Every once in a while somebody comes along that changes the way the world feels. They throw a bucket of paint on a canvas that you thought was finished, but only then realize how much it was missing. They obviously came from a different place and time, and were just dropped here to make sure we weren’t sleep-walking. To inspire us. To show us not to be scared of a little (or a lot) of danger. To remind us what being alive is supposed to feel like. The first time you saw Randy Rampage on a stage, he hit you like a bolt of lightning. A jolt of electricity that couldn’t be denied. Randy with a bass guitar slung over his shoulder was a soldier going into battle. He was definitely airborne division. World War III flying across a beer-soaked stage. Randy was the real deal; a live wire in black leather. He was the guy who could make the most hard-core punk nervous by sheer force of his personality. He lived hard, but was always connecting; always creating… He made friends laugh, and made strangers feel like they had known him forever.
Funny and fearless, with the greatest road stories on the planet.
That’s a punk rock life well-lived.
Rest in peace Randy Rampage ~
On August 14th, 2018, sometime after 7pm Randy Rampage left us here on earth to reign in the heavens. A punk legend has moved on. And because he shared himself with you, please share a moment and think of Randy Desmond Archibald aka Rampage. I love you Randy and I will carry you with me forever. Is it selfish to say I miss you.
~ Susanne Tabata, Vancouver, Canada
The first time I saw Randy was 40 years ago this summer at the Japanese Hall, Victorian Pork onstage, and suddenly Ian Tiles yelled “RAMPAGE!”, jumped off his drums and threw himself over the lip of the stage onto some guy in the audience. I thought Ian was just announcing his intent, like “Look out, I’m going off!” It seemed very responsible of him to warn everyone.
But he was shouting in joy at seeing Randy Rampage and when I got to know Randy I felt the same way. I think I felt particularly close to him because, after spending hundreds of hours traveling many, many miles at close quarters in countless vans and ill-suited touring vehicles, cymbal stands and other awkward items poking into you as you tried in vain to get into something approaching a comfortable position, unless you were lucky enough to be in the front seat — it became apparent that we were the two people in the scene most unlike the guy other people thought we were.
Because Randy was an imposing sight, even at a lean 5 foot 9. Forty years ago nobody looked like he did.
Period.
The only other person any of us had ever seen with as much ink as Randy was Bryan Gregory from the Cramps, and everyone knew how seriously crazy he was, alleged practicing Satanist etc.
But Randy had it all over Bryan because while he was just as striking looking he was sexy as fuck. (By comparison Bryan G. was so creepy looking after he left the Cramps he could only find work behind the counter of an Adult Books store.)
Randy had It, that thing Hollywood is always searching for — charisma, star power, the special glow that only a few ever have. Equal parts gift and curse because the brighter it shines the faster it burns. Randy burned like fucking napalm. Like Lou Reed said, “My week beats your year.”
Lots of people are good looking. Very few have that along with the aura of incipient danger he had. And of those few who do almost none have the natural, incandescent stage presence he had, from the very first shows DOA played. He was made for the stage. He was, straight up, the one Pure-D rock and roll star our scene produced.
And he stayed that way, unless you saw him at home with Susanne. We had that in common, too — after the squalor and debauchery we’d sought out and lived in for so many years, gloried in, to be honest, he discovered he really enjoyed having a nice home with someone who loved him, taking care of it, cooking, doing the wash.
Taking his heavy leather biker boots off before he came in. Randy Rampage took his shoes off when he came home. Yes he did.
People like to say about someone, “Oh, he was a mass of contradictions ...” Fuck that shit. They’re not contradictions, they’re the facets that make us fully realized human beings, not caricatures. He had his faults but he had far more virtues — he was loyal, honest, caring. The guy you met was who he really was. You can’t ask much more of someone.
And because we all have so many sides and pieces making us who we are it’s in no way a contradiction for me to quote Shakespeare in saying goodbye to him.
“He was a man, take him for all in all. I shall not see his like again.”
~ John Armstrong (The Modernettes, Los Popularos; Author)
Reflecting as a result of the loss of one of our heroes, this week (Randy Rampage) I consider my sadness, and my own personal history with him.
By the time my first band, GorillaGorilla, played with D.O.A. For our second-ever show in Winnipeg, and rented their famous milk truck to tour in, 1991, Rampage was long gone.
