D.O.A.: A Conversation with Joey Shithead

By David J. Klug

With a guy nicknamed “Shithead” one has to wonder just what in the world it’s all about. But what’s revealed here from Mr. Joey “Shithead” Keithley, leader of D.O.A., Canada's most influential punk rock band, is that of a man and a group who know their bounds offstage (make no mistake, I’m referring now to offstage) and take social and political action when necessary. As for Joey, he's humble, funny, sentimental, and a down-home nice guy. Having said that, the band’s still D.O.A. (get it?), and he’s still “Shithead."

D.O.A. is celebrating its 25th Anniversary with a cross-Canadian tour this year, a worldwide tour next year, and the re-release of the classic album Hardcore ’81 and Something Better Change (the band’s first two records and recently selected as two of the top five Canadian punk records of all time). Additionally, Sudden Death Records (Shithead’s self-owned record label) will release the definitive D.O.A. album War and Peace, a 25-track compilation of D.O.A.'s greatest recorded moments. War and Peace starts at the roots of "Disco Sucks," "The Enemy," and "Liar For Hire" and blasts through to their modern blitzkrieg sound of "Dead Men Tell No Tales" and "Just Say No To The WTO." The live shows will comprise a new lineup of Joey, The Great Baldini on drums, and new bassist Damned Dan Yaremko (Econoline Crush, Bif Naked).

This fall, Shithead's first book, I Shithead, will be out on Arsenal Pulp Press. The memoir is a decisive and raunchy look at punk, and D.O.A.'s journey through it. Along with it, Sudden Death Records will release Let's Start The Action, an electronic tribute to D.O.A. performed by 20 different artists from around the world and inspired by the anti-globalization movement. And if that’s not enough, a full-length documentary on D.O.A., Talk-Action=0, is being developed by filmmaker Marcus Rogers (The Widower). And recently, Mayor Larry Campbell declared December 21st to be " D.O.A. Day" in Vancouver!

The man behind it all, Joey “Shithead” Keithley, took time from his busy schedule to chat about D.O.A. old and new, as well as everyone from Black Flag, Iggy, and the Clash to Johnny Cash, Woodie Guthrie, and Willie Nelson!

David J. Klug: So Joey, you're ready to embark on D.O.A.'s 25th anniversary tour! Your label, Sudden Death Records, will release a 2- track compilation of the band's best recorded moments ("War And Peace"). Additionally, you've reissued D.O.A.'s classic record, Hardcore '81, which Jack Rabid gave his #6 pick of his top 40 in a current issue of The Big TakeOver. What's the reception been like over your 25th anniversary among your fans and the press worldwide?

Joey “Shithead” Keithley: So far so good. The way it is now, it seems like we can pretty well go anywhere around the world and get a good audience to play for. I never expected it to last anywhere near this long. In fact, somebody once asked me if it would last 5 years, and I laughed and told him he was fuckin' crazy. We had a real cool thing happen at the start of the anniversary. Last December, the newly elected mayor of Vancouver, in his first act of office declared December 21st to be D.O.A. Day in Vancouver. City councilor Jim Green came to a club where I was doing a solo show and brought out this big scroll from the city about D.O.A. Day. It was very unexpected.

DK: That’s an incredible story! Congrats to you! It’s truly testament to what the band means to Vancouver and Canada. It's a given that D.O.A. remains Canada's most influential punk rock band. Where you born and raised in Vancouver?

JS: Yes, I grew up here and there's a good chance I will live here forever. But you know, I have traveled so much that I never really feel out of sorts about my surroundings.

DK: Growing up, what were you listening to on the radio?

JS: Jesus, that was so long ago! The stuff I liked when I was a teenager was Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath and Alice Cooper on the heavy side but I also liked Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie.

DK: Where you parents involved in music in any way, having been players or having played certain records that later influenced you?

JS: No. When I told my dad I wanted to become a drummer at age 12, he freaked out and told me I would wind up a "hophead" (an old term for a junkie) just like Gene Krupa. Well, not knowing what a hophead was, I didn't care about that, so I saved up my money from my paper route and bought my first drum kit.

