If your parents were around the Burnaby scene back in the day, they’ve probably told you stories about D.O.A. But nowadays, you’re more likely to spot the band’s frontman in a suit heading into City Hall than on a stage at the Rickshaw. Joe Keithley or Joey Shithead, depending on who you ask isn’t just a local city councillor, he’s a legit punk pioneer who basically coined the term “Hardcore” and put BC punk on the global map.

 I feel like for every artist that I don’t like, one of their most common character traits would be that they feel inauthentic. Like they’re trying to be someone they’re not to sell or to be edgy. But, when I look at clips and research of Joey is the complete opposite. He’s spent over 45 years living by one simple rule: Talk-Action=0. It’s a slogan that was plastered on D.O.A. albums and t-shirts decades ago, and it’s a reminder that if you aren’t actually doing something to change the world, your words don’t mean much. 

While researching Joey for this article I realized pretty quickly that Joey wasn’t some polished kid with a record deal. Rather,  he was a guy from the suburbs who was fed up with the status quo. In the late 70s and 80s, D.O.A. took that raw, unmanufactured BC sound and toured it across the globe. They were playing shows in places that most bands wouldn’t touch, all while staying fiercely independent on their own label, Sudden Death Records.

Now, after reading that about him, just how shocked would you be for me to tell you that Joey Shithead ended up transitioning from the stage to the council chamber. Seriously.

A lot of people think punk is just about making noise and breaking things, but Joey proved it’s actually about community and just spreading a message. He went from screaming about social justice in dive bars to actually trying to fix housing and environmental issues in his hometown. I love it, because compared to today you see a lot of famous people make statements and yet never join the office to actually make a change.

Even in 2026, Joey hasn’t slowed down. Whether he’s strapping on a guitar for a benefit show or debating policy in a boardroom, he’s still the same guy who refused to be manufactured by the industry.