From the official Devo website:
McDonald’s & American Idol Go Low
By Co-Opting DEVO’s Energy DomeWe recently discovered that DEVO has once again unwittingly intersected with mainstream pop culture.
McDonald’s fast food restaurants are offering a series of American Idol TV show themed toys in their children’s Happy Meals. One of the toys is named "New Wave Nigel", who sports an orange jumpsuit, punk shades, and an unmistakable DEVO Energy Dome. Flipping a switch plays a DEVO-esque song (which sounds a bit like a mutated version of DEVO’s Doctor Detroit.)
Was DEVO ever contacted by McDonald’s, American Idol, or anyone else involved in making and distributing this toy wearing their trademark headgear?
Of course not.Pioneers who got scalped….again.
UPDATE: According to an Australian Associated Press article (brought to our attention via a boingboing post), Devo are now taking legal action against McDonalds.
“We are in the midst of suing them,” [Bass player Gerald] Casale told AAP.
“This New Wave Nigel doll that they’ve created is just a complete Devo rip-off and the red hat is exactly the red hat that I designed, and it’s copyrighted and trademarked.
“They didn’t ask us anything. Plus, we don’t like McDonald’s, and we don’t like American Idol, so we’re doubly offended.”
If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our interesting interview with Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo!