D.O.A is a prominent hardcore band out of Vancouver British Columbia. This band started in 1978, after Kiethley’s original band, The Skulls, broke up. They are considered, along with bands like Black Flag, Bad Brains, and Minor Threat, to be one of the founding bands of hardcore punk(D.O.A. (band)). The original line up consisted of Joey “Shithead” Keithley on guitar and vocals , Charles “Chuck Biscuits” Montgomery on drums, and Randall Archibald or Randy Rampage on bass and vocals. With a later addition of David Gregg in 1980. Their early sound is described as, “basic, raw singalong melodic punk rock, with a lot of similarity to early punk bands like The Sex Pistols and the early albums by The Clash and The Ramones”(D.O.A. (band)). In 1980, along with the addition of a new guitarist they put out their first full length album “Something Better Change” with Can. Friends Records. Which was quickly followed by their album Hardcore 81. With this album the band experienced a change in their sound. Their music in this album is described as “faster, more powerful, and more dynamic.” Everything about this album seemed to lean toward a new kind of punk rock music, and a new wave of thinking within the industry. The album itself was produced in about a week (Keithley, 95), suggesting a sense of urgency in sharing their message.
The album Hardcore 81 is largely credited for being the first actual reference to the second wave of American punk sound, and also the origin of its namesake. Keithley says in his book I, Shithead: A life in punk that “the term ‘hardcore’ seemed to encapsulate the spontaneity, energy, and rebellion of the scene. The ideals we took from this were these… Think for yourself, don’t back down, change your world, and be free” (Keithley, 96). They promoted the name “Hardcore punk” as well as a do-it-yourself attitude.
From 1982 onward the band experienced a number of line up changes, especially in the late 90’s. In 1995 the bands drummer, Ken Jensen, died in a house fire. After the loss of their friend the band found itself experimenting with different drummers and bassists. Keithley remains the only constant throughout. The band was in operation throughout the 90’s putting out the records Murder, The Last Scream of the Missing Neighbours, 13 Flavours of Doom, Loggerheads, The Black Spot, Festival of Atheists, three compilation albums, one live album, and a number of singles, 7”’s, and EP’s. Also, 1998 was the year Keithley’s independent record label became a full time label. Keithley says, “I first started Sudden Death Records in 1978, as a way to put out the first D.O.A. record, the 7″ EP “Disco Sucks”. We knew way back then that nobody was going to come along and hand us a big fat cushy record deal. We knew we would have to fight for everything that we got. So that’s what we did, D.I.Y. Do It Yourself man!” Despite the labels start in 1978 the band often put out records with Can. Friends Records, Alternative Tentacles Records, and a few others. They released the album War on 45, as a collaborative effort with Alternative Tentacles in 1982, but it wasn‘t until later that they actually put out a full album on their own. Sudden Death Records now lists 27 artists in association with the label, including D.O.A. They have only singed less prominent artists, and also do not affiliate themselves with larger conglomerations. Now Keithley spends most of his time playing for D.O.A. and working on Sudden Death Records. He also released a book in 2003 titled I Shithead: A life in punk, which he released with Arsenal Pulp Press, an independent company out of Vancouver. He, and the band continue to live by the motto Talk-Action=0. The band has “played benefits for Rape Relief, anti-racism, rock-for brains, anti-globalization, OXFAM, first nations rights, anti censorship and environmental causes amongst many others”(Sudden Death Records, D.O.A.). They truly embody the spirit of DIY Hardcore punk.
By K. N.