After moving to Vancouver in 1990 and joining thrash outfit Chrome Dog, we were to tour with Annihilator, but the tour never happened, and Rampage had parted ways with Jeff. Embarking on my solo career would not find me touring with too many of my mentors anymore, but luckily Over the years, I did have many opportunities to hang out with Randy. Never a dull moment!
As everyone knows- he has the power to light up a room! He was unique in that way, and almost like a movie star. Everybody knows The Famous Randy Rampage.
And, I’m pretty sure everybody liked him very much.
With his irrepressible gregariousness and animated friendliness, everyone welcomed him! He was playful and rascally, and notorious for making us glad to see him.
For me, often the youngest kid at the party ( and sometimes one of the only girls) Randy Rampage always treated me with kindness and respect, and his generous warmth betrayed his scoundrel reputation. I will always and forever remember him, not only as a wonderful performer, but as a lovely man, a warrior of The Road, and as a True Punk.
~ Bif Naked (Musician, Activist, Actress)
Randy Rampage was a survivor like Keith Richards if he had a real job. Things have tried to kill him before and failed. Easily my favourite Vancouver 'scene' bassist from those days. Listen to his bass line on WW3. He loved rock n roll. Always had a funny tale to tell like how Susanne tried to take him to Prince with front row tickets and he sat through the show reading one of his Clive Cussler books while Prince glowered his purple malocchio. We needed him. Such a hard hit.
~ Anthony Walker (Real McKenzies, The Bludgeoned Pigs, The Braineaters…. )
A very sad day for music.
~ Jamie Oliver (UK Subs, SNFU)
Randy was bigger than anything when I was a young punk and he was so rightly named Rampage by Ian Tiles.
He was a friend who I cherish dearly... I mixed him in many bands through the years and he was always a professional that could tear the place apart and put on a show like none other... whether he was singing or playing..
Randy in DOA in the early years was a force of nuclear proportions. No part of a space was safe from him. He was a moving, flying being of energy and power...
The thing that hit me early on when meeting him was how kind and personable he was. He always took time to say hi and make sure I could get into his next show. The respect and love we had for each other grew through the years... that happens especially coming through some pretty crazy near death insane fun.... there is now a hole in my life and I weep... our last words to each other were... Love you my friend... love you to Crud....
I’ll see you on the other stage my friend...
Peace...
~ Chris Crud (The Braineaters; Stage manager, Sound technician)
He always called me Beaverly, said very loudly when he saw me. Susanne said he was my muse and I think she was right.
~ Bev Davies (Iconic Photographer)
Very sorry to hear of the passing of another hero. RIP Randy Rampage.
~ Todd Kerns (Slash, Sin City Sinners, AOE)
Damn. Though I haven’t crossed paths with him in over 35yrs Randy was a really big influence in my teen years. One of my first punk rock crushes. Always nice and funny and such a kick ass bass player. Sad news this morning.
Rest in peace Randy Rampage.
~ Jone Stebbins (Bassist For Imperial Teen)
Who would've thought Keith Richards would outlive Randy Rampage.. This keeps me up at night! Randy was an animal, gentleman and a scholar, I will miss him greatly.
~ Zippy Pinhead (D.O.A., The Dils, The Stiffs, Los Popularos, The Mutants, 22nd Century…)
Randy was one of the first guys i met when i first came to Vancouver 38 years ago. He was always one of my favorite performers. Someone who did much much more than just play the notes. A great showman and fun guy. Give em hell Randy.
~ Ron Reyes (Black Flag, Crash Bang Crunch Pop, Piggy)
I am so sad to hear about the passing of my very long time friend Randy Rampage who played bass for years in DOA.... Randy had a heart of gold and would always say "People Are Talking" a Joan Rivers catch praise when we saw each other.. I am happy that he had the rad Duane Nickull playing with him in his last band and had the fabulous Susanne Tabata to provide him a nice home to live in... Randy you will be missed forever. But you are in a better place now.
