D.O.A. Treat John Peel Session to Vinyl Reissue

BY Gregory AdamsPublished Apr 24, 2015

Though D.O.A. are currently putting work into a new album called Hard Rain Falling, band leader Joey "Shithead" Keithley is digging deep into the archives again for another vinyl reissue. This time, his Sudden Death Records will be repressing the band's early '80s John Peel Session, Don't Turn Yer Back (On Desperate Times).

A press release notes that the rebooted collection of BBC recordings arrives June 23. It will be the first time it's been given a proper release on vinyl since originally being pressed up by Alternative Tentacles in 1984. Keithley is also giving the set its first-ever standalone CD release. The songs had originally been preserved as a set of bonus tracks on Sudden Death's 2002 re-release of Hardcore '81

It's explained that the session was booked right at the end of a massive tour across Europe and the UK that had the BC punk icons playing 50 shows in 60 days across 10 countries. Recorded at the BBC headquarters in London with legendary radio DJ John Peel, it yielded an "explosive four-song set." The live-off-the-floor cuts include "General Strike," "Race Riot," "Season in Hell" and "Burn It Down."

"The BBC session was fucking great," Keithley said in a statement. "We were really excited; and then at two minutes to midnight, the studio time was up, a really old BBC janitor unceremoniously kicked us out of the studio, and we were back out on street as usual!"

As for D.O.A.'s upcoming studio album, their first since 2012's We Come in Peace, the band are still seeking out funds over Kickstarter to help offset costs. So far, they've collected just over $3,300 of their $5,000 goal.

Keithley had previously stated that Hard Rain Falling would feature new tunes weighing in on "war, racism, oil pipelines, street gangs, and more," with the sonic backdrop leaning towards the premium vintage punk of D.O.A.'s back catalogue.

"When I started writing songs for Hard Rain Falling I listened to our early stuff like Hardcore 81 and the Disco Sucks EP and I tried to take same direct to the point, wild and political approach," he said. "So it's back to D.O.A.'s roots the way we are approaching this album."

An ETA for Hard Rain Falling has not been confirmed. You can contribute to the cause over here.

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