Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Years active | 1996 - present |
| Members | Marc Orell Al Barr Ken Casey James Lynch Tim Brennan Scruffy Wallace Matt Kelly |
Dropkick Murphys are a Punk band formed in the Irish Catholic working class neighborhoods of South Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They practiced in the basement of a friend's barbershop, blending punk rock, Oi!, Irish folk, rock, and hardcore into something they could call their own. Their influences include such outfits as Stiff Little Fingers, The Pogues, and The Clash, but most importantly, the Real McKenzies and the Swinging Utters. Their name was taken from a local rehab center. They typically close their concerts with "Skinhead on the MBTA," a parody of "The MTA Song." The band has made a name for themselves and built a following by their non stop touring all over the world and their famous St. Patricks Day weekend shows which are held every year in Boston.
Band history
Dropkick Murphys were formed in 1996 by Mike McColgan on vocals, Ken Casey on bass guitar, Rick Barton on guitars. After a series of drummers, including Jeff Erner who played drums on the Boys On The Docks EP, the band settled on Matt Kelly in 1997. The band put out a series of EPs and were signed by Hellcat Records. In 1998, they released their first full length album, Do or Die. Soon after the album's release, McColgan left the band, citing his inability to commit to touring. He was replaced by Al Barr, formerly of The Bruisers. In 1999, they released their follow-up album, The Gang's All Here. Following the release, Lars Frederiksen, who had produced Dropkick's first two albums, exited to pursue other interests, and Barton also left the band, after getting married. He personally named James Lynch, a guitarist with local band, The Ducky Boys as his successor. The band also recruited a second guitarist, Marc Orrell, who was also a self-taught accordionist and pianist. The band also employed a full-time piper, Robbie "Spicy McHaggis" Mederios and Ryan Foltz on mandolin and tin whistle.
In 2001, Dropkick released the album Sing Loud, Sing Proud!. The album showcased their developing sound, and included collaborations with former Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan and Cock Sparrer's Colin McFaull. The band's popularity amongst skinheads led to accusations of racism on the part of the band, which the bandmembers denied, pointing out that they had performed at Anti-Racist Action benefit concerts.[1]
Their next album, Blackout, was released in 2003. Prior to the album's release, McHaggis left the band to get married. James "Scruffy" Wallace filled in bagpipe duties, and Tim Brennan was employed as a full-time accordionist, not before Foltz left after the tour, allowing Brennan to assume tin whistle, acoustic guitar and mandolin duties. The new album included the radio hit "Walk Away," as well as the song "Fields of Athenry," which made its debut on the compilation album Atticus: Dragging the Lake Vol. 2. In late 2003 Ken and Al joined former "Dropkick Murphys" singer Mike McColgan on the song "Stand Up" which was featured on the debut album by Mike's new band, the Street Dogs, called Savin Hill. Ken was set to produce the album but was unable to due to his busy schedule with the Murphys. Around the same time the band released a re-working of the Boston Red Sox anthem, Tessie, which then became the official song of the Boston Red Sox 2004 World Series run.
In 2005, the Dropkick Murphys released "Singles Collection Volume 2", featuring covers, b-sides, and other material that didn't make it onto previous albums, and the band contributed a recording of "We Got the Power" to Rock Against Bush, Volume 2. "Tessie" was used throughout the major motion picture Fever Pitch which starred Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore. The band was even invited to the premiere of the movie which was held at Fenway Park where the video was also shot. Their fifth (and latest) studio album, The Warrior's Code, was released on June 21 2005. It features the singles "Sunshine Highway", "The Warrior's Code" as well as the bonus track, "Tessie". After the tour of The Warrior's Code, Dropkick Murphys have confirmed that they are taking a break from touring. There is rumored a sixth studio album yet to be recorded, but the band confirmed that it may not happen until likely towards the end of 2006 or beginning of 2007.[citation needed]
In September 2006, Dropkick Murphys will be co-headlining on Bad Religion's series of Canadian tour dates. [2]
The instrumental version of their song "Shipping Off to Boston" is featured in the trailer for the 2006 film The Departed, Martin Scorcese's adaptation of the Hong Kong crime thriller Infernal Affairs. The Departed is set for release October 6, 2006.