~ Ginger Coyote (Punk Globe Magazine, White Trash Debutantes)
Last night, I ran into a longshoreman acquaintance and commented on his lengthening hair. He’d had a long, metal head’s boof drastically sheared off a while back and looked to be regrowing it. He answered it was necessary to keep up with the mullets down on the docks. I commented he had a way to go before he caught up with Randy Rampage. He laughed, admitted he did and added, without transition: “Randy’s a good guy”. I agreed. “Everybody loves Rampage”, I said. Two minutes later I received a text from a friend informing me Randy Rampage had died.
Coincidence. There’s a word for it because it’s a thing. No one’s face smiles from a cloud to let you know it’s okay where they are now; a curtain isn’t waved goodbye on a windless night. People just die, and then they’re gone, and all that’s left of them is what they gave everyone who’s still here.
Randy gave a lot. He gave decades of music, across genres, to fans beyond counting. He gave, to so many of us, intense and entertaining and irritating and creative and alive friendships. He gave vast tracts of himself, whole continents of fecund and burning wilderness.
I really got to know Randy when I tagged along with Stress Factor 9 on a tour of England. It was clear he had hopes for the band, probably more than anyone else in it. SF9 was going to resurrect the glory of Annihilator, and he never missed a chance to talk about what that meant. This was just the way he was. Even in his fifties he was alive with enthusiasm for whatever he did, but at the same time there was always an incredible sadness in his eyes and you knew he’d never be surprised with how things actually turned out.
Randy never let those eyes drag him down though. He kept himself and everyone else in stitches most of the time with tour stories and running commentary, gags and practical jokes. Life was a big party, a performance, a celebration; he was its witchdoctor and its clown prince. Here’s to you Randy, wherever you are, and if you’re nowhere. In these dark days it’s good to remember the spark at the centre of who you were. You came, you lived, and you left us with a lot. Thank you. RIP, my friend.
~ Dave Bowes (Iron Road Studios, Unstable Idiot Radio Show)
RIP Randy Rampage. Best punk gig i ever saw - DOA opening for Black Flag - he was the bass player. For the family, friends, and fans, so sorry.
~ Brandon Cruz (Dr. Know)
I used to be a big DOA and Annihilator fan. I loved watching Randy play bass. Truly inspirational.
~ Mia X RocknRolla (Betty Blowtorch)
''This world will never be the same. It's that heavy''… Those were the first two things I could say about Randy's sudden passing. He was a friend who was like no other. The hardcore scene was amazing because you got to meet most of your heroes let alone become friends with them, and it was especially the Vancouver scene that became my family when I ran here for the last time from ''No-Name-oh'' at 17, (I started running away @ 12) This time with a nice set of Staccato Thunder-horns. (His fave kit btw). I weezled into 1226 and Rampage was around a lot. There and the legendary Plaza. Center of the world.. Randy was the first REAL ''star'' after Joey Shithead I'd met. I got quite close to Dave Gregg (RIP) as we ended up living together at Dave's ''Fort Gore'' before he moved to NYC. So it wasn't just being around Randy working, partying, getting into ''evil'' or getting drunk at rehearsal when someone wouldn't show, (or more people showed with gifts) it was everyone else's stories about the guy. Randy's killer reputation preceded him wherever he went. We're probably STILL on a few ''Ok watch these guys'' lists around the barstar's watering holes. Barred from a few. Whatever. I was in a band that was ''second wave'' - (1983-1988) and we were respected. Around the time my punk band started getting in fights over crimping irons, I split, right into the arms of a certain ''Iron Gypsy'' and Rampage was on bass. Like holy fuck you get me in this band! Most memorable was two sold out nights at The Commodore Ballroom backing Nazareth and subsequently drinking them under the table. TWICE. We WON a 40 of Vodka in that bet! They thought we were Scottish, ''Nah, we're from North Van'' Ha ha . Good times. We clicked on so many levels. He really WAS that good on bass. It's a curse when you're that talented with attitude and I'll miss a brother in arms too. He was a no bullshit guy with REAL street cred and the stories he'd tell. They were all true. Fucking LEGEND. You'd be sitting with the guy at the longshoremen's hall waiting to get called and stop and literally go ''Holy fuck. I'm sitting with Randy Rampage''... You were the envy of many a feline as they were only given 9 lives. You lived a good life lived hard, brother - but cut way too short, so unfair. I'll miss ''Ya, I'll pop on down'' and ''Fake it to make it'' and general hilarious demeanor. To Susanne, the Archibalds, any North Shore ''greasers'', ILWU-Local 500, all his friends, partners in crime, old school punks and fans, here's to you. A fan forever and I'll see you on the other side good man.
