Story highlights Bob Casale worked on many soundtracks for TV, film, commercials, video games

Bob Casale, 61, was known by Devo fans as "Bob 2"

Gerald Casale says his brother "was there in the trenches with me from the beginning"

Devo drummer Alan Meyers, who was with the group from 1976 to 1986, died last year.

Devo guitarist Bob Casale died Monday, his brother and band mate announced Tuesday. Casale was 61.

He was known by fans as "Bob 2" since he played alongside guitarist Bob Mothersbaugh, the brother of Devo co-founder Mark Mothersbaugh.

"As an original member of Devo, Bob Casale was there in the trenches with me from the beginning," his brother Gerald Casale said in a Facebook posting. "He was my level-headed brother, a solid performer and talented audio engineer, always giving more than he got."

The new-wave band began after Gerald Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh met as art students at Kent State University. The group wrote its first music in May 1970 -- the same month National Guard troops fired on antiwar protesters on the Kent State campus, killing four students.

Devo actively toured in recent years, including a televised performance playing at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.

Photos: Devo style Photos: Devo style Devo style – The band Devo plays in 1981. Although Devo never quite managed to maintain the mainstream success it found with the song "Whip It!" in 1980, its status as an important group hasn't wavered. Take a look back at the styles of the American new wave band. Hide Caption 1 of 10 Photos: Devo style Devo style – Devo, seen here in 1978, had a machine-like persona, using flowerpot hats, industrial jumpsuits and futuristic sounds. Hide Caption 2 of 10 Photos: Devo style Devo style – Devo is seen in London circa 1978. Their debut album "Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!" was an underground hit. Hide Caption 3 of 10 Photos: Devo style Devo style – The band's name was derived from the word "de-evolution" -- the idea that humans are regressing into a destructive herd mentality, band member Gerald Casale told CNN in an interview in February 2010. Hide Caption 4 of 10 Photos: Devo style Devo style – The band poses for a portrait circa 1979. The band started after Gerald Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh met as art students at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. Hide Caption 5 of 10 Photos: Devo style Devo style – The band plays its hit song "Whip It!" in Asbury Park, New Jersey, in July 1980. Hide Caption 6 of 10 Photos: Devo style Devo style – Devo poses for a photo in Chicago in October 1981. Hide Caption 7 of 10 Photos: Devo style Devo style – "When you think about 1980, if somebody would have showed you in a crystal ball 2010, you would have thought it was a bad joke," Gerald Casale told CNN in February 2010. "De-evolution happened and now everybody agrees. They don't think we're crazy. They know that it was true." Hide Caption 8 of 10 Photos: Devo style Devo style – Devo poses together in Los Angeles in March 1983. Hide Caption 9 of 10 Photos: Devo style Devo style – From left, band members Gerald Casale, Bob Mothersbaugh, Mark Mothersbaugh, Bob Casale and David Kendrick appear together at a concert in April 2004. The band actively toured in recent years, including a televised performance playing at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Hide Caption 10 of 10

"He was excited about the possibility of Mark Mothersbaugh allowing Devo to play shows again," Gerald Casale wrote in his brother's death announcement. "His sudden death from conditions that led to heart failure came as a total shock to us all."

Mark Mothersbaugh issued a statement Tuesday saying he was "shocked and saddened" by Casale's death.

"He not only was integral in Devo's sound, he worked over 20 years at Mutato, collaborating with me on 60 or 70 films and television shows, not to mention countless commercials and many video games," said Mothersbaugh. "Bob was instrumental in creating the sound of projects as varied as Rugrats and Wes Anderson's films. He was a great friend. I will miss him greatly."

Mutato is the name of the band's headquarters, a landmark on Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard.

The band's name was derived from the word "de-evolution" -- the idea that humans are regressing into a destructive herd mentality, Gerald Casale told CNN in an interview in February 2010.

"When you think about 1980, if somebody would have showed you in a crystal ball (for) 2010, you would have thought it was a bad joke," Casale said. "De-evolution happened and now everybody agrees. They don't think we're crazy. They know that it was true."

Devo drummer Alan Myers, who was with the group from 1976 to 1986, died last year.