Discography
Studio Albums
- Do or Die (1998)
- The Gang's All Here (1999)
- Sing Loud Sing Proud(2001)
- Blackout (2003)
- The Warrior's Code (2005)
Live and Compilation Albums
- The Early Years (1998)
- The Singles Collection, Volume 1 (2000)
- Live on St. Patrick's Day From Boston, MA (2003)
- Singles Collection, Volume 2 (2005)
EPs
- Boys on the Docks (1997)
- Tessie (2004)
Singles
- Fire and Brimstone (1997)
- Tattoos and Scally Caps (1997)
- Curse of Fallen Soul (1998)
- Good Rats (2000)
- Live on a Five (2000)
- Walk Away (2003)
- Time to Go: Promotional Single (2003)
- Fields of Athenry (2003)
- Back to the Hub (2003)
- Fields of Athenry: Andrew Farrar Memorial (2005) Memorial single
Splits
- DKM/Ducky Boys Spilt 7 inch (1997)
- DKM/Bruisers Split 7 inch (1997)
- Anti-Heros vs Dropkick Murphys (1997)
- DKM/Oxymoron Split (1998)
- Mob Mentality 7" (Split with The Business) (1999)
- Unity (Split with Agnostic Front) (1999)
- This Is The Eastcoast (...Not L.A.) (Split with H2O) (2000)
- Mob Mentality CD (Split with The Business) (2000)
- Face to Face vs Dropkick Murphys (2002)
Compilations
- Runt of the Litter, Vol. 2 (1996)
- Give 'Em The Boot (1997) - Includes "Barroom Hero (original version)"
- Give 'Em The Boot Vol. 2 (1999) - Includes "The Gang's All Here"
- Vans Off The Wall Sampler (1999) - Includes "Boston Asphalt"
- Punk Rock Jukebox Vol. 3 (1999) - Includes "Vengeance"
- Built For Speed - A Motorhead Tribute (1999) - Includes "Rock And Roll"
- Punch Drunk (1999) - Includes "You're A Rebel"
- Boston Drops The Gloves: A Tribute To Slapshot (1999) - Includes "I've Had Enough"
- Punch Drunk Vol. 2 (2000) - Includes "Soundtrack To A Killing Spree"
- A Worldwide Tribute To Oi (2000) - Includes "Hey Little Rich Boy" and "Never Again"
- Back On The Streets - Japanese/American Punk Unity (2000) - Includes "Halloween" and "Soundtrack To A Killing Spree"
- Punk-O-Rama Vol. 5 (2000) - Includes "Good Rats (Original Version)"
- Punk-O-Rama Vol. 6 (2001) - Includes "The Gauntlet"
- A Tribute To Cock Sparrer (2001) - Includes "Working"
- Give 'Em The Boot Vol. 3 (2002) - Includes "The Legend Of Finn McCummhail"
- Punk-O-Rama Vol. 7 (2002) - Includes "Heroes From Our Past"
- Atticus: Dragging The Lake Vol. 2 (2003) - Includes "Fields Of Athenry"
- 2003 Warped Tour Compilation (2003) - Includes "Walk Away"
- Punk-O-Rama Vol. 8 (2003) - Includes "Gonna Be A Blackout Tonight"
- Give 'Em The Boot Vol. 4 (2004) - Includes "I'm Shipping Up To Boston (original version)"
- Rock Against Bush, Vol. 2 (2004) - Includes "We Got the Power"
- Punk-O-Rama Vol. 9 (2004) - Includes "The Dirty Glass"
- Punk-O-Rama Vol. 10 (2005) - Includes "The Warrior's Code"
- Fever Pitch Soundtrack (2005) - Includes "Tessie"
- Tony Hawk's American Wasteland soundtrack (2005) - Includes "Who is Who"
- 2005 Warped Tour Compilation (2005) - Includes "Sunshine Highway"
- Whiskey In The Jar: Essential Irish Drinking Songs And Sing Alongs (2006) - Includes "Fields Of Athenry", "The Wild Rover" and "The Dirty Glass"
DVDs
- Vans Warped Tour 2003 (2003) - Includes "Black Velvet Band (Live)"
- Punk-O-Rama Vol. 1 (2003) - Includes the videos for "Barroom Hero" and "The Gauntlet"
- On The Road With The Dropkick Murphys (2004)
- Punk Rock Holocaust (2004)
- Give 'Em The Boot (2005) - Includes "Good Rats (Live)"
Billboard (US) Chart Positions
Full Albums
