Who: D.O.A.
When:
Sunday, Jan. 27
Where:
Garfinkel’s
Even though
30 years have passed since the inception of hardcore punk legends D.O.A., Joey
"Shithead" Keithley reflects on the fact that the lyrical content of
their music hasn't.
"Things
we covered back then and now are pretty similar," he said. "Time can
change, technology can change for music, but the basic issues haven’t really.
In some cases, they've gotten worse. We talked a lot about furthering the
rights for people back then and that is the same thing we write about
today."
D.O.A. was
the band who popularized or some would argue invented the term hardcore. Their
music has influenced the likes of The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, Rancid
and The Offspring. The Vancouver boys have toured their politically charged
music tackling globalization, environment, racism and censorship all over the
world.
"I
think we've managed to go out and get people to think and stand up for
themselves," he said.
The
highlight of Keithley's 30 years as frontman for D.O.A. has always been, and
will always be, fans coming up to him and telling him that D.O.A. music is made
of the stuff they can live by.
D.O.A. will
celebrate their 30th anniversary in Whistler for Punk Night on Sunday, Jan. 27
at Garfinkel's, with fellow punkers Duvallstar and Loose Tooth.
"We
are older for sure, hopefully a little bit wiser, but still confrontational to
authority," he said.
D.O.A. first
came onto a music scene void of hardcore in the 1970s, at the height of
Saturday Night Fever and roller rinks. The track Disco Sucks became an
underground hit across North America, putting D.O.A. on the music radar with no
record label in sight. Later, the album opened the door to international
acclaim, riots and three generations of fans.
The D.O.A.
machine won't quit. The band even has their own day: former Vancouver mayor
Larry Campbell's declared Dec. 21 to be D.O.A. Day in Vancouver. The band has
turned out more than 20 albums and just as many singles and EPs, as well as
half a dozen videos, a dozen compilation albums and one book, entitled I,
Shithead - A life In Punk on Arsenal Pulp Press. They've toured the world what
must feel like a zillion times over 30 years later and the boys show no signs
of letting up.
The band
recently returned from an Australia tour in October and released a 30th
anniversary DVD called Smash this fall. Keithley also wrote an entirely new
album celebrating the D.O.A. anniversary, set for release this March. The album
will be produced by Bob Rock, who worked with the likes of Metallica and Mötley
Crüe. Working with Rock will be like stepping back in time when Rock produced
the D.O.A. single, The Prisoner/Thirteen on 7-inch on Quintessence records back
in the 1970s.
So what
keeps Canada's legendary punk king keep spreading the punk rock counterculture
around the world?
"In a
sense, what keeps us going is my personal philosophy: be your own boss, think
for yourself and make change," he said.
