:Mark Mothersbaugh
{{Short description|American musician and composer (born 1950)}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Sundance Film Festival 2024 - DEVO - Mark Mothersbaugh-104A2603.jpg
| caption = Mothersbaugh at the premiere of the documentary film Devo at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival
| birth_name = Mark Allen Mothersbaugh
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|5|18}}
| birth_place = Akron, Ohio, U.S.
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|composer|multi-instrumentalist|record producer|visual artist}}
| years_active = 1972–present
| spouse = {{plainlist|
- Nancye Ferguson (divorced)
- Anita Greenspan
}}
| children = 2
| relatives = {{plainlist|
- Bob Mothersbaugh (brother)
- Jim Mothersbaugh (brother)
- Silas Hite (nephew)
}}
| module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| background = solo_singer
| genre = {{hlist|New wave|synth-pop{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/devo-mn0000249973 |title=Devo |website=AllMusic |access-date=September 30, 2012 |archive-date=March 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324014533/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/devo-mn0000249973 |url-status=live }}|electronic rockSteinberg and Michael Kehler (2010), p.355|punk rock|post-punk|synth-punk|art punk{{cite news |first=Pat |last=Long |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/apr/30/devo-art-punk-80s-revival |title=Pat Long meets new wave 80s oddballs Devo, who are intent on making a comeback |newspaper=The Guardian |date=May 2, 2009 |access-date=May 9, 2012 |location=London |archive-date=October 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008203324/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/apr/30/devo-art-punk-80s-revival |url-status=live }}|film score}}
| instruments = {{hlist|Vocals|keyboards|synthesizer|guitar}}
| label = {{hlist|Tra Project|Rykodisc|Enigma}}
| current_member_of = Devo
| past_member_of = {{hlist|Dove, the Band of Love|Jihad Jerry & the Evildoers|the Wipeouters}}
| website = {{URL|markmothersbaugh.com}}
}}
| signature = Mark Mothersbaugh signature.svg
| name = Mark Mothersbaugh
}}
Mark Allen Mothersbaugh ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ʌ|ð|ər|z|b|ɔː}}; born May 18, 1950) is an American musician and composer. He came to prominence in the late 1970s as co-founder, lead vocalist and keyboardist of the new wave band Devo, whose "Whip It" was a top 20 single in the US in 1980, peaking at No. 14, and which has since maintained a cult following. Mothersbaugh was one of the primary composers of Devo's music.
In addition to his work with Devo, Mothersbaugh has made music for television series, films and video games via his production company, Mutato Muzika. He composed the music for the 13-year run of the animated series Rugrats and its three related theatrical films. He has created film scores for Wes Anderson and for Marvel Comics films. As a solo musician, Mothersbaugh has released four studio albums: Muzik for Insomniaks, Muzik for the Gallery, Joyeux Mutato and The Most Powerful Healing Muzik in the Entire World.
In 2004, he received the Richard Kirk award at the BMI Film and TV Awards for his contributions to film and television music.{{cite web |url=http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234057 |title=BMI Hands Out Over 100 Awards at Annual Film/TV Gala |date=May 12, 2004 |publisher=Broadcast Music, Inc. |access-date=October 28, 2010 |archive-date=June 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100622055605/http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234057 |url-status=live }} In 2008, Mothersbaugh received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Kent State University, his alma mater.{{cite web |work=Forbes |title=America's Best Colleges 2010 |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/94/best-colleges-10_Kent-State-University_94212.html |access-date=September 9, 2015 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105512/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/94/best-colleges-10_Kent-State-University_94212.html |url-status=live }}
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Early years
Mark Allen Mothersbaugh was born on May 18, 1950, in Akron, Ohio. His parents are Mary Margaret ("Mig") and Robert Mothersbaugh Sr. He grew up with two younger brothers, Bob and Jim, who are both musicians, and two sisters, Amy and Susan, and graduated from Woodridge High School in Peninsula, Ohio.{{cite web |title=Mary M. "Mig" Mothersbaugh |url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ohio/obituary.aspx?pid=172306191 |date=August 31, 2014 |access-date=September 8, 2015 |work=Legacy.com |archive-date=September 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914223215/http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ohio/obituary.aspx?pid=172306191 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://getbuttonedup.com/2010/03/03/guest-guru-wearegoodkin-a-vision-of-family/ |work=GetButtonedUp.com |title=A Vision of Family |author=Gruskoff, Jen |date=March 3, 2010 |access-date=September 7, 2015 |archive-date=September 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914224335/http://getbuttonedup.com/2010/03/03/guest-guru-wearegoodkin-a-vision-of-family/ |url-status=live }}
His father appeared in early Devo films and fan events as the character General Boy and his brothers participated in the band, although Jim's tenure was brief, appearing only on several early demos.
