Mark Mothersbaugh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mark Mothersbaugh
Mothersbaugh at the premiere of the documentary film Devo at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival
Born	Mark Allen Mothersbaugh (1950-05-18) May 18, 1950 (age 75) Akron, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation	Singer songwriter composer multi-instrumentalist record producer visual artist
Years active	1972–present
Spouse(s)	Nancye Ferguson (divorced) Anita Greenspan
Children	2
Relatives	Bob Mothersbaugh (brother) Jim Mothersbaugh (brother) Silas Hite (nephew)
Musical career
Genres	New wave synth-pop electronic rock punk rock post-punk synth-punk art punk film score
Instruments	Vocals keyboards synthesizer guitar
Labels	Tra Project Rykodisc Enigma
Signature

Mark Allen Mothersbaugh, born on May 18, 1950, is an American musician and composer. He became famous in the late 1970s. He was a co-founder, lead singer, and keyboard player for the new wave band Devo. Their song "Whip It" was a top 20 hit in the US in 1980. It reached number 14 and still has many fans today. Mark Mothersbaugh was one of the main people who wrote Devo's music.

Besides his work with Devo, Mothersbaugh has created music for TV shows, movies, and video games. He does this through his company, Mutato Muzika. He wrote the music for the animated series Rugrats for 13 years. He also scored its three related movies. He has composed film music for director Wes Anderson and for Marvel Comics films. As a solo artist, Mothersbaugh has released four studio albums. These include Muzik for Insomniaks and Joyeux Mutato.

In 2004, he won the Richard Kirk award for his work in film and TV music. In 2008, he received an honorary doctorate from Kent State University. This was his college.

Early Life and Family

Mark Allen Mothersbaugh was born on May 18, 1950, in Akron, Ohio. His parents were Mary Margaret and Robert Mothersbaugh Sr. He grew up with two younger brothers, Bob and Jim. Both of his brothers are also musicians. He also has two sisters, Amy and Susan. Mark graduated from Woodridge High School in Peninsula, Ohio.

His father, Robert Mothersbaugh Sr., appeared in early Devo films. He also attended fan events as the character General Boy. His brothers were part of the band too. Jim's time with the band was short. He only appeared on some early music recordings.

Music Career Highlights

Forming the Band Devo

Mark Mothersbaugh performing live with Devo at the Festival Internacional de Benicàssim, 2007

Mothersbaugh studied art at Kent State University. There, he met Devo co-founders Gerald Casale and Bob Lewis. In early 1970, Lewis and Casale developed an idea. They called it the "devolution" of the human race. This idea came after Casale's friends were killed. This happened during the Kent State shootings on university grounds.

Mothersbaugh was interested in this idea. He joined them and added his own thoughts. They found an old pamphlet called Jocko-Homo Heavenbound. This became the basis for their song "Jocko Homo". In 1973, the three of them started playing music as Devo.

After their sixth album, Shout, did not sell well, Warner Bros. stopped working with Devo. Soon after, drummer Alan Myers left the band. He felt he was not being creative enough. This caused the band to cancel plans for a Shout video album and a tour.

Devo's Later Years

In 1987, Devo got back together with a new drummer, David Kendrick. He used to be in the band Sparks. Their first project was music for the horror film Slaughterhouse Rock. They then released two studio albums, Total Devo (1988) and Smooth Noodle Maps (1990). These were released on Enigma.

Devo had some disagreements and played only two shows in 1991 before breaking up. Around this time, some Devo members appeared in the film The Spirit of '76 (1990). Bob Mothersbaugh was not in it. In 1989, Mark Mothersbaugh started Mutato Muzika. This is a company that produces music for commercials. He hired Ryan Moore and Bob Casale. Bob Mothersbaugh also worked there.

Devo performing live at Festival Hall, in Melbourne, Australia, 2008: Gerald Casale and Mothersbaugh

In 2006, Devo worked with Disney on a project called Devo 2.0. This project involved a band of child performers. They re-recorded Devo songs. The Akron Beacon Journal reported on it. The children sang the songs, and some lyrics were changed to be more family-friendly. The band said this was a way to show irony in their classic songs. Devo released a new studio album, Something for Everybody, in June 2010.

Devo received the first Moog Innovator Award on October 29, 2010. This award celebrates artists who are pioneers. They canceled their performance at Moogfest because Mark's brother Bob injured his hand. Mark and Gerald Casale performed with another band instead.

