Mark Mothersbaugh

Biography

Mark Mothersbaugh is an American musician and composer who came to attention in the late 1970s as a co-founder of the new wave group Devo, singing lead and playing keyboards. Devo's Whip It reached No. 14 on the US chart in 1980. Born in Akron, Ohio, he studied art at Kent State University, where he met Gerald Casale and Bob Lewis; the three began playing as Devo in 1973, and he served as one of the band's main composers. He set up the production studio Mutato Muzika in 1989. Mothersbaugh wrote music for the cartoon Rugrats and its three films, and scores for Wes Anderson's Bottle Rocket (1996), Rushmore (1998), The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004), plus The Lego Movie (2014) and Thor: Ragnarok (2017). Devo members also turned up in The Spirit of '76 (1990). He won the Richard Kirk Award in 2004 and an honorary doctorate from Kent State in 2008.

76years old

Turns 77 on May 18in 228 days

Born May 18, 1950Akron
Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
Mark Allen Mothersbaugh (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 3
Career span: 29 years1982 to 2011

Every film, newest first

2011The Other F WordIMDb rating 7.2
1990The Spirit of '76IMDb rating 5.8
1982Human HighwayIMDb rating 5.8

Genres

Did you know?!

Early training
While studying art at Kent State University, Mothersbaugh met Gerald Casale and Bob Lewis, who went on to co-found Devo.
Behind the camera
In 1989, Mark Mothersbaugh set up Mutato Muzika, a commercial music production studio. He brought in Ryan Moore and Bob Casale, and Bob Mothersbaugh was also involved.
A role that slipped away
Mothersbaugh wanted to be the main composer for The Powerpuff Girls, but Craig McCracken, the show's creator, turned down his demo. McCracken liked Devo but worried a big film could push his cartoon aside.
A role that slipped away
Mothersbaugh composed the music for season one of Big Love, a television series. David Byrne of Talking Heads then took over the job after that single season.
A first
On October 29, 2010, during Moogfest 2010 in Asheville, North Carolina, Devo received the first Moog Innovator Award. Mark Mothersbaugh was part of Devo.