Bob Casale, founding member of Akron, Ohio band Devo has passed away aged 61.

Casale passed away on Monday as a result of heart failure, confirmed his brother Gerald - also a member of of the band. "As an original member of Devo, Bob Casale was there in the trenches with me from the beginning. He was my level-headed brother, a solid performer, and talented audio engineer, always giving more than he got", Gerald said in a statement.

Devo formed in 1972 and carved out a unique niche for themselves in the pop/rock genre, thanks in large part to their biggest enduring hit 'Whip It'.

Patrick Carney, drummer for the Black Keys and also a native of Akron, Ohio, was among those who paid tribute to the late guitarist on Twitter.