Career
= Devo =
File:Devo.JPG, 2007]]
Mothersbaugh attended Kent State University as an art student, where he met Devo co-founders Gerald Casale and Bob Lewis. In early 1970, Lewis and Casale formed the idea of the "devolution" of the human race after Casale's friends Jeffrey Miller and Allison Krause were killed by Ohio National Guardsmen on university grounds during what came to be known as the Kent State shootings.{{citation |url=http://news.nationalpost.com/arts/books/paul-vermeersch-a-brief-history-of-devo-part-1 |title=Paul Vermeersch: A brief history of Devo, Part 1 |date=October 21, 2014 |access-date=August 4, 2015 |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630230356/https://nationalpost.com/category/news/ |url-status=live }} Intrigued by the concept, Mothersbaugh joined them, building upon it with elements of early post-structuralist ideas and oddball arcana, most notably unearthing the infamous Jocko-Homo Heavenbound pamphlet{{Cite web|url=http://bhshadduck.tripod.com/index/id10.html|title=Jocko-Homo Heavenbound|last=Shadduck|first=B. H.|website=B. H. Shadduck|access-date=January 23, 2017|archive-date=January 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126060750/http://bhshadduck.tripod.com/index/id10.html|url-status=live}} (the basis for the song "Jocko Homo").{{citation |url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=3062 |title=Songfacts |access-date=August 4, 2015 |archive-date=July 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721144349/http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=3062 |url-status=live }} This association culminated in 1973, when the trio started to play music as Devo.
Following the commercial failure of their sixth studio album Shout, Warner Bros. dropped Devo. Shortly after, claiming to feel creatively unfulfilled, drummer Alan Myers left the band,{{cite magazine|title= Alan Myers Obituary|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/alan-myers-devo-drummer-on-whip-it-dies-20130626|magazine= Rolling Stone|date= June 26, 2013|access-date= July 19, 2013|archive-date= July 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722143224/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/alan-myers-devo-drummer-on-whip-it-dies-20130626|url-status= dead}} causing the remaining band members to abandon the plans for a Shout video LP, as well as a tour.
In 1987, Devo reformed with new drummer David Kendrick, formerly of Sparks, to replace Myers. Their first project was a soundtrack for the flop horror film Slaughterhouse Rock, starring Toni Basil and they released the studio albums Total Devo (1988) and Smooth Noodle Maps (1990), on Enigma.
Devo had a falling-out and played two shows in 1991 before breaking up. Around this time, members of Devo appeared in the film The Spirit of '76 (1990), except for Bob Mothersbaugh. In 1989, Mark Mothersbaugh established Mutato Muzika, a commercial music production studio, hiring Ryan Moore and Bob Casale; Bob Mothersbaugh was also involved.{{citation|url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/are-you-not-devo-you-are-mutato-2151061|title=Are you not Devo? You are Mutato|date=December 5, 2007|access-date=August 4, 2015|archive-date=July 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718084756/http://www.laweekly.com/music/are-you-not-devo-you-are-mutato-2151061|url-status=live}}
File:Devo two.jpg, in Melbourne, Australia, 2008: Gerald Casale and Mothersbaugh]]In 2006, Devo worked with Disney on the Devo 2.0 project: a band of child performers was assembled to re-record Devo songs. The Akron Beacon Journal wrote, "Devo recently finished a new project in cahoots with Disney called Devo 2.0, which features the band playing old songs and two new ones with vocals provided by children. Their debut studio album, a two disc CD/DVD combo entitled DEV2.0, was released on March 14, 2006. The lyrics of some of the songs were changed for family-friendly airplay, which has been claimed by the band to be a play on irony of the messages of their classic hits. Mothersbaugh doesn't rule out the idea of the band gathering in the studio, eventually, to record a new Devo album."{{Cite news |last=Abram |first=Malcolm X |url=http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/living/12412576.htm |title=Still DEVOlutionary |work=Akron Beacon Journal |date=August 18, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051026163419/http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/living/12412576.htm |archive-date=October 26, 2005}} The studio album, Something for Everybody was eventually released in June 2010, preceded by a 12" single of "Fresh"/"What We Do".{{cite web|url=http://s82.photobucket.com/albums/j278/ChadGrisly/?action=view¤t=SOMETHIN.jpg|title=SOMETHIN.jpg|author=ChadGrisly|access-date=April 8, 2016|archive-date=October 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011130326/http://s82.photobucket.com/albums/j278/ChadGrisly/?action=view¤t=SOMETHIN.jpg|url-status=dead}}
Devo was awarded the first Moog Innovator Award on October 29, 2010, during Moogfest 2010 in Asheville, North Carolina. The award aims to celebrate "pioneering artists whose genre-defying work exemplifies the bold, innovative spirit of Bob Moog".{{cite web|url=http://moogfest.com/2010/news/moogfest-2010-announces-devo-as-recipient-of-moog-innovation-award |title=MoogFest 2010 Announces Devo as Recipient of Moog Innovation Award |publisher=Moogfest |date=September 8, 2010 |access-date=August 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112154806/http://moogfest.com/2010/news/moogfest-2010-announces-devo-as-recipient-of-moog-innovation-award |archive-date=November 12, 2011}} Devo was scheduled to perform at Moogfest, but canceled three days beforehand after Mark's brother Bob Mothersbaugh (lead guitar) injured his hand. He and Gerald Casale collaborated with Austin, Texas, band the Octopus Project to perform "Girl U Want" and "Beautiful World" at the event instead.{{cite news |last=Pareles |first=Jon |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/02/arts/music/02moog.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1 |title=Honoring the Moment When Music Met Moog |work=The New York Times |date=November 1, 2010 |access-date=August 19, 2011 |archive-date=May 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514125327/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/02/arts/music/02moog.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1 |url-status=live }}
