When myy dear friend
Christine Editor and Publisher of CRUSHER Magazine asked me if I might
be interested in interviewing Joe Shithead of DOA. I jumped at the
chance. Joe and I knew each other in the early days, so I was excited to
reacquaint my self with him again.
Punk
Globe: How long as DOA been together now?
Joe: DOA started Feb 11,1978, so that’s
28 years now
The current line up is myself Joe Shithead Keithley,
Randy Rampage, and the Great Baldini on drums
Punk Globe: Randy is back in the
fold how cool! Tell him hello! I remember meeting you and DOA your first
trip to San Francisco I think it was in 78’ or 79’. I remember Randy and
Chuck also. Was Dave Gregg playing with DOA back then?
Joe: No Dave joined us in early 1980,
when our 1st album came out "Something Better Change."Randy
is a longshoreman, and now plays in DOA once again.
Punk Globe: What is Dave Gregg and
Chuck Bisquits up to?
Dave sells t shirts on big tours , he has lived in NYC
for the last 15 years.
Chuck is semi-retired from drumming I think, too bad ,
‘cause he is surely one of the best drummers ever!
Punk Globe: How about Jon Card?
Joe: Jon drums with the Canadian
Subhumans ( they have reformed)
Punk Globe: Who were some of DOA's influences
early on and now?
Joe: In the early early days my
influences would have been Hendrix , Black Sabbath , Bob Dylan and
Woodie Guthrie, Bob Marley
Now I try to influence things rather than being
influencd by them.
Punk Globe: How many releases does DOA have out now?
Joe: DOA have put out about 44 releases
including albums, comps, singles an EP
Punk Globe: Which DOA release is your favorite?
Joe: LOL Not sure , I would say that’s
up to the fans to figure out.
Punk Globe: Tell the readers about your label Sudden
Death Records. You started the label in 1978 right?
Joe: Yes, we started up in 78 , put out
6 DOA singles , then it went completely dormant by about 1983. I started
it up again in 1998 in earnest. We now have 64 release out.
Punk Globe: Who are some of the bands that you have
on your label? You are doing some great reissues of DOA “War on 45” and
Pointed Sticks who were a much underrated band- here in the USA.
Joe: Real McKenzies, Modernettes,
SCHULZ, Young Canadians, the Damned, and so on
Punk Globe: Which releases do well for the label?
Joe: DOA, Pointed Sticks, Real
McKenzies
Punk Globe: Was releasing The Real MackenziMcKenzie's
your friendship with Jay Scott? Do you still speak with Jay? I really
like Jay he is one of the nicest people ever!
Joe:Yes, I still am close with Jay
Scott. Jay is in the gaming industry now, one of the great guys.
He no longer works with with the McKenzies.
I signed them because I have been friends w/ Paul and
Kurt since 1979.
Punk Globe: Do you have any sage advice for an
upcoming band who may wanna send you a demo?
Joe: Yes , please don’t send something
that sounds like something that has been already done 10 million times
Punk Globe: Tell us about the labels new releases for
2006?
Joe: Another Pointed Sticks release,
SCHULZ ( ex-KMFDM) Just, Joe Keithley solo CD. Maybe a live DOA DVD
Punk Globe: You have a solo acoustic release out now
as well. Tell us about that. I have read reviews giving you similarities
to Wood Guthrie. What brought on a mellow Joe?
Joe: Well it’s not really mellow, it’s
just acoustic , in fact we call it anarcoustic ...
Woody is a big hero of mine ‘cause he took on the
establishment, I have done shows with Pete Seeger as well ( an old buddy
of Woody’s)
Punk Globe: Tell us about the book you wrote? I have
yet to read it but Jone Srebbens who now is with Imperial Teen and used
to play with The Wrecks thought it was good fun. But she thought alot
of things were overlooked. But it was still good.
Joe: Yes, Jone and The Wrecks send them
my best. The book as fun to write and quite a bit longer with the 1st
draft, the book company chopped about 1/3 of it because it was too
expensive to print and ship. It includes all of the key things that
happened with me and DOA
Punk Globe: Any fun stories of the parties at Ian
Cartmill’s Secret Studio's in San Francisco included in the book. We all
had some wild times back then. So many of us who are no longer with us.
Joe: Those were some very wild times..
I do remember that. But not really, I just remember the Liquor Barn as
about a block away from his studio, not a great combination.
Punk Globe: I also read that you had run for a
Government Office? What was the outcome? Congratulations on expanding
your career very much like Jello Biafra.
Joe: Yes, I ran three times up here for
the Green Party, it as cool trying to get people to think about trying
to do less harm to
the earth and save it for the future. I am retired from that now, I
always got a fair number of votes but I finally realized that while
people will always vote for Shitheads , they won’t necessarily vote for
Joe Shithead
Punk Globe: Are there any current bands out now that
float your boat?
I have heard The McRackins have a new release out. Have
you heard it?
Joe: No, have not heard The McRackins CD
yet.
Punk Globe: Any big shows or tour plans for DOA?
Joe: We are playing a couple of big
peace festival this summer up here in BC.
Punk Globe: I would like to thank
you so much for the interview Joe. Any final words of wisdom for our
readers and additional plugs.. I wish you and DOA continued good luck
with your legendary careers.
Joe: OK -Thankyou very much for the fun
interview- Ginger
Just tell the Punk Globe readers;
"Think for yourselves, create your own world and keep up
the fight!"
