Dropkick Murphys are an Irish-American Celtic punk band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts, U.S..[1] First playing together in the basement of a friend's barbershop, they blended traditional folk rock and punk rock known as Celtic punk. Their influences include Stiff Little Fingers, The Pogues, The Clash, Thin Lizzy, The Dubliners, and the Swingin' Utters.[2]
The band has made a name for itself and built a following as a result of their non-stop touring all over the world and their famous St. Patrick's Day weekend shows, which are held in and around Boston. Dropkick Murphys is known for supporting trade unions and the working class.[3] The group is also well-known for their patronage of the Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins and the Boston Celtics.
Name
There are differing stories as to the origin of the band's name.
Former band member Marc Orrell has said:
The Dropkick Murphy will come and get you if you don't go to sleep tonight. It's a rehab center, I think it's in Connecticut. I think it was the guy who used to come around late at night for all the drunks, like if you were too drunk to drive home, he would come and get you and put you in this hole that you couldn't get out until you were sober enough, I don't know. There's a bunch a stories, it's also a boxer, a bunch of things, a rehab center in Connecticut, grandparents used to scare kids with it.[4]
Original frontman Mike McColgan and co-founder Ken Casey said the following:
The band’s name was stolen from an old rehab where they used to take skid row bums in Boston... We always heard of old-timers in our neighborhood telling war stories about being locked up at Dropkick Murphy's, so we decided that if we ever started a balls center (or 'drying out spot') for alcoholics. It's real name was Bellows Farm. It was located in Concord or Acton Massachusetts or one of the other nearby towns. This was at a time before there were public detoxes and before any medical insurance policies would pay for detoxification. The clients were far from being 'skid row bums' since a stay was quite expensive. Regular clients could request 'pickup service' and a car would be dispatched to Boston (or wherever) to 'scoop' them. This service was also expensive. There is a newspaper clipping framed outside of the bathrooms of Doyles bar in Jamaica Plains entitled "Dropkick Murphy shuts up shop" outlining the life of the proprietor of this establishment. "Dropkick" was a nickname for the man who sobered up so many drunks. If I had the time I'd go back to Boston for a pint and to locate the source. I have a picture of the clipping.[citation needed]
Career
Dropkick Murphys was originally formed in 1996 in Quincy, Massachusetts. The band first started playing in the basement of a friend's barbershop and soon found that people liked their music, and as a result began to tour and record.
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. Lead singer Mike McColgan left the band later that year with his life long dream of becoming a Boston firefighter, and was replaced by The Bruisers lead singer Al Barr, who was referred to Ken Casey by Derek TC NYSR producer/founder of the groundbreaking 90's Oi!/Skampilation series at the Middle East Club in Boston. In 1999, they released their follow-up album, The Gang's All Here. In 2001 they released their third album, Sing Loud, Sing Proud!. The album showcased their developing sound as the band widely progressed from being a 4-piece punk rock outfit, and included collaborations with Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan and Cock Sparrer's Colin McFaull. It also marked a significant lineup change for the band. Original guitarist Rick Barton was replaced by former The Ducky Boys guitarist, James Lynch and Marc Orrell, and additional instruments were added and played by new members Ryan Foltz and Robbie "Spicy McHaggis" Mederios, whose name was inspired by a McDonald's menu item while the band was on a 1999 tour in Scotland.[5] Shortly after, both Foltz and McHaggis left the band, being replaced by mandolin/guitar player Tim Brennan and bagpipes player Scruffy Wallace.
Their next album, Blackout, was released in 2003. The new album included the radio hit "Walk Away," as well as the fan favorite song "Fields of Athenry". Notably "The Dirty Glass" with female vocals from Stephanie Dougherty (Deadly Sins) is a song about a bar in Quincy, Massachusetts called Darcy's. Also in 2003 the Murphys were on the Vans Warped Tour. 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 winning World Series run. "Tessie" was also used throughout the major motion picture Fever Pitch which starred Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore and was included on the EA Sports MVP Baseball 2005 soundtrack. The band was even invited to the premiere of the movie which was held at Fenway Park where the video was also shot.
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, Vol. 2.
Their fifth studio album, The Warrior's Code on Hellcat Records, was released on June 21, 2005. It features the singles "Sunshine Highway", "The Warrior's Code" as well as the bonus track, "Tessie". It also includes "I'm Shipping Up to Boston", a song that was inspired by a Woody Guthrie poem the band found in his archives also called "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" which is featured in the 2006 Academy Award winning film The Departed, Martin Scorsese's adaptation of the Hong Kong crime thriller Infernal Affairs (Scorsese mentioned the band in an interview after he won his first Oscar). Two videos, one with and without footage from The Departed were made in response to the overwhelming response to the band's new hit song. The song was also featured in The Simpsons episode "The Debarted."[6] "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" is also used during many Boston sporting events such as the victory song of the Patriots and Celtics, the walk-out song of Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, a regular walk-in song of former UFC light-heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin, and as the power play song for several NHL teams, including the Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers. It continues to be an unofficial anthem of general Bostonian pride. "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" is currently being used as the official theme song for the Australian Football League 2009 season advertising campaign.
The song "Last Letter Home" contains excerpts from personal letters between Sgt. Andrew Farrar, his mother, and his wife. The following is taken from the album notes:
We had already finished this song that was based on general correspondences to & from the soldiers serving in Iraq, when we were contacted by the family of Sgt. Andrew Farrar who had recently died while serving there. The family wanted to tell us he was a big supporter of the Dropkick Murphys. They also passed on a letter that he had written to his mother shortly before his death in which he thanks her for sending him a Dropkick Murphys CD & said that if anything should happen to him while in Iraq, he would like one of our songs played at his funeral. He also left behind a wife, Melissa and two young boys Tyler & Liam. His tour of duty in Iraq was coming to an end & he was due to come home & renew his wedding vows with Melissa to another song of ours, "Forever". Sgt Farrar died on January 28th, on his 31st birthday. We were present at his funeral to grant his wish and played "Fields of Athenry" as his casket entered the church. This song was re-written to include excerpts from that letter.
The band released a single, with the family's permission, including the Andrew Farrar-dedicated "Fields Of Athenry" and "The Last Letter Home". All proceeds went to the Farrar family.
In 2007, the band issued their sixth album and major label debut The Meanest of Times. On October 21, 2007, the band played on a small stage in Fenway Park prior to Game 7 of the 2007 American League Championship Series. On October 30, 2007, the band performed on a flatbed truck during the Boston Red Sox rolling rally to celebrate their 2007 World Series Championship, playing "I'm Shipping Up to Boston", "Dirty Water", "Tessie", "The State of Massachusetts", "For Boston", and "Sunshine Highway", to celebrate. Red Sox relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon performed his trademark dance on the flatbed with them. Fellow Red Sox relief pitchers Hideki Okajima and Mike Timlin also rode on the band's flatbed.[7]
In 2008 Marc Orrell announced he was leaving the band and that Tim Brennan would replace him as a full-time guitarist.[8] Tim's duties will be taken over by Jeff DaRosa.[9]
To tie in with St. Patrick's Day, a free Dropkick Murphys track pack for Guitar Hero III on the Xbox Live Marketplace and the Playstation Network was released on 15 March 2008 containing: "Famous For Nothing"; "(F)lannigan's Ball" and "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya" from their latest album, "The Meanest of Times". Also, the song "The State Of Massachusetts" is available as downloadable content for Guitar Hero II for the Xbox 360.
In 2008 frontman Ken Casey re-opened McGreevys Pub, which is said to be the first sports bar ever. The bar has drawn good reviews for both its food and atmosphere. The Murphys have also continued touring, including a number of dates in July set to feature The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. At their July 10, 2008 concert date at LeLacheur Park in Lowell, Massachusetts, they announced that the show was being recorded and would be released as their next live album. They made similar announcements during shows in Portland, Maine and Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The band also stated at the Pawtucket show that the sellout crowd of 10,060 was the largest in the band's history. On Thursday, March 12 2009, the band played the first of a series of seven St Patrick's Day shows at Boston's House of Blues, announcing that the series was to become a DVD/Live Album combination, to be released later in 2009. They are also aiming to release a new studio album some time close to St Patrick's day 2010. [10]
On April 22, 2009, the Dropkick Murphys joined Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band onstage in Boston for his Working on a Dream Tour, playing 'Glory Days' and 'American Land', and the band's guitarist proposed to his girlfriend Diana onstage and was following by the Springsteen song 'So Young And In Love'.
On June 16, 2009 the band opened up for Aerosmith at the Comcast Arena in Mansfield Mass, in a "Hometown Heroes" concert, they later joined Aerosmith onstage to perform "Dirty Water"
Tours
- Sing Loud, Sing Proud Tour
- Warped Tour 2003
- The Warrior's Code Tour
- Boston Invasion Tour
- Warped Tour 2005
- The Meanest Of Times Tour
- Big Day Out 09
- All Roads Lead To Boston Tour
- 2009 World Tour
- 2009 Summerfest-Milwaukee
Band members
- Al Barr – lead vocals
- Ken Casey – bass guitar, lead vocals
- Matt Kelly – drums, bodhran, vocals
- James Lynch – guitar, vocals
- Scruffy Wallace – bagpipes, tin whistle
- Tim Brennan – guitar, accordion, vocals
- Jeff DaRosa – acoustic guitar, banjo, bouzouki, keyboard, mandolin, whistle, organ, vocals.
Discography
Studio albums
Live and compilation albums
EPs
Singles
Splits
Compilations
- I've Got My Friends-Boston/San Francisco Split CD (1996) - Includes "Get Up" and the original version of "Skinhead On The MBTA".
