If you are a New Wave fan, then you’ll be thrilled to learn that two of the genre’s greatest bands are hitting the road this fall for a co-headlining tour. The B-52’s and Devo are teaming up for the “Cosmic De-Evolution Tour,” which kicks off in Toronto on September 24, 2025, according to Rolling Stone.
The B-52’s Couldn’t Say ‘No’ to Devo
GettyTechnically, the B-52’s launched their farewell tour across North America in 2022, and then extended it a little bit with a Las Vegas residency that began in 2024. They were happy with that until Devo came knocking. The two bands then linked up (alongside Fred Armisen) at the all-star SNL 50 concert and discussed the venture.
“In 2022, I swore I’d never get on a tour bus again, but we were careful to say to our fans that we would still perform in special situations that don’t require all of the awful tour travel,” the B-52’s Fred Schneider said in a statement. “Our Vegas residency is going great, and when we were offered the chance to do a small run of shows with Devo, we all said this is an extraordinary opportunity we couldn’t say no to.”
The B-52’s Cindy Wilson added, “When both of our bands performed at the recent SNL 50 concert at Radio City, we started talking and agreed we had to do these shows. Believe or not, we’ve never done more than a festival or two together in all this time. This will be amazing and I can’t wait for The B-52s to share these stages with Devo!”
The B-52’s Kate Pierson added, “When we first came from Athens to New York City to perform, punk was in full force…and New Wave was right on its tail! We loved all the New Wave groups, including Patti Smith, Talking Heads, Blondie, and the Ramones. We also really dug the far-out weirdness of Devo, which seemed very in tuned to our sensibilities. So put on your wig hats and Devo bonnets and get ready to party! This is going to be wild.”
The 11-date Cosmic De-Evolution Tour kicks off September 24, 2025, in Toronto and runs through November 2, 2025, in Houston.
Devo Is Equally Excited to Share the Stage With the B-52’s
The guys from Devo sound just as excited as the B-52s are to hit the stage together.
“The B-52s had one of the best sounds of any of the bands out there in the late seventies and early eighties – ‘Rock Lobster’ is one of my favorite songs – Devo used to sing it to Booji Boy after Devo shows,” Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh told Rolling Stone. “It was either fate or luck or the SNL anniversary that brought us all together to create this amazing chance to go out on tour. All I can say is Cosmic Devolution is REAL!”
Devo co-founder and bassist Gerry Casale added, “Devo and The B-52s on tour together! That it took almost 50 years to happen is rather mind-blowing. But better late than never. We each did something right in different ways that withstood the test of time. Now we’re here to prove we can still ‘bring it’ as they say!”
