Considered by many to be one of the founders of hardcore punk, the godfathers of hardcore and the mega-decibel minstrels, D.O.A. comes to Powell River on Friday, October 28.
“There’s a bit of an old-time punk paradise up there in Powell River, from what I’m hearing,” said Joey Keithley, D.O.A. founder and the last remaining member from the original band.
Over the years, about 15 different people have been part of the band’s makeup. Keithley now tours with bassist Mike Hodsall and drummer Paddy Duddy.
“I guess punks have moved out of Vancouver and Victoria and moved up there because it’s a better deal,” said Keithley. “It’s a punk retirement home.”
According to Keithley, he is a good friend of John Wright, former member of another legendary punk band, Nomeansno, which recently announced its permanent breakup after a long hiatus. Wright and his former bandmate Tom Holliston both reside in Lund. Keithley said he was saddened by the Nomeansno news.
“To me, they were one of the most fantastic creative bands to come out of Canada, and I’m not just talking punk or alternative,” he said. “I would put them up against all sorts of genres of music as being one of the best bands the country has ever produced.”
Keithley said D.O.A. broke up twice, seriously from 1990 to about 1992 when they did not perform a single show, and then a farewell tour was held at the end of 2012 to 2013, when Keithley thought he was going to be elected as an MLA provincially, which did not come to fruition.
According to Keithley, after 38 years and more than 3,000 shows, he is not ready to follow Wright’s lead and retire D.O.A. anytime soon.
“I used to say old punks never die,” he said. “They stand at the back and avoid the mosh pit.”
Local artist Colin MacRae, owner of Base Camp Coffee and former member of Victoria punk band Pigment Vehicle, is promoting the show. Pigment Vehicle toured with D.O.A. across Canada during the Festival of Atheists tour in 1998.
According to MacRae, the members of D.O.A. like it in Powell River.
“Mike and Paddy come up here often and they have connections here and friends,” said MacRae. “They came here and played McKinney’s Pub last time and enjoyed it.”
For more information on the D.O.A. show, which takes place at Strikers Bar and Grill, call 604.485.2033.