- Runt of the Litter, Vol. 2 (1996) - Includes "In The Streets of Boston (live June 29, 1996 @ TT the Bears)"
- Oi! Skampilation Vol. 3 (1997) - Includes "Road of the Righteous" and "Third Man In" (both live)
- Give 'Em the Boot (1997) - Includes "Barroom Hero (original version)"
- Vans Off the Wall Sampler (1998) - Includes "Road of the Righteous"
- Give 'Em the Boot II (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 III (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 IV (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 (Darcy's Revenge)"
- Punk-O-Rama Vol. 10 (2005) - Includes "The Warrior's Code"
- MVP Baseball 2005 soundtrack (2005) - Includes "Tessie"
- Fever Pitch soundtrack (2005) - Includes "Tessie"
- Tony Hawk's Underground soundtrack (2003) - Includes "Time To Go"
- Tony Hawk's American Wasteland soundtrack (2005) - Includes "Who is Who"
- 2005 Warped Tour Compilation (2005) - Includes "Sunshine Highway"
- Give 'Em the Boot V (2006) - Includes "Warriors Code"
- Whiskey in the Jar: Essential Irish Drinking Songs and Sing Alongs (2006) - Includes "The Fields of Athenry", "The Wild Rover", and "The Dirty Glass"
- The Departed soundtrack (2006) - Includes "I'm Shipping Up to Boston"
- Give 'Em the Boot VI (2007)
- Lobster Wars theme (2007) - "I'm Shipping Up to Boston"
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 (U.S.) chart positions
Born & Bred Records
The Dropkick Murphys started their own label, Born & Bred Records, in 2007. It is a division of East West Records, which itself is part of Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group. The first, and so far only, release on the label was the band's The Meanest of Times.
Dropkick Murphys in the sports world
The Dropkick Murphys have been heavily involved in the sports world.
- The song "Victory" is a cover of the University of Notre Dame's famous "Victory March."
- The song "Tessie" was the unofficial Red Sox anthem during Boston's 2004 run to the World Series. The song continues to be played at Red Sox games, was featured in the Red Sox flick Fever Pitch, was featured in EA Sport's MVP Baseball 2005, and Sox fans are sometimes referred to as the Royal Rooters (referenced in the song's lyrics). Some members of the 2004 Red Sox, including Johnny Damon, Lenny DiNardo and Bronson Arroyo are featured in background vocals in the songs.
- "Time To Go" was written about the Boston Bruins. The band, which had also covered the Bruins' 70's theme song, "Nut Rocker", wanted the song to be the team's new anthem. The song was performed live at a Bruins game during intermission in November 2003, distributed as a promo single outside the stadium during the game, and appears on NHL 2005.
- "I'm Shipping Up To Boston" became the unofficial anthem of the 2007 Red Sox, with Jonathan Papelbon dancing an Irish jig to the song several times throughout the season. During the team's victory parade, Papelbon did the jig while the Murphys played the song on the same float. The song is also featured as arena music in several NHL arenas, and was used as feature music during CBS' coverage of the NFL during New England Patriots games. The song is now also played when the New York Met's Daniel Murphy comes up to bat
- "The Warrior's Code" is written about local boxing legend Micky Ward. The cover of the LP features a picture of Ward.
- At the end of the band's LP Sing Loud, Sing Proud, a radio telecast of the Boston Celtics winning their 16th NBA championship is recreated.
- The song "Caps and Bottles" has an old Bruins telecast playing alongside the intro music.
- The song, "Your Spirit's Alive", makes a reference to one of the band's best friends, Greg "Chickenman" Riley, playing hockey in heaven, with two former local hockey players who had died in the 9/11 tragedy playing the wings.
- Ken Casey is known to wear a Terry O'Reilly jersey at the shows, and a feature article was written about it on NHL.com in 2003.
- The Dropkick Murphys sponsor a local adult hockey team, and the logo has also been used on merchandise; in addition, the Murphys have many other related merchandise influenced by Boston sport teams.
- Ken Casey reopened what the band has said to the be the world's supposed first sports bar, McGreevey's at 911 Boylston Street.
- The band was featured as the NHL.com Artist of the Month for November 2007.
- The band's music has appeared on several Tony Hawk video games.
- Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin's Entrance Song Is "I'm Shipping Up To Boston". The Dropkick Murphys also sell a Forrest Griffin T-shirt on their website.
- Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX (2000) features Dropkick Murphys' "Never Alone" on its soundtrack.
- They also appeared at a Celtic F.C. soccer game, before which they played three songs. One of the songs was "The Fields of Athenry", one of Celtic's fans' anthems.
- The Dropkick Murphys song "Sunshine Highway" was used in the commercials for NASCAR on FOX.
- The song "For Boston" from the album Sing Loud, Sing Proud is a cover of Boston College's fight song, originally written by T.J. Hurley from the BC class of 1885.
- The song "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" was used in the official Australian Football League television advertisement in 2009
- "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" is played at New York Mets games when Daniel Murphy comes up to bat.
- The Song "The State of Massachusetts" is used for the opening credits of Nitro Circus.
- The song "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" is the official theme song of the Puma Volvo Ocean Race Team.
See also
Footnotes
External links
Interviews
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