= Other work =
In 1989, Mothersbaugh and other members of Devo were involved in the project Visiting Kids, releasing a self-titled extended play (EP) on the New Rose label in 1990.{{citation|url=http://dangerousminds.net/comments/the_spawn_of_devo_the_visiting_kids|title=The Spawn of Devo: Visiting Kids|date=April 26, 2012|access-date=August 13, 2015|archive-date=September 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905213200/http://dangerousminds.net/comments/the_spawn_of_devo_the_visiting_kids|url-status=live}} The group featured his then-wife Nancye Ferguson, as well as David Kendrick, Bob Mothersbaugh, and Bob's daughter Alex Mothersbaugh. Mothersbaugh co-wrote some of the songs, and produced the album with Bob Casale. A promotional video was filmed for the song "Trilobites". Visiting Kids appeared on the soundtrack to the film Rockula, as well as on the Late Show with David Letterman.
File:SXSW 2016 - Mark Mothersbaugh (25244634443).jpg during SXSW 2016]]
Since Devo, Mothersbaugh has developed a successful career writing musical scores for film and television. In film, he has worked frequently with filmmaker Wes Anderson, scoring four of his feature films: Bottle Rocket (1996), Rushmore (1998), The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004).{{cite web |title=Mark Mothersbaugh |publisher=IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006205/ |access-date=July 17, 2007 |archive-date=July 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705033316/http://imdb.com/name/nm0006205/ |url-status=live }} He composed for The Lego Movie (2014){{cite news |last1=Welsh |first1=Jonathan |title=How Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh Helped Put 'The Lego Movie' on Top |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-SEB-79726 |access-date=March 17, 2021 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=February 10, 2014 |archive-date=October 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010082136/https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-SEB-79726 |url-status=live }} and Thor: Ragnarok (2017).{{cite magazine |last1=Ostrowski |first1=Mettie |title=Mark Mothersbaugh talks scoring 'Thor: Ragnarok' and not sounding 'like wallpaper' |url=https://ew.com/movies/2017/11/30/mark-mothersbaugh-thor-ragnarok-interview/ |access-date=March 17, 2021 |magazine= Entertainment Weekly |date=November 30, 2017 |language=en |archive-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413163708/https://ew.com/movies/2017/11/30/mark-mothersbaugh-thor-ragnarok-interview/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Couch |first1=Aaron |title='Thor' Composer Knew Marvel Scores Sounded Similar, So He Decided to Change That |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/thor-ragnarok-composer-acknowledges-marvel-scores-sound-same-1054503 |access-date=March 17, 2021 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=November 3, 2017 |language=en |archive-date=November 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104004126/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/thor-ragnarok-composer-acknowledges-marvel-scores-sound-same-1054503 |url-status=live }}
His music has been a staple of the children's television shows Rugrats, Beakman's World, Santo Bugito and Clifford the Big Red Dog. He wrote the new theme song for the original Felix the Cat show when it was sold to Broadway Video, some music for Pee-wee's Playhouse in 1986–1990 and the theme song for the Super Mario World TV series for DIC Entertainment in 1991.{{cite news |last1=Barrett |first1=Dan |title=Where is Super Mario? Not on my TV screen |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/guide/article/2016/12/14/where-super-mario-not-my-tv-screen |access-date=March 17, 2021 |work=SBS |date=December 15, 2016 |language=en |archive-date=July 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724103026/https://www.sbs.com.au/guide/article/2016/12/14/where-super-mario-not-my-tv-screen |url-status=live }} The character design for Chuckie on Rugrats was loosely based on him.{{cite news |last1=Klickstein |first1=Mathew |title=Mark Mothersbaugh on Rugrats |url=https://www.vulture.com/2012/03/mark-mothersbaugh-on-rugrats.html |access-date=March 17, 2021 |work=Vulture |date=March 5, 2012 |language=en-us |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112032704/http://www.vulture.com/2012/03/mark-mothersbaugh-on-rugrats.html |url-status=live }} Along with Bob Casale, he produced Heroes & Villains (2000), a soundtrack album with music inspired by The Powerpuff Girls.{{Cite magazine|title=Power Chords|date=January 20, 2001|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A69551973/BIC?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=3765ee75|last=Callaghan|first=Dylan|page=8|volume=336|issue=31|access-date=October 9, 2022}} Mothersbaugh originally sought out to be the show's main composer, but his demo was rejected by creator Craig McCracken, who despite being a Devo fan, had concerns about his cartoon being pushed aside if a big feature film came to Mothersbaugh's production company.
