The band delivered a politically charged finale, pairing the song with imagery of a tattered American flag and a sardonic national anthem.
DEVO concluded their Coachella 2026 performance with a deliberate take on their 1980 single “Freedom of Choice.” The closing segment framed the song as a direct commentary, moving beyond nostalgic revival.
Their set’s finale began with the crowd clapping to a foreboding rhythm as a warped recording of “The Star-Spangled Banner” played. As the band launched into the song’s signature riff, a video projection showed a tattered American flag behind them.
After the final notes, founding member Gerald Casale offered a brief, pointed epilogue. “Freedom of choice, use it or lose it,” he told the audience. “It’s going fast.” The moment solidified the performance as a specific cultural statement, not just a festival replay.
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