~ Donut (Death Sentence, Mr. Pink, Mudgirl…)
RIP Randy. The inimitable, extraordinary individual. You changed my life. Being in a band creates a bond. I will always cherish our wild times together and of course the memories. He meant a lot to me and the world is a lot less compelling a place without Randy in it.
~ Heather Haley (The 45s, poet, author, musician)
Been trying to figure when we started calling him ol leather lungs… RIP Randy my little cousin. I'm so sad to hear you're gone xos
~ Tony Bardach (Pointed Sticks, Los Popularos)
The last time I saw Randy Rampage he was watering the shrubbery in front of his house and telling me that he was only four years from retirement with full pension. We'd had a few margaritas earlier, but he seemed more happy than drunk. It was a beautiful day, he had a band going, a nice house, and his longshoreman's job paid well. I remember being happy for him. He'd walked through the fire and come through it with only a few injuries. He seemed content, like he was exactly where he was supposed to be. My cab arrived and I waved goodbye to Randy, never dreaming that this would be the last time I saw him. We drove away and then he was gone. It's still sinking in, and I'm really gonna miss that dude. Fuck.
~ Chris Walter (Punk Rock Author, co-author w/ Randy Rampage: “I Survived D.O.A.”)
I am devastated!!! This is the second time in less than 18 months when I have had to write about the passing of a current band member. One of my best friends and a bandmate, co-songwriter has passed. Randy Rampage has apparently passed away peacefully in his own home. Randy was always one of my best friends from the very early days when he humbly ran follow-spot for my bar band to the current day when he and I co-wrote what he called "the best music I have ever been a part of". This is something I cannot accept as he was a large part of two of my all-time favorite bands, DOA and Annihilator.
Beyond the music, Randy was always a good friend and close confidant. When we toured, we were like two young brothers.
My heart is greatly saddened. I cannot express in words how it feels to have two beloved bandmates leave this earthly plane within 18 months.
I know a lot of you knew Randy. I urge each of you to think of the special times you had with him and to hold those moments in your heart forever. Those are the true experiences that give us hope, joy and make us feel connected. Cherish those memories and live your lives better from what you felt from Randy.
He was always a true friend. never wavered and always kept his word true to his heart. Randy Rampage never sold out and never compromised what he believed to the day he left this earth.
My heart and soulwill always be enlightened and lighter because he was in my life.
FOREVER GRATEFUL! RIP Randy Rampage
~ Duane Nickull (Rampage, 22nd Century)
I just read that Randy left sitting in his chair watching a cartoon. I am sad but smiling.
About a million years ago, a bunch of us were living in squalid punker house, running water was a bonus and HOT water was just a high falootin luxury. Randy grabbed me and we went to his parents house in NoVan...they were away for some reason or another.
We ate, did our laundry,showered...all the bourgeois stuff we couldn’t do at our place. When we left, he and I piled into the old Datsun sports car he had. I had all our laundry in my lap.
Bags? What bags?
Trying to keep it from blowin away, top was down.
Or gone.
Plus a bunch of booze Randy "borrowed" from his folks.
Randy had a cup of coffee balanced on his right knee..
He was steering the car with his left knee...
A smoke in his mouth....
And he was rolling a joint.....
There was a small portable tv on the dashboard where fun-o-rama was showing a particularly good bugs bunny cartoon. We both were laughing our asses off.
All at 60 miles an hour.
THAT was Randy Rampage to me.
Top down, full throttle, looking for a laugh.
~ Bob Montgomery (DOA crew, Roadie to every cool band from Vancouver)
Woke up to a news of the loss a long running ally elder god friend and artist Mr. Randy Rampage. you never know when it’ll be the last time you see someone until they’re gone. Rampage you were cool to me all the way I’ll truly miss you . Rock in peace big brudder.
Throughout my wonder years, the many gigs with the Black Halos n DOA including singing on the Win The Battle album, I’ve got many memories and stories . It may seem odd but it’s real that i really miss the thought of running into Rampage at Safeway as this happened so often and at different locations that I’d begin looking for him anytime I grocery shopped . Rampage hit the final checkout and his bill is paid in full. I’ll miss ya brother every day and every safe way.
