Death Of Samantha was a Cleveland, Ohio underground rock band, formed in 1984 and played their last show on December 15th, 1990. The founding members were John Petkovic, David James, and Steve Eierdam (known as "Steve-O"). By 1985 Doug Gillard joined as lead guitarist; in 1986 David James left and was replaced by Dave Swanson. Marky Ray (the terrible parade, Death On A Stick, others) replaced Dave Swanson in 1990 and stayed until the band's break-up in 1990.
The band's name was taken from a B-side song by Yoko Ono at the last minute before Petkovic, James and Steve-O played their first gig at a Ground Round restaurant in Parma Heights, Ohio in 1984. Petkovic was an employee at the chain restaurant at the time. His position was terminated for the impromptu gig that caused families to walk out, bills unpaid and food left uneaten on the tables.
DOS then played their first club show at The Lakefront on January 14th, 1984, two weeks after Cleveland's Pink Holes recorded their live album at that same venue.
DOS were signed by Gerard Cosloy to Homestead Records after the band released two singles on the Cleveland collective label St. Valentine's Records. The band went on to release an EP and two more LPs, touring the Midwest and East coast throughout the late 80s before touring the West coast in 1990.
After recording tracks for an album to be called Egomania: Love Songs three times (at Beat Farm, at the downtown Cleveland studio Right Track with Sean Bevan (Nine Inch Nails producer) with drum machines and samplers, and a final attempt at Magnetic North with Chris Keffer), the band were still not satisfied with the results and the band called it quits in 1990.
The band did play one more show in Cleveland at The Empire, March 14, 1992.
In 1993 John Petkovic formed Cobra Verde with former DOS members Doug Gillard and Dave Swanson (who moved to drums).