Mothersbaugh produces music for video games, including Sony's Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter series (both music scores were created by Josh Mancell), and for EA Games' The Sims 2 (2004). This work is often performed with Mutato Muzika, the music production company he formed with several other former members of Devo including his brother, Bob Mothersbaugh. Mothersbaugh composed the original score for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (2021).{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/22403568/ratchet-clank-rift-apart-female-lombax-name-release-date-ps5|title=Ratchet & Clank's new Lombax hero is Rivet, see her in action|last=McWhertor|first=Michael|work=Polygon|date=April 26, 2021|access-date=April 26, 2021|archive-date=April 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426135744/https://www.polygon.com/22403568/ratchet-clank-rift-apart-female-lombax-name-release-date-ps5|url-status=live}}
File:Mark Mothersbaugh at the Sundance Film Festival 2024-5739.jpg, at the premiere of the film Devo.]]
Mothersbaugh composed:
- "Having Trouble Sneezing", the distinctive music in the award-winning "Get a Mac" commercials for Apple Inc.{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Randall |title=Are You Not Devo? You Are Mutato |work=LA Weekly |date=December 7, 2007 |url=http://www.laweekly.com/2007-12-06/music/are-you-not-devo-you-are-mutato/ |access-date=October 31, 2008 |archive-date=December 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207201938/http://www.laweekly.com/2007-12-06/music/are-you-not-devo-you-are-mutato/ |url-status=dead }}
- The score for the first season of the television series Big Love, though he was replaced after one season by David Byrne of Talking Heads.
- The theme music for the American television show Eureka, broadcast on the Syfy channel.
- The score of the Cartoon Network's TV series Regular Show.
- The score for HBO's Close Enough alongside John Enroth and Albert Fox.
- The score for HBO's Our Flag Means Death.
In 2013, Mothersbaugh appeared on an episode of The Aquabats! Super Show!, an action-comedy series by the creators of Yo Gabba Gabba! starring the Devo-influenced band the Aquabats, playing the eccentric scientist father of one of the main characters, Jimmy the Robot.{{cite web |url=http://geek-news.mtv.com/2013/06/14/mark-mothersbaugh-aquabats-super-show/ |title=Mark Mothersbaugh joins 'The Aquabats! Super Show!' |date=June 14, 2013 |author=Sagers, Aaron |publisher=MTV Geek |access-date=June 15, 2013 |archive-date=June 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618085339/http://geek-news.mtv.com/2013/06/14/mark-mothersbaugh-aquabats-super-show |url-status=dead }} He also guest-appeared on the Futurama episode, The Mutants Are Revolting.
Mothersbaugh and Casale have produced music for other artists, including Toni Basil.{{citation |url=http://www.45cat.com/45_list_view_record.php?li=2149 |title=Devo-related 45s |access-date=August 4, 2015 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304131814/http://www.45cat.com/45_list_view_record.php?li=2149 |url-status=live }}
= Visual art and exhibitions =
Mothersbaugh has also been successful as a visual artist. In November 2014, Mothersbaugh said, "I've done over 150 art gallery shows in the last 20 years."{{cite news |last=Hesse |first=Josiah |title=Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh Still Loves Fucking with People |work=LA Weekly |date=November 8, 2014 |url=https://www.vice.com/read/carving-rubies-into-poo-the-mark-mothersbaugh-art-retrospective-456?utm |access-date=November 8, 2014 |archive-date=November 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108083252/http://www.vice.com/read/carving-rubies-into-poo-the-mark-mothersbaugh-art-retrospective-456?utm |url-status=live }}
On February 6, 2014, the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver (MCA Denver) announced a retrospective exhibition to bring together the first comprehensive presentation of Mothersbaugh's art and music. This nationally touring exhibition was accompanied by a publication, Mark Mothersbaugh: Myopia, published by Princeton Architectural Press.{{citation |url=http://mcadenver.org/myopia.php |title=Mark Mothersbaugh Myopia |access-date=August 4, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707061003/http://mcadenver.org/myopia.php |archive-date=July 7, 2015 }} 50 selections of postcard art from Myopia were published as a postcard book titled Mark Mothersbaugh: Collected Facts & Lies in 2015.