~ Billy Hopeless (Black Halos, The Bonitos)
RIP Randy Rampage.
Another old punk rock/hardcore friend leaving the planet who didn't make 60.
Fuck. Too young.
I'm pretty sure that the old D.O.A. crew (Rampage, Shithead, Biscuits and Gregg) have next to no clue how truly inspirational they were to a young 7Seconds and a handful of Reno punkers.
D.O.A. were the first band 7Secs stole from, from the fierce and urgent sound and politically-driven leftist lyrics, right down to us loudly and proudly referring to ourselves as a hardcore punk band like D.O.A. did, to anyone who would listen.
I lost contact with Randy years ago but I'll always remember him for being the energetic, funny, down to earth, up all night punk rock kid I met in 1980 when D.O.A. first came to play Reno.
~ Kevin Seconds (7 Seconds)
Viva La Randy Rampage....Rampage! Randy Desmond Archibald will be having a Peach Cider at The Longshoreman Boozecan In The Sky with Brad Kent, Wimpy Roy, (DOA), & will remain in our Rock & Roll Hearts Forever! Remembering all of the great memories surrounding the filming of Bloodied But Unbowed with Susanne & Randy!!! Rampage was like a Brother from another Mother to me and his untimely loss has created massive tremors on the Richter scale all over this Punk Planet & Beyond! He will be in our Rock & Roll Hearts Forever! XOXO!
~ Gerry-Jenn Wilson (JP5, East Vamps, Grrl)
My first memory of Randy, other than listening to Something Better Change and later, Hardcore 81, was the photo on the Triumph of the Ignoroids EP where he is airborne in classic Rampage style. That pic set the tone for me as a young punk rock musician. I think Randy and Dave Gregg were major influences on the SNFU stage persona, speaking for myself anyway. I always considered Rampage to be the quintessential hardcore punk bass player. Legendary.
The first time DOA came to Saskatoon they played at a discotheque called Confettis. Of course there were mirrors everywhere. While they were playing Randy was taking the butt of his bass and subtly cracking the mirrors up. Sneering gleefully at this endeavor. It was classic and a part of the early Saskatoon punk scene mythoi.
~ Dave Bacon (SNFU)
Being new to the punk scene 8 years ago, being from small town Alberta, not knowing too much about punk rock... just the occasional song by DOA (and a few other bands) Rampage made me feel so welcome to the circle with open arms. To me he wasn't the bass player for DOA he was a gentleman and a friend.
~ Shelby Lewis (Friend)
MY "Randy Rampage" story...
Me; (A baby brother of North Van greaseballs, kinda leaning toward punk rock) went to my first show. DOA & UJ3RK5 at Arcadian Hall. My buddy (who had a car & had been to a gig before) brought me (I think I was 14/15) he told me what you do at a gig. wait till right before the last band & get right up front. Per his instructions, I got my position, stage left (fan right) RIGHT in front of Randy Desmond Archibald. DOA (at this time) was the classic Joe, Randy Chuck line up. They proceeded to EXPLODE right in front of me!!. I had to push back, against the crowd, with all my might to NOT be kicked in the face by Rampage's flying jack boot, when he would kick out accents & then go to his signature splits jump, defying gravity while holding his bass out at full arms length. AMAZINGLY being able to maintain some semblance of musical notes with his seemingly random frantic slamming of his pic on his bass strings. I think I hit my peak of Fear/excitement/shock & awe when they kicked into one (Shithead called) "Chuckies New One"....
I HAD FOUND WHAT I WANTED TO DEDICATE MY LIFE TO...
(Fast Forward to a year or so later)
I'm in "No Exit" playing a "Joey Shithead Presents" show at the "Smilin Budha" w/ headliners "Sgt. Nick Penis & his Brass Ball Battalion" (Randy & Chuck played guitar) after the show Randy asked me if I wanted to do some shrooms & go to an after party. Ummm, fuck ya! Party hard with my hero? (No brainer). When I finally made it home, my father (none to happy with my recent choice of vocation) said "this punk rock shits gotta go, or YOU gotta go"....