Other Music Projects

In 1989, Mothersbaugh and other Devo members worked on a project called Visiting Kids. They released an extended play (EP) in 1990. The group included his wife at the time, Nancye Ferguson. It also featured David Kendrick, Bob Mothersbaugh, and Bob's daughter Alex. Mothersbaugh helped write some songs and produced the album.

Mothersbaugh at the premiere of Pee-wee's Big Holiday during SXSW 2016

Since Devo, Mothersbaugh has become very successful. He writes music for films and television. He has often worked with filmmaker Wes Anderson. He scored four of Anderson's movies. These include Bottle Rocket (1996) and The Royal Tenenbaums (2001). He also composed music for The Lego Movie (2014) and Thor: Ragnarok (2017).

His music is well-known from children's TV shows. These include Rugrats, Beakman's World, and Clifford the Big Red Dog. He wrote the new theme song for the original Felix the Cat show. He also wrote music for Pee-wee's Playhouse and the theme song for Super Mario World. The character Chuckie from Rugrats was partly based on him.

Mothersbaugh also creates music for video games. This includes Sony's Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter series. He also worked on EA Games' The Sims 2 (2004). He composed the music for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (2021).

Mothersbaugh at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, at the premiere of the film Devo.

Mothersbaugh has composed music for many other projects:

• "Having Trouble Sneezing" from the "Get a Mac" commercials for Apple Inc..
• The music for the first season of the TV series Big Love.
• The theme music for the American TV show Eureka.
• The music for the Cartoon Network's TV series Regular Show.
• The music for HBO's Close Enough and Our Flag Means Death.

In 2013, Mothersbaugh appeared on The Aquabats! Super Show!. He played an eccentric scientist. He was the father of one of the main characters, Jimmy the Robot. Mothersbaugh and Casale have also produced music for other artists, like Toni Basil.

Visual Art and Exhibitions

Mothersbaugh is also a successful visual artist. In November 2014, he said he had done over 150 art gallery shows. These shows took place over 20 years.

On February 6, 2014, the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver (MCA Denver) announced a special exhibition. It brought together a large collection of Mothersbaugh's art and music. This exhibition traveled to different cities. A book called Mark Mothersbaugh: Myopia was published with it.

Before the Myopia exhibit opened in Cincinnati, Ohio, Mothersbaugh held a concert. He played Devo songs and movie scores in a classical style. He also shared stories with the audience. He composed special music for a unique six-keyboard instrument. His brother Bob refurbished this instrument. Six people played it at the same time.

Mothersbaugh hosted a drawing segment on the Nick Jr. Channel show Yo Gabba Gabba!. It was called Mark's Magic Pictures. He taught children how to draw simple pictures. The pictures often came to life through animation.

Personal Life

Anita Greenspan at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival

When he was seven, Mothersbaugh started wearing glasses. This was to correct his poor eyesight. Over the years, he enjoyed designing his own unique glasses. He wore these glasses during Devo shows. He liked stainless steel frames from a shop in Los Angeles. He bought many pairs because they often broke or were taken by fans.

He has also designed his own line of glasses frames. These are made of beryllium with a chrome finish. As of 2015, there were three different styles. One style, "Francesca," is named after one of his pug dogs.

Mothersbaugh has been married twice. His first wife was actress Nancye Ferguson. His current wife is Anita Greenspan. She manages film music. They have two daughters from China. They adopted them after learning that female children were sometimes abandoned there.

Mothersbaugh collects unique musical devices. He owns Raymond Scott's Electronium, though it is not currently working.

In May 2020, Mothersbaugh got sick with COVID-19. He was in the hospital for 18 days. He said he "nearly died" and was confused during that time. He believed he had been hit by a brick. He also lost most of his vision in his right eye. This condition cannot be fixed. He says his eye's vision is now blurry, like when he was a child.

Awards and Recognition

Mothersbaugh received the Richard Kirk Award in 2004. This award is given to composers of film and television music.

On May 10, 2008, he received an honorary doctorate from Kent State University.

On May 28, 2016, Mothersbaugh was given the key to the city of Akron. This happened during a ceremony at the Akron-Summit County Public Library.

Film and Television Work

Film Scores

Television Series Music

Video Game Music

Discography

With Devo

Solo Albums

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)

See also

In Spanish: Mark Mothersbaugh para niños