As a prelude to the Myopia exhibit opening in Cincinnati, Ohio, Mothersbaugh held a concert gathering which included Devo songs and movie scores played in a classical style, an address to the audience with anecdotes, and musical pieces he specifically composed for a six-keyboard hybrid originally used for teaching lessons, that was refurbished by his brother Bob and contained a counter in the center for keeping time. The instrument was played by six people simultaneously.{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/5-10-15-20/devo-mark-mothersbaugh-music-that-made-him-interview/ |title=Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh on the Music That Made Him |work=Pitchfork |last=Minsker |first=Evan |date=May 18, 2020 |access-date=April 1, 2023 |archive-date=April 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401023122/https://pitchfork.com/features/5-10-15-20/devo-mark-mothersbaugh-music-that-made-him-interview/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.citybeat.com/news/music-mark-mothersbaugh-12218985 |title=Music: Mark Mothersbaugh |last=Rosen |first=Steven |work=Cincinnati CityBeat |date=August 26, 2015 |access-date=April 1, 2023 |archive-date=April 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402005148/https://www.citybeat.com/news/music-mark-mothersbaugh-12218985 |url-status=live }}
Mothersbaugh hosted a drawing segment on the Nick Jr. Channel television series Yo Gabba Gabba! called Mark's Magic Pictures, teaching children how to draw simple pictures. The pictures often come alive at the end of the segment through animation.{{citation |url=http://decider.com/2014/11/14/stream-baby-stream-drawing-lessons |title=Stream Baby Stream: Where Can My Kid Learn to Draw? |author=Matheson, Whitney |date=November 14, 2014 |access-date=August 4, 2015 |archive-date=August 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805064238/http://decider.com/2014/11/14/stream-baby-stream-drawing-lessons/ |url-status=live }}
Personal life
File:Sundance Film Festival 2024 - DEVO - Anita Greenspan-104A2736.jpg
At the age of seven, Mothersbaugh began wearing glasses to correct his severe myopia and astigmatism. Over the years, he took an interest in designing his own distinctive eyewear for use in Devo shows. He favored a set of stainless steel frames for regular use made by a Los Angeles shop called LA Eyeworks and says he purchased as many pairs as he could find because they tended to break or get stolen by fans.{{cite web |url=http://www.esquire.com/blogs/mens-fashion/eye-glasses-of-the-day-061110 |date=June 11, 2010 |author=Peskowitz, Josh |title=Eye Glasses of the Day: Mark Mothersbaugh's |access-date=June 20, 2010 |work=Esquire |archive-date=June 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615020041/http://www.esquire.com/blogs/mens-fashion/eye-glasses-of-the-day-061110 |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2014/10/02/mark-mothersbaugh-devo-eyewear |date=October 2, 2014 |author=Raymer, Miles |title=Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh on his new eyewear line, revisiting old work |access-date=September 7, 2015 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}} In a joint venture with eyewear manufacturer Shane Baum, Mothersbaugh has designed his own branded frames for sale, made of beryllium with a stainless steel chrome finish, in three different styles as of 2015. The Baumvision press release states that the unisex model "Francesca" is named for one of Mothersbaugh's pug dogs which is a simultaneous hermaphrodite that is also called Frank.{{cite web |url=http://baumvision.com/downloads/mm_pressrelease.pdf |title=Mothersbaugh Eyewear |access-date=September 7, 2015 |archive-date=May 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510111645/http://baumvision.com/downloads/mm_pressrelease.pdf |url-status=live }}
In a 2016 interview, Mothersbaugh mentioned having attention deficit disorder (ADD).{{cite web |last1=Litt |first1=Steven |title=Q&A with Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh, whose "Myopia" show opens soon at two NEO museums (photos) |url=https://www.cleveland.com/arts/2016/05/qa_with_devo_co-founder.html |website=Cleveland |access-date=February 3, 2024 |date=May 13, 2016 |quote="I figured out a way to harness my ADD [attention deficit disorder] to my benefit," he said in a recent telephone interview. "I'm moving back and forth between visual and sonic projects all day."}}
He has been married twice. His first wife was actress Nancye Ferguson, who can be seen briefly performing with him in the 1999 superhero comedy film Mystery Men. His current wife is Anita Greenspan, who runs the film music managing company Greenspan Kohan Management with Neil Kohan. The couple has two daughters from China, adopted after Greenspan learned of the practice in that country of female children being abandoned because of their gender.