(I went)
So.... Randy Rampage not only totally inspired me to play rock & roll, he was also somewhat involved in hastening my entrance to my career of being a "gypsy punk rock touring drummer" and hitting the road with my brothers Toxic Reasons.
I got to see (& rock) the world! I've had so many unbelievable experiences because of it, because of you, Randy Desmond Archibald. I will ALWAYS remember you for that. You were hands down the coolest baddest bad ass bass players EVER and the world is that much more a shittier place because of you no longer being here.
God speed mutherfucker.
Peace
.001
~ J.J. Pearson (Toxic Reasons)
Don't know what to say. Devastated and Dumbfounded. RIP Randy Rampage. A great guy, charismatic, kind, down to earth and an incredibly amazing talent. We had just finished recording and were finalizing art work. There was still so much to do.
One particular story that demonstrates how incredible his vox were… I was in the studio laying down some guitar trax for the album, and John Webster said “Hey check this out…” He played an isolated Randy vocal track. It sounded amazing. I asked Wow, how many tracks was that? He said one! Whoa, what kind of effects did you use on that? He said none. Then how the fuck does it sound like three guys singing???? He shrugged his shoulders. I don't know. He just does. We sat there a little bit freaked out and a lot impressed. Randy left us way too soon. My sincerest condolences to his family. Big hole in my heart today.
~ Pinto Stiletto (Rampage, Wett Stilettos, Crystal Pistol, W.R.G.C.)
RIP RANDY RAMPAGE...I didn't know Randy super well but from my limited experience this is what I do know... Every time he saw me he knew me by name even though in Vancouver I'm a total nobody... And he was always friendly and he was always very genuine. I also know that as far as bass players go he was a pioneer and DOA’s first two albums with him we're untouchable. Something Better Change and Hardcore 81 sound as good today as they did when they came out and I don't think they ever recaptured the spirit of those first two albums which Randy was an integral part... He had more style and more Rockstar penaz about him than anyone else on that scene and those scissor kicks he used to do back in the day were the flights of Legend... we have now lost three DOA members to heart attacks including Dave Greg and Wimpy Roy .. It's so sad.
~ Darryl Stapleton (Absinthe Boy, The Rothschilds, The Braineaters)
RIP Randy Rampage.
You caught my interest in punk rock bass when I was 11.
- (the opening to Disco Sucks...)
You lent me guitars and amps when I was 18.
- (Your custom Hamer with the whammy bar and my first time playing through an Ampeg SVT)
Had some great times hangin' and laughing with you.
One of a kind.
~ Dan Walters (Fratricide, Christ Air, Still Above Snakes)
Rampage through life:
We would often share stages. One stint at the Windmill on Granville street in the fall of 1978 was for two nights with DOA. To shake it up, we would open for DOA the first night (Monday) and the following night DOA would open for us. The DOA of then was Rampage on bass, Chuck Biscuits on drums and Joey on guitar, the classic lineup. Brad Kent was in California recording with the Avengers. And then came the larger gigs - the Vancouver Complication album fundraisers at Viking Hall and O'Hara's, where every band in Vancouver played. But there were the shows that DOA w/Randy Rampage would play with other groups, other places, and of course the out-of-town gigs down through California. Each of these early late '70's shows would always contain the exciting Rampage, his legendary leaps and contorted facial expressions, all perfectly timed. No one, no matter how hard they tried, could match them. He was one of a kind. And for all the tattoos and black leather jacket patches and scrawls, he was such a super nice guy.
"You play that sax like a fucking guitar, man!" he said to me after I got off stage at the Windmill. He meant that in a good way and I was chuffed, because the sax was an anomaly in the punk early days, and it took awhile for audiences to warm up to the idea of a horn amongst the buzzsaws, but Rampage finally got it, and he had to run up to me to tell me personally.
Rest In Peace, hope you get a chance to show your skills both on the strings and in the air, because that place you are at now is pretty crowded. At the least, jam with Brad a few, eh?
~ Jaime Clay, aka J2000 (Private School, Warsaw)
Joe Keithley's tribute to Randy Rampage
This is always a hard thing to start, writing a eulogy about a fallen comrade who has now left this world, but it’s my duty and honour to tell you about Randy Rampage. We set out to conquer the world together, we didn’t quite do it, but at times we thought we came close. Randy was unique, like a super nova, burning red hot. This is what I remember about my friend.
