, guy. If you asked 100 strangers on the street -- "Family Feud"-style -- to come up with a word that means the opposite of evolution, 90 of them would say "devolution." This is not a groundbreaking idea. Maybe Korn stole it, but isn't it entirely possible they randomly came up with this on their own? Now, if Korn comes out to a show wearing red cylinder/pyramid hats, then you'll have a stronger case.
Casale then went on to insult grunge music:
I really like LCD Soundsystem, TV on the Radio and Interpol. I'm glad all this stuff is happening. I hated all that grunge shit. That was such an energy drain.
These anti-grunge quotes from 80s bands always make me laugh. You see the same thing from hair metal bands. "Grunge was so depressing, I hated it." OF COURSE you hated it. It destroyed every 80s band's career. If I was in a band and someone destroyed my career, I'd automatically hate them, I don't care if they were the second coming of the Beatles.
So, back to the real issue. Who do you side with on this particular issue, Korn or Devo? I'll get the debate started with two samples responses.
Sample Devo supporter:
"Korn and their 12 year old fans should all get in a bathtub and turn on a toaster. Devo has had a 35 year career and are one of the most influential bands of all time. The only reason Korn sells any records is because everyone on Earth is stupid and everything sucks, except for Devo."
Sample Korn supporter:
"you are a idiot you don't know what your talking about, why cant you just shut the hell up. Korn is SO AWESOME they sell out shows everynight and have tons of hits. YOu think youre so cool just cause you like music no one has heard of I mean who cares about some 80s band that has one hit. KORN RULZZ!!!!!!!"