Mothersbaugh is a collector and connoisseur of song poems[http://www.nerdist.c:om/2011/10/nerdist-podcast-130-penn-teller/ NERDIST Podcast Episode 130]{{Dead link|date=May 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}: Penn & Teller; Penn discusses his involvement along with Mark & Tom Ardolino of NRBQ with collecting song poems (starting at 08:17 in the podcast).{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and unusual or vintage musical devices. He is the owner of Raymond Scott's Electronium (although it is currently not functional).Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/OOO-HPHQUKg Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20141201141216/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOO-HPHQUKg Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOO-HPHQUKg |title=Mutato Muzika: Diamonds in the Basement |medium=video |publisher=Gearwire |date=April 3, 2008 |access-date=September 30, 2015}}{{cbignore}}
Mothersbaugh contracted COVID-19 in May 2020, and was placed on a ventilator in an intensive care unit at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for 18 days. In August 2020, Mothersbaugh recounted that he "nearly died" of the disease, and was in a delusional state while infected; he came to believe that he had been hospitalized after being hit by a brick in Little Tokyo, and repeatedly urged his family members to search for his attackers.{{cite magazine |last1=Greene |first1=Andy |title=Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh Says He Nearly Died From Covid-19 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/devos-mark-mothersbaugh-says-he-nearly-died-from-covid-19-1053433/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=August 31, 2020 |access-date=September 1, 2020}} He described having lasting neuropathic pain as a result of the illness.{{cite web |last1=Roberts |first1=Randall |title=Mark Mothersbaugh nearly died from COVID-19. FaceTiming with his family kept him alive |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-08-31/mark-mothersbaugh-devo-covid-19-coronavirus |website=Los Angeles Times |date=August 31, 2020 |access-date=September 1, 2020 |archive-date=September 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901012837/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-08-31/mark-mothersbaugh-devo-covid-19-coronavirus |url-status=live }} He also lost most of his vision in his right eye during the first few days in the ICU while intubated. The condition was determined not to have been caused by COVID and cannot be repaired. He says the eye's vision is now permanently blurred like what he saw as a child, and calls himself a "cyclops".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/derekscancarelli/2024/06/10/mark-mothersbaughs-all-seeing-eye-devo-singer-on-vision-loss-and-visual-art-book/ |title=Mark Mothersbaugh's All-Seeing Eye: Devo Singer On Vision Loss And Visual Art Book |last=Scancarelli |first=Derek |magazine=Forbes |date=June 10, 2024 |accessdate=March 25, 2025}}
Mothersbaugh was once a member of the parody religion the Church of the SubGenius.{{Cite web|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/the-church-of-the-subgenius-finally-plays-it-straight/|title=The Church of the SubGenius Finally Plays It Straight|date=November 2, 2017|website=Texas Monthly|access-date=January 19, 2021|archive-date=January 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128221622/https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/the-church-of-the-subgenius-finally-plays-it-straight/|url-status=live}}
Honors and awards
Mothersbaugh was honored with the Richard Kirk Award at the 2004 BMI Film and TV Awards. The award is given annually to a composer of film and television music.
On May 10, 2008, Mothersbaugh was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Kent State University.{{cite web |work=Forbes |title=America's Best Colleges 2010 |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/94/best-colleges-10_Kent-State-University_94212.html |access-date=September 9, 2015 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105512/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/94/best-colleges-10_Kent-State-University_94212.html |url-status=live }}
On May 28, 2016, Mothersbaugh was awarded the key to the city of Akron during a ceremony at the Akron-Summit County Public Library.{{cite news |last=Garrett |first=Amanda |url=http://www.ohio.com/news/local/mark-mothersbaugh-gets-key-to-city-unlocks-creative-door-for-his-hometown-akron-to-see-his-world-1.686473 |title=Mark Mothersbaugh gets key to city, unlocks creative door for his hometown, Akron, to see his world |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |date=May 28, 2016 |access-date=July 23, 2016 |archive-date=August 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805045254/http://www.ohio.com/news/local/mark-mothersbaugh-gets-key-to-city-unlocks-creative-door-for-his-hometown-akron-to-see-his-world-1.686473 |url-status=live }}
Filmography
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
- Human Highway (1982)