| Year | Title | Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Do or Die | — |
| 1999 | The Gang's All Here | # 184 US |
| 2001 | Sing Loud Sing Proud | # 144 US |
| 2002 | Live on St. Patrick's Day From Boston, MA | # 156 US |
| 2003 | Blackout | # 83 US |
| 2005 | The Warrior's Code | # 48 US |
Cover Songs
Over the years, Dropkick Murphys have covered a number of different songs from many different genres, giving them their own feel. Here's a list of songs that they've rerecorded
- Cadence to Arms is a rendition of the song Scotland The Brave
- Finnegan's Wake is an old Irish song
- Skinhead on the MBTA is a rendition of Charlie on the MTA
- The Fighting 69th was originally done by the Wolfe Tones
- Amazing Grace is an old Christian hymn written by John Newton
- For Boston is the fight song for Boston College and was written by T.J. Hurley
- Which Side Are You On was written by Florence Reece about the coal miners' strike in Harlan County, KY.
- The Rocky Road To Dublin is an old Irish song
- The Wild Rover is a traditional Irish drinking song
- The Black Velvet Band is a traditional Irish folk song
- Gonna Be A Blackout Tonight lyrics were written by Woody Guthrie
- The Fields of Athenry was written by Pete St. John
- Captain Kelly's Kitchen is a rendition of the song "Courtin' in the Kitchen"
- Green Fields Of France was written by Eric Bogle and is also known as "No Man's Land" and "Willie McBride"
- The Auld Triangle was written by Brendan Behan and featured in his play The Quare Fellow
- Tessie is a rendition of the broadway song and was sung by Boston Red Sox fans during the 1918 season, when they won the World series. 86 years later, the Red Sox won another World Series after the Dropkick Murphys recorded their version.
- The band did a live cover of The Clash's "Career Opportunities", "Guns Of Brixton" and "White Riot"
- Billy's Bones was originally by The Pogues
- I've Had Enough was originally recorded by Slapshot
- 21 Guitar Salute was originally by The Press
- Fortunate Son was originally by Creedance Clearwater Revival
- You're A Rebel was originally by Iron Cross
- Vengence was originally by The Nipple Erectors
- It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Want to Rock 'n' Roll') is an AC/DC song
- Warlords was originally by The F.U.'s
- Alcohol was originally by Gang Green
- The Nutrocker (Nutty) is a rendition of the Boston Bruins theme song
- Rock and Roll is a Motorhead song
- Hey Little Rich Boy is a Sham 69 song
- Never Again was originally done by Angelic Upstarts
- Halloween is a Misfits song
- Working and Watch Your Back are Cock Sparrer songs
- Victory is a version of the Notre Dame Victory March
- Informer and Keep The Faith were originally done by The Business
- The Kids Are Alright was originally by The Who
- Knock Me Down was originally done by The Outlets
See also
- Street Dogs (features original lead singer Mike McColgan)
- The Pogues
- Flogging Molly
- The LeperKhanz
- The Tossers
- Blood or Whiskey
- List of musicians in the second wave of punk music
Notes and references
- ^ Parrish, Andra (March 15 2001). "Shamrocks and Shenanigans: Dropkick Murphys make Irish eyes smile". Detours. The Independent Florida Alligator. Retrieved 2006-07-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Bad Religion / Dropkick Murphys (Canada). Punknews.org. Retrieved on August 5, 2006.