The film follows Keithley during his sixth attempt to get elected to city council. In the opening scene, he’s seen knocking on doors, chatting with residents, and even singing a Gordon Lightfoot cover to a couple relaxing on their lawn. Keithley has always positioned himself as an advocate for the common person, working toward a better society and a healthier planet. He lives by the motto “Talk – Action = Zero,” a slogan he carried from punk shows to political office.

“That’s been D.O.A.’s motto since 1982,” he says while making himself a cup of coffee before heading to his grandchildren’s hockey game. “If you’ve got a good idea, do something. Don’t sit around hoping things change.”

Photo by Bev Davies

Keithley spent most of his music career railing against the government. His stage name, “Joey Shithead,” was meant to mock the way he believed the government was “filling people’s heads with shit” in the ’80s and ’90s. One of D.O.A.’s best-known songs, “Fucked Up Ronnie,” is a scathing critique of then–U.S. President Ronald Reagan and his role in the Cold War. Decades later, Keithley wrote a spiritual sequel, “Fucked Up Donald,” targeting Donald Trump. Reagan, he explains, was something of an anti-inspiration. If an actor could become president, why couldn’t a punk rocker join city council?

While some voters were skeptical about a boisterous punk frontman entering politics, others welcomed the idea—asking him to autograph their records while out campaigning. Despite initial resistance, including from fellow politicians, Keithley persisted through five failed runs before finally getting elected. His growing support stemmed from a steady presence in the community.

“I learned an awful lot listening to people,” he says. “I think one thing that happens with politicians… is they forget where they came from. They forget the people that supported them, they get disconnected. Just because you’re getting more popular and getting higher in office doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be in touch with the people that got you there in the first place. I’m really glad I’m in the town I was born in, raised in, went to school in, lived all my life. I think that’s important. To stay in touch with those people.”

After years of criticizing the system, what compelled Keithley to finally join it? When first invited to run with the Green Party, he immediately declined. But the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. For someone long dedicated to action, this was simply the next step.

“I’m not saying that protesting isn’t good, it’s a great way to get people aware of issues. But when you’re inside, you can actually do something about it,” he explains. “When you’re actually in the government, then you can affect good change. I try to act on behalf of all of our residents.”

Since being elected, Keithley has focused on affordable housing and environmental issues. He played a key role in developing 6,000 new affordable housing units in Burnaby and has taken a strong stance against the TMX pipeline, working to support Indigenous communities facing risks from the project.

Whether or not his punk background helped or hindered him at the polls, Keithley has stayed true to his values and is using his platform to create tangible change. Beyond his policies and effectiveness, he believes people responded to something deeper.

“When D.O.A. started out, we had three goals,” he says. “One was to have a bunch of fun, which we did. Two was to play loud, obnoxious punk rock, which we did. Three was to change the world. People have been voting for shitheads all along,” he laughs. “They probably thought, ‘Why not give this one a try?’”

Something Better Change is screening at the Rio Theatre (Vancouver, BC) on Saturday, May 24 

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