Devo Win Special Keyboard as Recipient of Moog Innovation Award

In October, Moog Music will present the deconstructive rock band Devo with the first ever Moog Innovation Award. Not only will Devo receive some obligatory statue or plaque to commemorate their accomplishment, they will also win a one-of-a-kind Moog synthesizer -- details of the unique instrument will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

The ceremony will take place during the three-day MoogFest 2010, which kicks off on Oct. 29 in Asheville, N.C. In addition to the award presentation and a headlining performance by Devo themselves, other performers include MGMT, Massive Attack, Big Boi, Disco Biscuits, Jonsi, Pretty Lights, Four Tet, Caribou, Cee Lo Green and many more.

As most music nerds should be able to recount, Dr. Bob Moog revolutionized electronic music back in the early 1960s when, after selling theremins the previous decade, he began to invent his own electronic music instruments -- synthesizers. In 1967, the Doors became the first band to feature a Moog synth on a rock recording and, from there, its popularity expanded exponentially. Entire genres, such as prog-rock and early industrial, seemed to embrace the unmistakable Moog sound. By now, it's just a part of music's common vocabulary.

"Like Bob Moog, Devo enthusiastically charted their own course and thus dramatically affected pop culture because of it," said Moog Music's Emmy Parker in a statement to the press. "Not to mention the fact that they used Moog instruments to create their inimitable sound." Actually, we're quite sure that last bit has something important to do with it. For more information on MoogFest 2010, visit the official website. Tickets are still available... but the original first-issue energy domes are not. Just in case you were planning on dressing up (the festival falls on Halloween weekend).