DK: How did you get the nickname "Shithead"?

JS: It was our old drummer Dimwit's (R.I.P.) idea. He came up with this name for a punk band. He said, “Why don't we call ourselves Joey Shithead and the Marching Morons?” Well, I grabbed the Shithead handle.

DK: Who are your favorite punk bands in the history of rock?

JS: Black Flag, The Clash, the Sex Pistols, The Stooges, The Ramones, and The Dead Kennedys.

DK: What do you think about the new breed of punk bands, starting with Green Day, The Offspring and others to current day punks like AFI, Me First and the Gimme Gimmies, Lawrence Arms, Rancid and the like, some of whom are chart toppers?

JS: Hey, some of them are real good, and I say good for them that they made it. Playing music for a living is tough. Some of these bands aren't as good as some of the original punk bands, but still a lot better than listening to Bon Jovi and his ilk!

DK: Tell me about any unforgettable experiences that you've had throughout the years, touring or otherwise, with Bad Religion, The Clash, Bad Brains, Germs, The Dictators, The Ramones, Circle Jerks, Black Flag, the Dead Kennedys or others in that vein?

JS: OK. I won't make this too long, but here is a shameless plug…all the gory details are in my upcoming book I, Shithead: A Life In Punk.

The Clash, with Joe Strummer (R.I.P.): We opened for them in 1980 at the Forum in Vancouver. They were real shits to us, so I screamed at them as they were making their way to the stage. Then our manager challenged Mick Jones to a fight in the middle of their set! Our friends then spray-painted their tour bus with "The Clash suck!", “D.O.A. rules!" But hey, no hard feelings. They’re still one of my favorite bands!

Bad Religion: What a great band! One time they came to Vancouver and wanted to play D.O.A. at hockey. We said, “Hey, no problem. The D.O.A. Murder squad is always ready at the drop of a puck!” We beat them by six goals and roughed them up for fun as well!

Bad Brains: Great band, no big story.

Germs: The one great punk band I never saw!

The Dictators: We did a show with Handsome Dick's Wild Kingdom and TSOL. Incredible!

The Ramones were awesome. They gave D.O.A. our first big break in Vancouver. We opened for them in 1979. We opened for them three times in 1983 and one last time in 1996 on their farewell tour.

Circle Jerks: Keith and D.O.A. were grabbed as murder cult suspects at a party in Hollywood around 1982. Somebody had been murdered by this cult in the apartment below us while the party was going on. The LAPD didn't like us but they had their suspect and let us off the hook.

DK: So, you beat a murder rap…lucky you! Great story but it must have been terrifying.

JS: Yes, it was not cool. That was around the time the Quincy show tried to tell everyone how bad punk rock was.

Black Flag: Yeah, huge riot in front of the Whiskey a GO GO in Hollywood at the Black Flag/D.O.A. show. In 1980 the punks kind of started it and the LAPD definitely finished it. A lot punks getting beaten with clubs and flashlights. Also, the Dead Kennedys’ massive riot at the Longshoreman's Hall in Long beach in 1983 – 2500 cops and 300 riot police. Not a pretty sight.

DK: What types of music and what bands do you listen to today?

JS: All sorts of things. My daughter listens to modern punk, my oldest son plays lots of jazz, and I pull out of my favorite Black Sabbath, Neil Young and Willie Nelson CDs.

DK: Willie…you should consider trying to hook up with him. He seems open for anything these days. Can you imagine?

JS: Hey, playing with Willie Nelson would be like a dream come true!

DK: Joe Carducci points out in his book, Rock And The Pop Narcotic, that the situation in the early 1980s with touring, especially by the Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, and D.O.A., was done despite an active disinterest in American rock music (Note: D.O.A. are Canadian). Yet he also credits you three with initiating the new American scene at the time. Carducci also points out the cooperation between you, Black Flag, and the Dead Kennedys when it came to touring; that is, if one band knew of people in a certain city that would put on a gig, that band would turn on the others to them and vice versa. What were those early shows like with attendance? Were you performing for 10 people, a 100, or more? I suspect that regardless the shows were sonic blasts.