- NBC station identifications (1990){{cite web |url=http://www.klaskycsupo.com/press/animationmagazine.html |title=Klasky-Csupo, Famed Animators Team for NBC |work=Animation Magazine |date=Fall 1990 |access-date=August 4, 2015 |archive-date=June 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602094021/http://www.klaskycsupo.com/press/animationmagazine.html |url-status=live }}
- Felix the Cat (1990) (TV, digitally remastered footage version of the original series) (theme)
- Super Mario World (1991) (TV) (theme)
- Liquid Television (1991) (TV)
- Davis Rules (1991) (TV)
- Sewer Shark (1992) (VG)
- Great Scott! (1992) (TV)
- Frosty Returns (1992) (TV)
- Mann & Machine (1992) (TV)
- Beakman's World (1992) (TV) (theme)
- Brain Donors (1992) (opening and end credits)
- Bakersfield P.D. (1993) (TV)
- South Beach (1993) (TV)
- Street Match (1993) (TV)
- Down on the Waterfront (1993)
- Hotel Malibu (1994) TV Series
- Edith Ann: A Few Pieces of the Puzzle (1994) (TV)
- Santo Bugito (1995) (TV) (as Mark "Mothersbug")
- Too Something (1995) (TV)
- If Not for You (1995) (TV)
- Strange Luck (1995) (TV)
- Sliders (1995) (TV)
- The Courtyard (1995) (TV)
- The Last Supper (1995) (musical score)
- Flesh Suitcase (1995)
- The Big Squeeze (1996)
- Class Reunion (1996) (TV)
- Quicksilver Highway (1997) (TV)
- Fired Up (1997) (TV)
- Men (1997)
- Unwed Father (1997) (TV)
- Working (1997) (TV) (theme)
- Last Rites (1998) (TV)
- The Mr. Potato Head Show (1998) (TV)
- The Simple Life (TV)
- Stories from My Childhood (1998) (TV)
- Interstate '82 (1999) (VG)
- Rocket Power (1999) (TV) (theme music)
- The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald: The Visitors from Outer Space (1999) (V)
- Sammy (2000) (TV)
- Tucker (2000) (TV)
- The Other Me (2000) (TV)
- All Growed Up (2001) (TV)
- Rugrats: Still Babies After All These Years (2001) (TV)
- Second String (2002) (TV)
- Cheats (2002)
- MDs (2002) (TV)
- Hidden Hills (2002) (TV)
- The Groovenians (2002) (TV)
- A Guy Thing (2003)
- The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
- The Big House (2004) (TV)
- Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy (2004) (V)
- The Sims 2 (and Expansion Packs) (2004–2008) (VG)
- The Complete Truth About De-Evolution (2004) (V)
- Music for Edward Gorey (2005)
- Get a Mac (2006–2009)
- Feed Me (2006)
- Eureka (2006) (TV) (Theme)
- Boom Blox (2008) (VG)
- Cars Toons (2008–2014)
- Boom Blox Bash Party (2009) (VG)
- Skate 3 (2010) (VG)
- Catfish (2010)
- Hawaiian Vacation (2011)
- Shameless (2011) (TV)
- Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
- Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018)
- The Croods: A New Age (2020)
- The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)
- Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (2022)
- How We Roll (2022)
- Cocaine Bear (2023)
- A Minecraft Movie (2025)
{{div col end}}
= Television =
= Film =
== 1980s ==
class="wikitable sortable" width=100% |
Year
! Title ! Director(s) ! Studio(s) ! Notes |
---|
1987
| Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise | Joe Roth | 20th Century Fox | {{N/A}} |
1988
| Taurus Entertainment Company | {{N/A}} |
== 1990s ==
class="wikitable sortable" width=100% |
Year
! Title ! Director(s) ! Studio(s) ! Notes |
---|
1992
| Evert Brown | CBS Productions | Animated television special |
rowspan="2" | 1994
| It's Pat | {{N/A}} |
The New Age
| Warner Bros. | {{N/A}} |
rowspan="2"| 1995
| Allison Anders | Music producer |
The Last Supper
| {{N/A}} |
rowspan="2" | 1996
| Universal Pictures | {{N/A}} |
Bottle Rocket
| Columbia Pictures | {{N/A}} |
rowspan="2" | 1997
| Best Men | {{N/A}} |
Breaking Up
| Warner Bros. | {{N/A}} |
rowspan="6" | 1998
| Walt Disney Television | Television film |
Bongwater
| Richard Sears | First Look Studios | with Josh Mancell |
Dead Man on Campus
| Alan Cohn | Paramount Pictures | {{N/A}} |
Rushmore
| Touchstone Pictures | {{N/A}} |
Halloweentown
| Disney Channel | Television film |
The Rugrats Movie
| Norton Virgien | Paramount Pictures | First score for an animated film |
rowspan="4" | 1999
| Risa Bramon Garcia | Paramount Pictures | with Bob Mothersbaugh |
Can of Worms
| Disney Channel | Television film |
It's the Rage
| Silver Nitrate Pictures | {{N/A}} |
Drop Dead Gorgeous
| {{N/A}} |
== 2000s ==
class="wikitable sortable" width=100% |
Year
! Title ! Director(s) ! Studio(s) ! Notes |
---|
rowspan="2" | 2000
| The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle | Universal Pictures | {{N/A}} |
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie
| Stig Bergqvist | Paramount Pictures | {{N/A}} |
rowspan="5" | 2001
| Glass, Necktie | E.I. Independent Cinema | {{N/A}} |
Camouflage
| Sunland Studios | Direct-to-video film |
Sugar & Spice
| {{N/A}} |
Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge
| Television film |
The Royal Tenenbaums
| Touchstone Pictures | {{N/A}} |
rowspan="2" | 2002
| {{N/A}} |
Welcome to Collinwood
| Warner Bros. | {{N/A}} |
rowspan="5" | 2003
| Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | {{N/A}} |
Thirteen
| {{N/A}} |
The Even Stevens Movie
| Television film |
Rugrats Go Wild
| Norton Virgien | Paramount Pictures | {{N/A}} |
Good Boy!
