The story of the first Back to the Future references pop culture moments from the past throughout all three movies, in the form of music, objects in the background, and comments from Marty.

Many of the references in Back to the Future are still recognizable (and hilarious) today, like when Marty scares the younger version of his father, describing himself as "Darth Vader from the planet Vulcan" in a Star Wars/Star Trek mashup. However, some of the more outdated references in Back to the Future will now be missed entirely by 99% of people watching. One of these is a question that Marty begins to ask Doc Brown when he first tests the DeLorean: "Is that a Devo suit?" Doc cuts him off, and the question is never answered.

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Doc Brown cuts off the end of the question, telling Marty, "Never mind that now." Devo is an American new-wave band that was popular throughout the 1980s, after the success of their song "Whip It." Devo's outfits were usually inspired by science-fiction, the band's music was experimental for the time, and even its name is a play on the idea of "de-evolution," as the band felt that society was de-evolving. Devo often wore brightly colored hazmat suits onstage, and as Doc Brown is wearing a hazmat suit while testing the DeLorean, Marty's question references the band.

Music is a central theme throughout Back to the Future, and though Devo does not appear in the movie franchise, other musicians have made cameo appearances. Singer Huey Lewis, from the 1980s rock band Huey Lewis and the News wrote Back to the Future's theme song, and Huey Lewis appeared in a cameo as a loud-music-hating talent show judge. Eddie Van Halen is referenced when Marty plays his father a tape labeled "Edward Van Halen." Even bearded rockers ZZ Top appear as a country and western band in Back to the Future III.

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Devo, while extremely well-known throughout the 1980s and into the 90s, is no longer as popular in mainstream pop culture as ZZ Top or Van Halen. Fewer people know what Devo is, and even fewer know what the band wore, so the reference would likely be lost on generations who didn't grow up with Back to the Future. However, Marty is a musician, and it makes sense that he references bands that were popular in the era, even if he isn't a fan of Devo himself. This is possible as the movie makes it very clear that Marty prefers rock music, as Marty copies several well-known guitarists in Back to the Future's dance scene.