JS: Yes, I would say it was D.O.A., Black Flag and the Dead Kennedys (the DK's were bigger so their shows were better attended). It was punk rock pioneering. The three bands played an awful lot of towns where people had never ever seen a punk band before. That is also correct as is was a matter of trading contact's phone numbers and mailing addresses trying set up this fledgling network. The attendance would really vary. I would say from 10 people to 500 at a big show.

DK: Anyone ever punched or kicked you or a bandmate? Have you or any bandmate ever attacked an audience member?

JS: Yeah, a few guys. One guy in Austria caused so much shit that I threw my guitar to the roadie, jumped off stage, put him in a headlock and dragged him to the door and chucked him out. I have certainly traded a few punches with some geeks in the crowd. I'm not a violent fucker, but I don't like taking shit!

DK: What about being spit upon? As you probably know, Joe Strummer contracted Hepatitis as a result of that punk action in the early days of the band.

JS: Well that's what Joe said, but I thought there was another reason... Yeah, I was real glad when gobbing became a passing fad. We used to do it a lot with our friends for fun.

DK: Despite the many changes to the original lineup, the band is very well-traveled. How often do you get overseas and what cities and countries do you like playing best?

JS: We really had a lot of fun in Japan, so we are trying to get back there. New York is great, as are London and Berlin. And I love Italy. We like to do a lot of sight seeing, and I am a real history buff, so I am really drawn to places of historical significance.

DK: It must be a pleasure to at least have some time to sightsee while traveling.

JS: Sightseeing is important…music is not everything in life.

DK: Big in Japan?

JS: Yes. We did well there in 2001. We will get there again sometime in 2004.

DK: Win The Battle is D.O.A.'s 10th studio record and first in four years (Note: Please refer to the comprehensive discography that follows the interview). Where are you touring to support this record?

JS: We did about 110 shows in 2002 to support it, mostly in Canada and Europe.

DK: Win The Battle has a big surprise on it, ZZ Top's "La Grange." You crank off a fantastic rendition. What made you choose this song to cover? And why ZZ Top?

JS: I remember jamming on this at Club Lingerie in Hollywood with Ed Pittman (Toxic Reasons) singing it in about 1982 or 1983. So we resurrected our version of it. It's fun to play and usually drives people nuts.

DK: "Just Say No To The WTO" speeds forth from Win The Battle. Did you participate in the Seattle protests during the 1999 WTO Ministerial?

JS: I couldn't get down there that day (I was child-minding my youngest), but I played a big rally that night for a lot of the people from Vancouver that had bussed down there that day and came back that night. Like the song says, "We don't need free trade, we need fair trade."

DK: What do you think separates D.O.A. from bands you started out playing with who continue to tour two decades after their creative peak?

JS: I think the big thing is that you have to somehow find a way to keep looking forward, mentally and musically. You can't get too nostalgic, although the fans will sometimes try to get you to just play songs from "back in the day," and you have to mix it up.

DK: You're considered one of the godfathers of punk rock. What are your feelings about that?

JS: Well, that's better than being referred to as one of the "grandfathers" although I suppose that's happened too! It's cool. You sure get of lot people yakking to you about the whole thing, but that is cool as well.

DK: Joey, what's the funniest or strangest rumor you've heard about yourself?

JS: There's a quote in a rock ‘n' roll book of quotes, a friend of mine was thumbing through it at a studio a while back and it read, "’I'm the best!"- Joey Shithead.’” Well, I don't remember saying that and I don't know what I was referring to.

DK: Tell me about some of your guilty pleasures related to music. Ever listen to ABBA?

JS: I never got into ABBA too much, but I can pretty well sing along with most of the songs on any classic rock, or moldie-oldie station.

DK: Readers should know about your DVD, 1978-1998: 20 Years Of Trouble-Making/Greatest Shits. Is "World Fall Apart" from 1998 the most recent video you've done? And how difficult do you find video making?

