Discussion:
Bob1's blue potato guitar found!
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Reverend Beastly
2005-10-25 06:41:05 UTC
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Those familiar with the story of this guitar will know how awesome this
is for Bob. If not, well, here is the story.

In 1980, for the Freedom of Choice album and tour, Bob1 had a
customized blue Ibanez cloud/potato guitar made. It can be prominently
seen in the Live 1980 DVD, the Girl U Want video and just about any
live photo from the FOC tour. He truly loved that guitar. When my
partner at the Basement, Tom, and I interviewed him for the site, we
enquired about the guitar:

"In the mid-80's, I developed a fondness for cocaine that turned into
full-blown addiction. When the band stopped working, I ran out of money
and one day I woke up broke, hungry and needing alcohol and drugs. So I
pawned the Ibanez guitar for $250, which seemed great at the time. I
really miss that guitar, even though it weighed a ton." - Bob1

And, according to Bob, that was one of the things he most regretted
ever doing. He spent $2000 on it initially. After he sobered up in the
early 90's, he tried to find the guitar again. The pawn shop he sold it
do did not keep proper paperwork, so a dead end was pretty much hit,
and it seemed impassable. VaheVahe, frontman of the band Nu-Tra, and
friend of Bob's, helped him for years trying to find this guitar, but
to no avail.

Then, on September 8, I got an email from a guy named Matt saying he
had read the interview on the Basement site and knew where the guitar
was. It was in the possession of pro skateboarder Jason Jessee, who had
picked it up some years past. After confirming that it was indeed the
same guitar, I put Matt and Vahe in touch with each other, and through
a number of mutual friends the two of them shared with Jason, they
finally got in contact with him.

Tonight, it finally happened. Bob and Vahe drove up and retrieved Bob's
lost guitar.

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And now, there's just that much less wrong with the universe. And I
wouldn't be too surprised if we got to see Bob play that live in the
not-too-distant future...

-Alex
http://www.boojiboysbasement.com
Dr. Zontar
2005-10-25 16:08:14 UTC
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(story snipped)
And now, there's just that much less wrong with the universe. And I
wouldn't be too surprised if we got to see Bob play that live in the
not-too-distant future...
Wow. And you helped it happen. Very cool.

- Rich
Pink Pussycat
2005-10-25 17:11:36 UTC
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Post by Reverend Beastly
And now, there's just that much less wrong with the universe. And I
wouldn't be too surprised if we got to see Bob play that live in the
not-too-distant future...
-Alex
http://www.boojiboysbasement.com
The look on Bob 1's face is priceless.
You rule, rock, and kick ass. You've got some very good
Spudly karma now, dude! :-)

~Pink
--
"The enemy is at the gate. And the enemy is the human mind
itself - or lack of it - on this planet." - General Boy
Hugh Jorgan
2005-10-25 19:39:57 UTC
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Post by Reverend Beastly
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/reverendbeastly/BobGuitar.jpg
great story! bob's struggle with the usual entrapments of fame and
fortune would make a great chapter in the continuing tomes of DEV-O.
it's hard to imagine that the spuds could ever run out of cash,
considering how big "whip it" was (and still is) but those last Warner
years, and the few Elektra years, probably didn't add much to their
accounts. nowadays, with their touring and Target deal, hopefully they
can save a little cash.
JonYo
2005-10-25 23:35:59 UTC
Permalink
In article
Post by Hugh Jorgan
Post by Reverend Beastly
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/reverendbeastly/BobGuitar.jpg
great story! bob's struggle with the usual entrapments of fame and
fortune would make a great chapter in the continuing tomes of DEV-O.
it's hard to imagine that the spuds could ever run out of cash,
considering how big "whip it" was (and still is) but those last Warner
years, and the few Elektra years, probably didn't add much to their
accounts. nowadays, with their touring and Target deal, hopefully they
can save a little cash.
Hi. I'm mister nitpick, sorry! They were never on Elektra, I'm
guessing you're thinking of Enigma, the label they were on during
1988-1990.
Hugh Jorgan
2005-10-26 23:35:25 UTC
Permalink
In article
Post by JonYo
In article
Post by Hugh Jorgan
Post by Reverend Beastly
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/reverendbeastly/BobGuitar.jpg
great story! bob's struggle with the usual entrapments of fame and
fortune would make a great chapter in the continuing tomes of DEV-O.
it's hard to imagine that the spuds could ever run out of cash,
considering how big "whip it" was (and still is) but those last Warner
years, and the few Elektra years, probably didn't add much to their
accounts. nowadays, with their touring and Target deal, hopefully they
can save a little cash.
Hi. I'm mister nitpick, sorry! They were never on Elektra, I'm
guessing you're thinking of Enigma, the label they were on during
1988-1990.
thanks, you're right. i remember going to the ENIGMA office in El
Segundo. they had a huge DEVO poster in the lobby. this was in 1987-88
so was that TOTAL DEVO? they had high hopes at the time but sadly it
didn't pan out.
Boom
2005-10-26 06:53:05 UTC
Permalink
On Tue, 25 Oct 2005 19:39:57 GMT, Hugh Jorgan
Post by Hugh Jorgan
Post by Reverend Beastly
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/reverendbeastly/BobGuitar.jpg
great story! bob's struggle with the usual entrapments of fame and
fortune would make a great chapter in the continuing tomes of DEV-O.
it's hard to imagine that the spuds could ever run out of cash,
considering how big "whip it" was (and still is) but those last Warner
years, and the few Elektra years, probably didn't add much to their
accounts. nowadays, with their touring and Target deal, hopefully they
can save a little cash.
Yeah, let's hope they can sock away a little cash from all the work
they do writing major motion picture and TV soundtracks, too. Must be
tough to make music on those paltry 7-figure budgets.

But hey, I kid Devo. I'm really glad to see Bob1 with his spud guitar
again! He looked genuinely excited to see it. And it's nice that
everyone who owned it took good care of it. I'll bet he still plays
the G&L's at the next live shows, though. Alex, you and Vahe and
everyone who helped are excellent quality people. Now knock it off
because you're making lazy bums like me look bad!
Rev. Richard Skull
2005-10-25 23:04:22 UTC
Permalink
No wonder those 2 hurrianes tured out to sea!

All is now right with the Yeng & Yang of the UNiverse!

Now, a new era of peace and kick ass guitar solos will dawn on this
planet.....or not.
VAHEVAHE
2005-10-29 17:46:14 UTC
Permalink
I still can't believe we got that guitar back!
David Mooney
2005-10-31 19:45:14 UTC
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For some reason, that story`s just made my day. I think it`s because I heard
Bob 1 playing the guitar back in 1980, and it was a partnership that changed
my life. Some things should never be separated. Well done for bringing about
this reunion!

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