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Dropkick Murphys Information
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'Dropkick Murphys' are a punk rock 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. The sound of their music is rooted in such outfits like Stiff Little Fingers, The Pogues, AC/DC, and The Clash. 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.
Band history
right|thumb|300px|Current lineup From left to right: Marc Orell, Tim Brennan, James Lynch, Al Barr, Ken Casey , Matt Kelly, Scruffy Wallace.Dropkick Murphys was formed in 1995 by Mike McColgan (vocals), Ken Casey (bass guitar), Rick Barton (formerly of Boston punk pop act, the Outlets) (guitar). After cycling through a series of drummers the band settled on Fit For Abuse vocalist, Matt Kelly in 1997. The band put out a series of EPs and were signed by Hellcat Records releasing their first full length album, Do or Die, in the same year. Soon after the album's release vocalist Mike McColgan left the band citing his inability to commit to touring. McColgan was replaced by former Bruisers singer Al Barr. 1999 saw the release of their follow up album The Gang's All Here and major changes were on the way. Lars Frederiksen who had produced Dropkick's first two albums exited to pursue other interests and Rick Barton left after getting married. James Lynch from local band Ducky Boys was picked by Barton to replace him in the group. The band also recruited another guitarist, Marc Orrell, (also a self-taught accordionist.) as well as Spicy McHaggis (bagpipes) and Ryan Foltz (mandolin / tin whistle). In 2001 Dropkick released the album Sing Loud Sing Proud. The album show cased the developing sound of the band and included collaborations with ex-Pogues Shane MacGowan and Cock Sparrer's Colin McFaull. Their next album Blackout was released in 2003. Prior to the album's release, Spicy McHaggis left the band "because he was whipped," and Foltz also left. James "Scruffy" Wallace filled in bagpipe duties, and Tim Brennan took up mandolin, tin whistle and acoustic guitar. 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 2005, the Murphys released Singles Collection Volume 2, featuring covers, b-sides and other stuff that didn't make it onto previous albums. Their latest studio album, The Warrior's Code was released on June 21st of 2005 sporting the singles "Sunshine Highway" and "Tessie."
Discography
Full Albums
| 'Year' | 'Title' | 'Label' | 'Chart Positions' | | 1997 | Do or Die | Epitaph | - | | 1999 | The Gang's All Here | Epitaph | #184 US | | 2001 | Sing Loud Sing Proud | Epitaph | #144 US | | 2002 | Live on St. Patrick's Day From Boston, MA | Epitaph | #156 US | | 2003 | Blackout | Epitaph | #83 US | | 2005 | The Warrior's Code | Epitaph | #48 US |
EPs
| 'Year' | 'Title' | 'Label' | | 2004 | Tessie | Hellcat |
Singles and 7' compilations
| 'Year' | 'Title' | 'Label' | | 1997 | Boys on the Docks | Cyclone Records | | 1997 | DKM/Ducky Boys Spilt | Flat Records | | 1997 | DKM/Bruisers Split | Pogostick Records. | | 1997 | DKM/Anti-Heros Split | TKO Records. | | 1997 | Fire and Brimstone | Cyclone Records | | 1997 | Tattoos & Scally Caps | GMM Records | | 1998 | DKM/Oxymoron Split | Knockout Records | | 1998 | Curse of Fallen Soul | TKO Records | | 1998 | Early Years (UK) | rare | | 2000 | DKM/H2O Split - This Is The Eastcoast (...Not L.A.) | Japan only |
DVDs
| 'Year' | 'Title' | 'Label' | | 2004 | On The Road With The Dropkick Murphys | Hellcat |
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