Following on from a series of early demos on MySpace.com, the band released a series of EPs on CD and vinyl, Bury Me In Drab, Postcards From Uranus and A Fistful of Doo-Riffs and Aquatic Ape Theory. After self-releasing Bury Me In Drab, the band worked with Border Music and 1:12 Records. Their final release was the 2013 compilation Home Surgery, released via Mushroom's NZ Liberation subsidiary. They also recorded a split 7-inch single with Tourettes for Cheese On Toast. Their side of the 7-inch included the songs 'I Wanna Be Spock' and 'Motor Scoot Scoot'. They also featured on the Cheese On Toast Cheesy Christmas download album and the Nature's Worst Vol. 3 compilation album released via Nature's Worst Records.

Karl Steven is a member of Supergroove. He also played in Heart Attack Alley with Caoimhe MacFehin. Michael Vincent Sperring was previously a member of Don Julio and the Hispanic Mechanics and Street Chant (when they performed as Mean Street). Lucy Stewart has previously played in The Vietnam War.

The Drab Doo-Riffs extensively toured New Zealand and performed in Melbourne, Australia. They played support to The Cult, Blondie, The Stranglers, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, the Reverend Beat Man, and toured with Liam Finn. They also played at the Big Day Out, Camp A Low Hum, Nelson March Fest and the Dunedin Fringe Festival.

The Drab Doo-Riffs were known for playing in unconventional settings and performed on the Interislander ferry, on the back of trucks at hot rod car parties and environmental demonstrations.

Their music featured in New Zealand television shows The Blue Rose and Go Girls. They also licensed music to Mountain Dew. In 2010 they acted in and provided music for cult splatter exploitation movie Big Tits Massacre.  

After the release of Home Surgery in November 2013, the band announced via their Facebook page that they were no more because "we live all over the place".