Josh Hager Joins Devo: A New Wave Legacy

0:00It's May 3rd, you're listening to entertainment and celebrity news today, AI Powered Pop Culture Updates, I'm Cory with the story. Josh Hager, a 55-year-old guitarist from a rock background, stepped in as Devo's rhythm player after Bob Casseil passed away in 2014. Despite his roots in heavier sounds and bands like the Elevator Drops, Hager's ties to the scene through his brother as Devo's soundman and gigs with. Basist Gerald Casseil made him the perfect fit to keep the new wave legends rolling. Hager respects Casseil's style deeply, calling those precise mechanical riffs tougher than they look, especially with relentless downstrokes on a bar, single fender tone. Playing parts from tracks like their satisfaction cover has sharpened his game, making him tighter and more inventive on stage. And band-made Bob Mothers-Bob backs that up, noting how demanding Casseil's lines are on the hands. Hager admits he still pentes himself during shows, never dreaming he'd land in Devo, blending

1:01his diverse chops with their quirky energy. To honor the tradition, Hager rocks custom axes like a Gibson L6S and a Fender J2V2, the Yellow One loaded with replicas of Casale's Whip. It pickups from a 70s lay-paw custom, with a Netflix-Devo dock sparking fresh buzz, Hager and the crew gear up for the mutape, don't stagnate toward this spring of 2026, hitting the road hard while eyeing some solo side projects down the line.