Fall on your knees and bow to greatness, oh punk rock infants of Beijing, for the founders of Hardcore Punk is coming to town!
DOA, the band that Henry Rollins called 'one of the greatest live bands of all time', and that Dave Grohl, Sonic Youth, Nirvana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers have all cited as one of their major influences is finally here for their first ever China Tour! Frontman, Joe 'Shithead' Keithley was kind enough to give the Beijinger his time to shed some wisdom, tell us about the past, present and future of the band, and get the word out to all you aspiring Beijinger punks that he wants to hear your music!
tbj: This is the first time DOA has toured in Beijing. Why did you decide to play in China? What do you hope to get out of this experience?
Joe: Music promoter, Abram Deyo, approached us last fall about touring China and we decided it would be a fantastic opportunity. We will get to do something the vast majority of westerners never do: get a firsthand look at the real China, and not just the image we get in the media here.
tbj: The punk rock scene in Beijing is just on the verge of breaking through right now. Have you guys heard of any of the Beijing punk bands or listened to any of their music? If so, what do you think of them and what do you think of the Beijing punk scene as a whole?
Joe: I have not heard any bands from here yet, but I am really curious to hear them. I also run Sudden Death Records, so hopefully bands here will give me some of their CDs as demos and I will find some good bands to release on Sudden Death.
tbj: This is the 30th anniversary tour of DOA. Looking back in your 30-year history, what are your proudest achievements and what are your biggest regrets?
Joe: For the proudest achievement, I think the best part of DOA is that we have been able to make people think and inspire them to action. My modus operandi is: Be your own boss, think for yourself and try to effect some positive change in this world. As for regrets, like the Sinatra song says, “Regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again too few to mention”
tbj: Where did you find inspiration from when you were writing your new album, Northern Avenger?
Joe: The title Northern Avenger comes from the idea of trying set things right in this world. I believe in justice. I get my inspiration for writing from what I see in the world around me, from talking to people, traveling, and all the information I get from TV, newspapers and the internet. I stay informed.
tbj: Many people say that your definitive album was Hardcore ’81, and also consider DOA as the founder of hardcore punk rock. How did your hardcore sound come about?
Joe: I would think you would have to couple our first album, Something Better Change, along with Hardcore ’81 as DOA’s definitive album, but for sure Hardcore ’81 captured the spirit of Hardcore Punk and went a long way towards defining it. After we released Hardcore 81, we toured all over North America and spread the phrase ‘hardcore’ around and popularized it, so you could say that DOA is the progenitors or fathers of Hardcore.
tbj: Who are your biggest influences?
Joe: Jimi Hendrix, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan and Jack Kerouac
tbj: What bands are you currently listening to?
Joe: A ton of different stuff: anything from punk to swing to Frank Sinatra to Willie Nelson. To further yourself as a musician, I believe you have to take in and learn all sorts of styles.
tbj: What is in store for DOA in the future? Will we be getting a 40th anniversary or even a 50th anniversary album and tour?
Joe: Yes, I can easily see a 40th anniversary. I will always be an activist musician till the day I die, so why not play and make a difference.
tbj: How did the name DOA (Dead on Arrival) come about?
Joe: Randy Chuck and I were practicing in an old warehouse on the waterfront in Vancouver and this guy by the name of Harry came in with a girl on each arm while drinking a bottle of whiskey. He listened to us practice for a while, and then he said, “Hey, let’s form a band. I’ll be the singer, you guys will be the band, we’ll call it D.O.A. and we’ll make a million dollars!” We thought about that for a while and then said, “Yeah, that’s cool. Let’s do it!”
tbj: Any last words?
Joe: We look forward to performing in China. Should be cool!
