Doa

D.O.A. originated in early 1978 in Vancouver, British Columbia, formed by Joey “Shithead” Keithley on guitar, Chuck Biscuits on drums, and Randy Rampage on bass. After Harry Homo, the initial lead singer, was dismissed, Keithley assumed vocal duties. The band’s debut performance was on February 20, 1978, at the Japanese Hall in Vancouver. That same year, they released their first four-song EP, “Disco Sucks,” which gained international attention by topping the charts on the University of San Francisco radio station KUSF. This early success led to their first tour of San Francisco in August 1978, where they met Jello Biafra, a future collaborator.

The band’s second album, “Hardcore ’81,” released on April 22, 1981, along with its promotional tour, is widely recognized for popularizing the term “hardcore punk.” D.O.A. consistently maintained a strong political stance, articulated through their slogan, “Talk Minus Action Equals Zero.” They utilized their platform to support various social and environmental causes, including benefits for Rape Relief, anti-racism initiatives, anti-globalization efforts, OXFAM, First Nations rights, and anti-censorship campaigns. In 1990, D.O.A. collaborated with Jello Biafra on the album “Last Scream of the Missing Neighbors.” The band has experienced numerous lineup changes throughout its history, with Joey Keithley remaining the sole continuous member and primary songwriter. In 2003, Mayor Larry Campbell of Vancouver officially declared December 21st as “D.O.A. Day” in recognition of the band’s 25th anniversary.

After a brief hiatus in 2013, D.O.A. reformed in 2014 with a new lineup including Mike Hodsall on bass and Paddy Duddy on drums, continuing to release new material and tour. Their discography includes albums such as “Something Better Change” (1980), “Let’s Wreck the Party” (1985), “Murder” (1990), “The Black Spot” (1995), “Win the Battle” (2002), “Northern Avenger” (2008), “Talk-Action=0” (2010), “Hard Rain Falling” (2015), “Fight Back” (2018), and “Treason” (2020), demonstrating their sustained output and commitment. Joe Keithley, a founder of Sudden Death Records, has also published his autobiography, “I Shithead, a life in punk,” in 2003, detailing the band’s history and its influence on counterculture.