JS: We have done two more from Win The Battle: "We're Drivin' To Hell N' Back" and "Mexican Holiday." It is pretty easy being in front of a camera. I like hamming it up! But I never watch any music television.

DK: Joey, you're a political, civil, and social activist. What recent causes have you most recently participated and championed?

JS: I think we have a big benefit show happening this fall for Rape Relief here in Vancouver. I have recently done a bunch of acoustic performances for workers on strike. We have been involved fairly recently in playing anti-globalization shows (WTO, APEC). We played a big pro peace rally here in Vancouver this past January.

DK: Switching gears, what was the first concert you attended?

JS: It was around 1972 and it was Pink Floyd. At the Floyd concert I passed out as soon as they started, and nearly crushed this girl that was standing near me!

DK: Who was the first band that blew you away?

JS: I think maybe it was Pink Floyd, but the first punk band I saw was the Ramones in the summer of 1977. That was a life changing experience.

DK: What band was your favorite from the era when D.O.A. the Dead Kennedys, and Black Flag ruled in the early 80s (not including any of these bands)?

JS: Yes, the DKs and the Flag were something else, but my other favorites from that time were the Dils and the Avengers.

DK: Recently, both Mojo (UK magazine) and Rolling Stone released lists of the greatest guitar albums and greatest guitarists, respectively, of all time. Although each list was quite different from each other, what they shared was ranking "Are You Experienced" by the Jimi Hendrix Experience as the #1 guitar record, and Jimi Hendrix as the #1 guitarist, of all time. Did Hendrix ever make any magic for your ears? And who's your favorite guitarist or guitarists of all time?

JS: Yes, Hendrix is the music I put on if I need a lift. He still is the greatest – nobody has surpassed his soul and his dynamics. I also really like Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), the Young brothers of AC/DC (the interplay between the two) and Brian May (Queen).

DK: What do you think about the music of 50s guitar greats like Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran, and Scotty Moore?

JS: Unbelievable! Those cats totally understood dynamics. They were being recorded live with the rest of the band and they would bring it down perfectly for the vocal parts and then play real hard in the solos and the guitar feature parts. They couldn't go back and patch it up like nowadays.

DK: How do you write your songs? With guitar? No guitar?

JS: I always have a hundred or so guitar riff ideas kicking around that I save on cassette tapes, and sometimes they will sit in a box for ten years and I will pull them out. The lyrics I add later. I try to think of what the music sounds like and get some lyrics that suits that piece of music. I get the lyric ideas from newspapers, the TV, talking to people. If I hear one good line or idea I will write it down and keep it. This takes time and it is always fairly obvious when the lyrics are forced.

DK: How much overdubbing have you done in the studio on your records throughout the past 25 years?

JS: Usually just the solos. I usually get the rhythm parts right the first time, then I might add an extra rhythm later as well (since we are a three piece again). For the next record I am going to see if I can replicate the sounds that Dave and I had on Hardcore 81.

DK: Back to "La Grange" on Win The Battle, how many covers have you recorded throughout the band's career? And why did you choose those songs?

JS: I think around 18 in total. We just tried to pick ones that were funny and or great, that's why we never recorded any Don Henley songs. Remember “Don Henley Must Die”?!?

DK: Mojo Nixon! What a nut! He also did “Bring Me The Head Of David Geffen” and that tune about Debbie Gibson’s two-headed love child.

JS: Mojo’s the king! Man!

DK: Speaking of The Man…The Man In Black, that is, what are your feelings about the recent death of Johnny Cash? It’s crushed me…

JS: Now Johnny Cash, that's a tragedy, but not a surprising one as his health has been bad for a while. He was one of my all time favorites and D.O.A. covered three different Johnny Cash songs at various times. On stage and interviews I would frequently tell people that when Johnny Cash moved on, I would be the "new man in black." It is a sad day…

DK: One last question…maybe a little off-the-wall. Have you ever thought about running for political office? The reason I ask is serious but a bit tongue-in-cheek as well. On the one hand, you've probably very little skeletons in your closet, especially with everything that's been written about you for 25 years and also through your upcoming book, "I Shithead". And with Vancouver actually naming a day for DOA (that still blows my mind!!!), I think you're on track for Prime Minister! Prime Minister Joey Shithead Keithley! Rock on, baby!

