dropkick murphys

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, The Clash 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. 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. In 1999, they released their follow-up album, The Gang's All Here.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. Their next album, Blackout, was released in 2003, the new album included the radio hit "Walk Away," as well as the song "Fields of Athenry." 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. 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, Volume 2.

Their fifth (and latest) studio album, The Warrior's Code, was released on June 21, 2005. It features the singles "Sunshine Highway", "The Walking Dead", "The Warrior's Code" as well as the bonus track, "Tessie". It also includes a song that was inspired by a Woody Guthrie poem the band found in the WG archives "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" which is featured in the 2006 film The Departed, Martin Scorsese's adaptation of the Hong Kong crime thriller Infernal Affairs. 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.

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

• Oi! Skampilation Vol.3(Road of the rightous/Third man in ) (1997)
• 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-Heroes 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)
• Oi!Skampilation Vol.3(Road of the rightous/Third man in )(1997)Produced by(Derek TC NYSR)"
• 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

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.
• 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"
• The 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
• Vengeance 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 Motörhead 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 Tossers
• Blood or Whiskey
• Neck
• The LeperKhanz
• List of musicians in the second wave of punk music

Notes and references

External links

• Dropkick Murphys official web site
• Dropkick Murphys official Myspace page
• Hellcat Records
• Interview With Marc And Tim (2006)
• Interview With Marc (2003)
• Dropkick Murphys Interview on Truepunk.com
• Live Pictures Of DKM