At age 11, he began playing drums after being inspired by a drummer in a jazz band at his sister's wedding.

In 1972, in light of the ongoing Vietnam War and the American's planned testing of nuclear weapons off the coast of Alaska's Amchitka Island, 16 year old Keithley and 300 fellow students participated in a school walkout to join a protest organized by Greenpeace.

[8] In 1977, Keithley, along with Chuck Biscuits' older brother, started a band called the Skulls.

He was interviewed for a documentary titled Let's All Hate Toronto, produced by Elevator Films and published by The Disinformation Company.

In 2008, The Vancouver Sun newspaper named Keithley one of British Columbia's most influential people of all time.

[16] The recording company was started in 1978 as a DIY response to lack of interest from major labels.

While studying at the University of British Columbia, he planned to become a labor lawyer, but found music irresistible.