Editing D.O.A. (band) (section)

=== Formation and early years (1977–1980) ===
D.O.A. has its origins in [[The Skulls (Canadian band)|The Skulls]], an early Vancouver-area punk rock band that included future D.O.A. members Joey "Shithead" Keithley, along with founding members of the [[Subhumans (Canadian band)|Subhumans]], Brian "[[Wimpy Roy]]" Goble and Ken "Dimwit" Montgomery.<ref>Snyder MG, Bryson K, Wright, B. DOA Played! ''[[iarchive:nihilobstat-issue-1-richmond-va/page/n1/mode/2up|Nihil Obstat]]''. Circa 1983; 1(1): 3-4.</ref>

When the Skulls broke up after an ill-fated move to [[Toronto]], Keithley moved back to Vancouver and formed D.O.A. in early 1978 with himself on guitar, Dimwit's brother [[Chuck Biscuits]] on drums, [[Randy Rampage]] on bass,<ref name="Larkin80" /> and a lead singer known only as "Harry Homo", who suggested the band's name. The band's first gig took place at the Japanese Hall in Vancouver on February 20 of that year, after which Harry Homo was sacked for an apparent lack of rhythm; Keithley then became the band's singer. A second guitarist named "Randy Romance" played briefly with the band in March 1978 before leaving.

The band began playing frequently around Vancouver and added guitarist Brad Kent the following June.<ref name="Larkin80" /> That summer, they recorded and self-released their first single, the four-song EP ''Disco Sucks''.<ref name="Larkin80" /> The single soon topped the charts of the [[University of San Francisco]] radio station [[KUSF (defunct)|KUSF]], which prompted the band to begin touring down to [[San Francisco]]. They played their first shows there in August 1978 at [[Mabuhay Gardens]]. It was during this trip that the band first met [[Dead Kennedys]] frontman and future collaborator [[Jello Biafra]]. Kent was fired from the band in September and later that fall the band recorded and released their second single "The Prisoner".

In May 1979, the band embarked on their first North American tour. Upon its completion they hired Vancouver journalist and activist Ken Lester as their manager. Lester booked another tour for them the following October, in the middle of which they flew back to Vancouver to open for [[The Clash]] at the [[Pacific Coliseum]]. They soon after released their third single, "World War 3" / "Whatcha Gonna Do?". In late 1979, they added second guitarist, Dave Gregg. Soon after, Biscuits and Rampage left the band after a disastrous gig at the [[University of British Columbia]]'s Student Union Building and were replaced by Andy Graffiti and Simon "Stubby Pecker" Wilde on drums and bass, respectively. Keithley soon became dissatisfied with the band's performances with the new line-up, however, and Biscuits and Rampage both rejoined the band in March 1980.

D.O.A. released their full-length debut ''[[Something Better Change]]'' on Friends Records in 1980 and continued touring the United States and Canada extensively.<ref name="Larkin80" />