JS: I ran for the Green Party three times in British Columbia. In 1996 I ran for MLA (this is the equivalent of a US State congressperson), in 1997 I ran for City Council in Burnaby (a suburb of Vancouver), and in 2000 I ran for MLA again and came in third with 15% of the vote. It might take a while before I get to be PM, but I am patient.

DK: Well, I'll be damned!! You've got my vote...that is, if you can make me a Canadian citizen. Rave on! Keep raving on!

D.O.A. Discography (http://www.suddendeath.com)

1978 "Disco Sucks" 4 song 7" Sudden Death Records
1978 "Prisoner/13" 7" single Quintessence Records
1979 "World War 3/Whatcha Gonna Do?" 7" single Sudden Death Records
1980 Something Better Change album Friends Records
1980 Triumph Of The Ignoroids 4 song live 12" EP Friends Records
1981 Hardcore 81 album Friends Records
1981 Positively D.O.A. 5 song 7" EP Alternative Tentacles Records
1982 War On 45 8 song 12" EP Faulty Products/Alternative Tentacles Records
(tracks and covers are different on US and UK versions)
1982 "Right To Be Wild (Burn It Down/Fuck You)" 7" benefit single Sudden Death Records
1983 "General Strike" 7" benefit single Sudden Death Records
1983 Bloodied But Unbowed compilation album Alternative Tentacles Records (tracks are different on US and UK versions)
1985 Let's Wreck The Party album Alternative Tentacles Records (US and UK covers are different)
1985 Don't Turn Yer Back On Desperate Times 4 song 12 " EP Alternative Tentacles Records
1986 Expo Hurts Everyone 4 song 7" benefit single [with 3 other artists] Sudden Death Records
1987 True, Strong and Free album Rock Hotel /Profile Records
1989 Last Scream Of The Missing Neighbors album w/Jello Biafra Alternative Tentacles Records
1990 Murder album Restless Records
1990 Talk-Action=0 live album Restless Records
1991 Greatest Shits compilation album QQYRQ Records
1992 Dawning Of A New Error compilation album Alternative Tentacles Records
1992 13 Flavours Of Doom album Alternative Tentacles Records
1993 Loggerheads album Alternative Tentacles Records
1993 "The Only Thing Green" 7" benefit single Alternative Tentacles Records
1993 Moose Droppings Australian compilation album Timberyard Records
1994 "It's Not Unusual, But It Sure Is Ugly" 7" single and 5 song EP Alternative Tentacles Records
1996 The Black Spot album Essential Noise
1996 D.O.A./Show Business Giants 10" split 5 song EP Essential Noise
1996 D.O.A./Colorifics "Marijauna Motherfucker" 7" benefit split single Cannabis Canada Records
1997 D.O.A./Hanson Brothers 7" split single Empty Records
1998 Festival Of Atheists album Sudden Death Records
1998 The Lost Tapes L.P. [rare old tapes collection] Sudden Death Records
1998 D.O.A./d.b.s.4 song 7" split single Empty Records
1999 Beat Trash solo album Joey Shithead Keithley
2000 D.O.A./Dog Eat Dogma 7"split single (Nervous Breakdown) Sudden Death Records
2001 Just Play It Over And Over Again 5 song EP Sudden Death Records
2001 Win The Battle album Sudden Death Records
2001 The End live 1990 DVD w/Jello Biafra Rhino Records
2001 We Still Keep On Running With D.O.A. Japanese Tribute album to D.O.A., 7 bands, Base Records
2003 War and Peace compilation album Sudden Death Records
2003 Greatest Shits DVD/VHS Sudden Death Records (racks different than CD version)
2003 Let's Start The Action international electronic tribute to D.O.A. Sudden Death Records
2004 Positively D.O.A. album [singles 78-83] Sudden Death Records
2004 D.O.A. new studio album Sudden Death Records
2004 Joey Shithead Keithley new studio solo album Sudden Death Records

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