I had just come back from Toronto in February of ’78, my first punk rock band The Skulls had moved to Toronto in the hopes of being successful, it never happened and we broke up. So when I got back home in Vancouver I wanted to start a new band, so I put an ad in the Georgia Straight weekly, “Looking for a drummer and a bassist for punk rock band. Wimps should not apply.” Soon I started getting a few phone calls about the band. One of the first calls was from a guy named Randy Archibald, he said he was a drummer in a band called Looney Tunes (taken from the Alice Cooper song I suppose). He came over to audition and he wasn’t bad, one thing, he was a lefty, so he could play the hi-hats open handed or cross handed. Growing up as a drummer myself I thought that was cool, Randy also sensed how to play it cool while trying out, not bad for a 17 year old.
Not long after that, I got word that Chuck Montgomery, who was the little brother of Dimwit (drummer of The Skulls) wanted to try out. Chuck turned out to be really good and only 15 years old! But at that point I knew that my new, as yet unnamed, band had a drummer, but we did not have a bassist. So I came back to Randy Archibald, I thought OK, this guy’s a drummer, he understands rhythm, I bet I can teach him how to play bass, so I called him and told him the news that he was in but he would have to learn bass, he jumped at the chance and said sure. I also had the hunch that he had some sort of crazy hidden charisma.
So the three of us rented some gear from the local Long and McQuade and started rehearsing at a dirty old warehouse on Vancouver’s waterfront called 343 Railway. The bass training with Randy went pretty quick and we soon had three songs. During our third rehearsal a guy by the name of Harry Homo walked in wearing a faux fur coat, he had a girl on each arm and a bottle of rye in one hand, they stopped and listened to us rehearse. After a few minutes, Harry said to us “Hey you guys are pretty good, how about this: you guys be the band, I’ll be the singer, and we’ll call ourselves D.O.A. and make a million bucks.” Chuck, Randy and I had a conference that lasted about two minutes and we told Harry. “OK let’s do it!” and D.O.A. was formed. Image
We played our first show in February 1978 at the Japanese Hall in Vancouver, there was a punk show set up, I talked our way onto the bill, and we were allowed to borrow the other band’s equipment. We only had 3 songs, so when we finished those, we started playing them over again. The other bands quickly realized this and a wrestling match ensued on stage as the other band wanted their gear back, we all jumped off the front of the stage into the audience and looked at each other and started laughing, we knew we had started something weird and crazy.
As I was the only one who been in a punk band before and I had already had the nickname Joey Shithead, I thought those guys needed nicknames. Coming up with punk handles was always fun. We started up with Chuck and said, well to chuck is kind of like puking, so how about Upchuck? But he had to upchuck something, so then we came up with Biscuits, then shortly after Chuck Biscuits. Randy was this skinny guy from North Vancouver, kind of a partying swim champ, as his parents could afford a pool, and he had the last name Archibald, which was one the most un punk names ever, sounds like a stuffy English lord “Sir Archibald” bleaaaah!!! So I thought about for a while over a beer and thought: hmmm….. How about Rampage, yes Randy Rampage, the two R’s went together and you could remember it, just like Shithead and Biscuits. Image
Harry only lasted the one show as our singer, but the band took off quick, Chuck and I wrote about another 12- 13 songs in a couple of weeks and Randy was really starting to get a handle on playing them. We had played five shows in Van and stated to get a rabid following, 15 year old Chuck had the blazing speed on the drums , I had the snarling vocals and guitar and Randy started jumping all over the place like a madman. For our sixth gig we got a real break, the Georgia Straight asked us to be part of their “battle of the bands” in June 1978, we of course agreed to play. It was at this weird club called The Body Shop, which was really just an 80’s glitzy pick up joint. There were some DOA fans in attendance, but mostly really straight people who did not like punk at all. We got on stage and stared acting really obnoxiously, which of course really infuriated the regular crowd and the judges. Randy was jumping around like a young Pete Townsend and performing his new stage trick, where he would spit up into the air about three feet over his head while playing and then catch the ball of gob in his mouth, which of course made some people sick. At the end of evening the MC Tom Harrison announced the winner of the “battle”, when our fans found out it was not D.O.A. they covered poor old Tom Harrison with a shower of gob and beer.
