Devo guitarist Bob Casale dead of heart failure at age 61

Mark Mothersbaugh (C), Bob Mothersbaugh (R) and Bob Casale of "Devo" perform at the Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California April 17, 2010. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT PROFILE) - RTR2CYMM

Bob Casale, one of the original members of the new wave group Devo, died suddenly from heart failure, according to a post on the band’s official Twitter account. He was 61.

Devo singer and co-founder Mark Mothersbaugh released the following statement: “We are shocked and saddened by Bob Casale's passing. He not only was integral in DEVO's sound, he worked over twenty years at Mutato, collaborating with me on sixty or seventy films and television shows, not to mention countless commercials and many video games.  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.”

In a Facebook post, his brother and fellow Devo member Gerald Casale described Bob Casale as “my level-headed brother, a solid performer and talented audio engineer, always giving more than he got.”

“He was excited about the possibility of Mark Mothersbaugh allowing Devo to play shows again,” the post continued. “His sudden death from conditions that lead to heart failure came as a total shock to us all.”

Devo was formed in 1972, and the band is best known for their mega hit “Whip It.” Casale is described as being with the band “from the beginning.”