| {{N/A}} |
rowspan="3" | 2004
| Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen | {{N/A}} |
Envy
| DreamWorks Pictures | {{N/A}} |
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
| Touchstone Pictures | {{N/A}} |
rowspan="4" | 2005
| Columbia Pictures | {{N/A}} |
Herbie: Fully Loaded
| Walt Disney Pictures | {{N/A}} |
The Big White
| Ascendant Pictures | {{N/A}} |
The Ringer
| Barry W. Blaustein | Fox Searchlight Pictures | {{N/A}} |
rowspan="2" | 2006
| with Bob Mothersbaugh |
The Dog Problem
| {{N/A}} |
2007
| Tim Hamilton | {{N/A}} |
rowspan="2" | 2008
| Carlos Brooks | Magnolia Pictures | {{N/A}} |
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
| Columbia Pictures | {{N/A}} |
rowspan="4" | 2009
| Fanboys | The Weinstein Company | {{N/A}} |
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
| Columbia Pictures | {{N/A}} |
Falling Up
| {{N/A}} |
Circle of Eight
| Stephen Cragg | Paramount Home Entertainment | Direct-to-video film |
== 2010s ==
== 2020s ==
= Video games =
class="wikitable" |
Year
! Title ! Role |
---|
1996
| rowspan=3| Music producer |
1997 |
rowspan=2| 1998 |
|Rugrats: Search for Reptar
| Composer |
rowspan=3| 1999
| rowspan=2| Music producer |
Interstate '82 |
Rugrats: Studio Tour
| Composer |
2001
| Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy | rowspan=3| Music producer |
2003
| Jak II |
rowspan=2| 2004
| Jak 3 |
| The Sims 2{{cite magazine |title=Mothersbaugh Scores Again With 'Sims 2' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/mothersbaugh-scores-again-with-sims-2-66788/ |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123102315/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/mothersbaugh-scores-again-with-sims-2-66788/ |archive-date=January 23, 2022 |date=August 23, 2004 |url-status=live}}
| Composer |
rowspan=2| 2007
| rowspan=2| Additional music |
The Simpsons Game |
rowspan=2| 2008
| Composer |
MySims Kingdom
| rowspan=3| Additional music |
rowspan=2| 2009 |
MySims Agents |
2010
| rowspan=3| Composer |
2014 |
2021 |
Bibliography
- My Struggle (as Booji Boy)
- What I Know Volume I
- Beautiful Mutants
- Apotropaic Beatnik Graffiti
Discography
= With Devo =
{{Main|Devo discography}}
= Solo =
Studio albums
- Muzik for Insomniaks (Cassette, 1985)
- Later released on CD as Muzik for Insomniaks, Vol. 1 and Muzik for Insomniaks, Vol. 2 in 1988 by Rykodisc
- Muzik for the Gallery (LP, 1987)
- Joyeux Mutato (CD, 1999, Rhino Handmade limited edition; reissued 2000 by Rhino to regular retail)
- The Most Powerful Healing Muzik in the Entire World (6-CD Set, 2005)
- Mutant Flora (6 × Vinyl, 7" Box Set, 2017)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website|http://www.mutato.com/}}
- Official art and exhibitions [http://markmothersbaughart.com/ website]
- {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4963}}
- {{discogs artist}}
- {{IMDb name|0006205}}
- {{cite web |date=January 3, 2008 |first=Andreas |last=Trolf |title=Mark Mothersbaugh Interview |url=http://www.fecalface.com/SF/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=949&Itemid=92 |work=Fecal Face}}
- {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930201817/http://www.livedaily.com/news/2987.html |date=September 30, 2007 |title=Interview, April 25, 2001 at liveDaily.com }}
- {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021220184757/http://www.liveworld.com/transcripts/Boxtop/8-26-1998.1-1.html |date=December 20, 2002 |title=Extensive interview from 1998 }}
- {{cite web |url=http://archinect.com/features/article/69083 |title=Home Front Invasion Wartime Interview with Mark Mothersbaugh |first=Orhan |last=Ayyüce |work=Archinect |date=December 25, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612021321/http://archinect.com/features/article/69083 |archive-date=June 12, 2011}}
{{Devo}}
{{International Film Music Critics Association Award for Best Original Score for a Video Game or Interactive Media}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mothersbaugh, Mark}}
Category:20th-century American musicians
Category:20th-century American singer-songwriters
Category:21st-century American artists
Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters
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Category:American male film score composers
Category:American male new wave singers
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Category:Enigma Records artists
Category:Hollywood Records artists
Category:Kent State University alumni
Category:Musicians from Akron, Ohio
Category:People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Category:Record producers from Ohio
Category:Singer-songwriters from Ohio
Category:Singers with disabilities