We July ’78 we got our first record out, a four song 7” EP called Disco Sucks, we started mailing the vinyl around and it took off, we soon booked our first road trip to San Francisco. We got booked into the Fab Mab for a weekend with the Avengers. That really got the ball rolling, we knew we had to get out and tour and not just sit in our home town, so in 1979 Randy bought a ’67 green GM panel van so we could tour. We got booked to play a big Rock against Racism in Chicago in July 1979, so I organized a ramshackle tour around North America. We did a lot of miles in that old van, Randy and I would split the driving and it had a handy bench seat in the front, so when one of us was too tired to drive, the guy driving would jump into the back and the next driver would slide to his left and take over the wheel, all while doing 60 miles an hour. The van was in pretty rough shape, I remember Randy was driving through a snowstorm in Ontario and the windshield wipers would only go to the left, so we pulled over and tied a sting to the drivers wiper, so as Randy drove on, the wiper would go to the left and from the passenger seat with the window rolled down I would pull the wiper to the right with the string, meanwhile the guys in the back were getting covered with snow.
In 1980 we got our first album Something Better Change released and Dave Gregg had joined the band as the second guitar player. We kept touring non-stop around North America. On a tour through the Midwest our manager Ken Lester had brought along his motorcycle to get ahead of the shows and help the promo. Well Ken got tired of riding his bike, so Randy took over, I was driving along and I lost sight of Randy, who was behind me on the bike. All of a sudden Randy came up into sight in my rear view mirror, he was blazing maybe about 80 miles an hour and not wearing a helmet. I soon realized as he got closer that he was standing on the seat of the Kawasaki and crouched over with his hand on the throttle. We all started pissing ourselves laughing, except for Lester, who said “My bike, my bike!” Randy pulled up level even with me in the fast lane and said “Hey Joe, grab me a beer!” I said sure. So our roadie Bob Montgomery (Chuck and Dimwit’s brother) handed me a beer, so as I am driving 60 MPH, I hand Randy the beer as Lester is grabbing my arm screaming and trying to stop me, Randy got the beer and hit the throttle and blazed ahead of us and out of sight. Image
Not long after that we released our signature album Hardcore 81. By this time Randy and Chuck had combined into one of the mostly deadly rhythm sections in the world, they blew a lot people away, D.O.A. was erupting like an exploding volcano.
But as rock n’ roll fate would have it, Randy was partying pretty hard along the way and it was really starting to take its toll on his ability to play in D.O.A., so after our New Year’s Eve bash at The Smiling Buddha December 31, 1981, we made a collective decision to kick him out of the band. Randy of course was a big attraction and knew a lot of people, so not long after he left D.O.A. he got a job working for The Clash on a big American tour, he was their runner to get whatever was needed, that lasted for a while, till he got sacked by the manager. Randy of course played in lots of other bands: The 45’s, Ground Zero, (with the late great Brad Kent), SF9, and of course he really made a big impression on the metal world fronting Annihilator for a couple of different stints. While still rocking hard and exciting people with his natural showmanship, Randy got a job as a longshoreman, which turned out to be a great move, he received a great wage, benefits and some security to help get through this world.
Rampage was back in D.O.A. for a couple of more stints: from 2001-2002 and we recorded and released Win The Battle, then his third and final stint 2006-2008 when we cut Northern Avenger with old friend Bob Rock. Bob had been the assistant engineer when we cut the Prisoner/Thirteen and World War 3 singles with producer Ron Obvious. It was a lot of fun to travel with Randy again and talk about old times, he possessed this amazing memory of the stuff that had happened years before and anybody who had the chance to hang out with him were always overwhelmed at his unmatched knack for recounting amazing tales of his rock n’ roll lifestyle. Image
During the 2,000’s Randy and I had a whole fresh set of adventures as we toured through Japan, Australia, Europe and North America. A lot of the time we didn’t see eye to eye on a lot of things in music and life and sadly I did not see him very often over the last 10 years or so, but doesn’t affect some of the most important things in life: like our friendship and camaraderie that D.O.A. was built on. Randy you’ll be my friend forever and even in death your spirit will always burn bright.
https://www.punkglobe.com/randyrampageinterview1209.html
Tribute by Marc Floyd (The Floydian Device) & Ginger Coyote
