The Early Years

History

Mike McColgan era (1996–1998)

Dropkick Murphys were originally formed in 1996 in Quincy, Massachusetts, initially consisting of lead vocalist Mike McColgan, bassist/vocalist Ken Casey, guitarist Rick Barton, and drummer Jeff Erna (who was replaced the next year by Matt Kelly). The band was named after Dr. John "Dropkick" Murphy's alcohol-detoxification facility. The Dropkick Murphys first started playing in the basement of a friend's barber's shop and soon began to tour and record. They received their first big break when the Mighty Mighty Bosstones selected them as the opening act for their 1997 tour in support of Let's Face It.

After putting out a series of EPs (which included their 1997 debut Boys on the Docks), they were signed by Hellcat Records in 1997 and made their debut for the label on the very first Give 'Em the Boot label sampler album that same year. In 1998, they released their first full-length album, Do or Die, which was produced by Rancid's Lars Frederiksen. The band's only full release to feature their founding lineup.

Lead singer Mike McColgan left the band in 1998 during the middle of a US tour with the Business. According to McColgan, he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his uncle and join the Boston Fire Department, which he eventually did in 2001. The band gave a different explanation for McColgan's departure in the liner notes of their 1998 release Curse of a Fallen Soul: "We'd like to take this time to officially let you know that Mike McColgan, our former lead singer has quit the band. We apologize to anyone who was a fan of Mike as our singer, however contrary to popular rumor, he did not leave the band to join the fire department. Mike left the band because he is no longer interested in being a member of this band or the movement of which we are a part." The band explained that their music is very serious to them and that it did not feel right having a singer who was going through the motions. Even McColgan felt that the band deserved a singer who was emotionally invested in the music. McColgan returned to the punk scene in 2002 as singer of the Street Dogs.

Hellcat years (1998–2007)

After McColgan's departure, the band searched for a replacement but did not have much luck. Al Barr, lead singer for The Bruisers was well aware of the Dropkick Murphys and at first actually resented the fact that the Dropkick Murphys were quickly becoming one of the biggest bands in the area, opening for all the bigger bands to come through, a slot Barr and the Bruisers would usually have obtained. Barr was informed of McColgan's departure and quickly assumed that the band was finished. However he was contacted by Derek TC NYSR producer-founder of the groundbreaking 1990s Oi!-Skampilation series at the Middle East Club in Cambridge and told to contact Ken Casey right away. Barr auditioned for the band, first performing a new song titled "10 Years of Service" and was offered the job right away which he accepted. Barr's first release with the band was the 1998 single for "Curse of a Fallen Soul", a song that also would appear on their upcoming album. On March 16, 1999, the band released their second studio album and first with Barr, The Gang's All Here. The album featured more of a hardcore–street punk sound closer to that of Barr's former band, The Bruisers and more of an Irish influence than on their debut album. The band gained their first mainstream exposure when the video for their single "10 Years of Service" received airplay on the MTV show 120 Minutes. The band set out on a year-long tour to support the album. In late 1999, the band along with The Business, released a split single (as McBusiness) titled, "Mob Mentality" in 1999. A year later they released a full-length album of the same name featuring the two bands covering each other's songs along with songs from other artists. Dropkick Murphys also re-recorded their own song "Boys on the Docks" with Al Barr on vocals marking the third different recording of the song.

As the band began the process of recording their third album in 2000, Rick Barton decided to quit during the recording sessions. In 2014, Barton discussed his departure saying "Myself and Kenny ended up hating each other. We've since made amends, but you know, touring in a band for four straight years... that same old story." With Barton gone, the band added four new members which included former Ducky Boys guitarist James Lynch, who joined shortly prior to Barton's departure, 17-year-old guitarist Marc Orrell, mandolin and tin whistle player Ryan Foltz and bagpipe player Robbie "Spicy McHaggis" Medeiros, whose nickname was inspired by a McDonald's menu item while the band was on a tour in Scotland, would join the band as their new full-time bagpipe player replacing Joe Delaney, who played on their debut album, but could not tour with or commit full-time to the band. With a new line-up in place, the band spent the rest of 2000 recording their third album.

Born & Bred (2007–2022)

The band's sixth album, The Meanest of Times, was released on September 18, 2007, on the band's own label, Born & Bred Records. It marked the band's first album to not be released through Hellcat. The Meanest of Times debuted at No. 20 in the U.S., their highest chart debut to date. The first single, "The State of Massachusetts", became the band's band second number 1 single on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart (and their last on that chart) and reached number fourteen on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart giving them their highest ever position on that chart as well. The song was also used as the opening theme to the MTV show Nitro Circus; it reached No. 83 on the Rolling Stone Top 100 songs of 2007.. Following a tour to support the album, guitarist Marc Orrell announced in January 2008 that he was leaving the band after eight years. Orrell said of his departure "I'm very grateful for everything playing with DKM has brought me and I'm sad to be going but I feel like the time has come for me to try working on different styles of music and some of my own projects, I'm ready to spread my wings as they say." Tim Brennan replaced Orrell as a full-time guitarist while multi-instrumentalist Jeff DaRosa was introduced as a new member of the band. The re-configured line-up continued to tour into 2008. Their show in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, had a sellout crowd of 10,060 which according to the band was their largest ever.

On April 22, 2009, the band appeared on stage with Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band during their stop in Boston on the Working on a Dream Tour. The band joined in on Springsteen's songs "Glory Days" and "American Land". During the show, guitarist Tim Brennan proposed to his girlfriend Diana onstage, which was followed by a performance of the Springsteen song "So Young And in Love". The next month the band opened for Aerosmith at the Comcast Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts at a "Hometown Heroes" concert; they later joined Aerosmith onstage to perform "Dirty Water".

On January 1, 2010, the band gave a performance of "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" before the Boston Bruins–Philadelphia Flyers NHL Winter Classic, held at Boston's Fenway Park. Two months later on March 16, 2010, the band released their second live album, Live on Lansdowne, Boston MA. The album also featured the band's first full-length live DVD. The album made its debut at No. 25 in the U.S. charts, making it their second-highest-charting album at the time. In December 2010, "The Warrior's Code", the title track from the 2005 album of the same name, was briefly featured in the Academy Award-nominated film The Fighter. The film is the story of Micky Ward, a boxer from Lowell, Massachusetts, who is the subject of the song and appears on the cover of The Warrior's Code album. The song was also featured in the trailer for the comedy Your Highness. In February 2011, "Barroom Hero", from the band's debut album, was featured in the Academy Award-nominated documentary Restrepo, making it the band's third song to be featured in a film which was nominated for an Academy Award. "

Hiatus of Al Barr and independent years (2022–present)

After eight years with the band, Lee Forshner departed early in 2022. He was replaced in February 2022 by Campbell Webster, who joined as the band's touring bagpipe player. Webster's first recording with the band was a cover of "We Shall Overcome" which would appear along with the previously released songs "The Bonny" and "James Connelly" on an expanded digital only release of Turn Up That Dial. That same month, it was announced that Al Barr was forced to depart from the band's 2022 St. Patrick's Day Tour and their 2022 summer tour in Europe to take care of his ailing mother, who has Lewy Body Dementia. Jesse Ahern, Mikey Rivkees (The Rumjacks), and Jen Razavi (The Bombpops) assisted on vocals for certain songs in place of Barr during their shows, with Ken Casey taking over the rest of Barr's lead vocals. As of June 2026, Barr has yet to rejoin the band and Casey, who no longer plays bass during their shows, has taken over full-time lead vocals.

The band released three singles throughout 2022: "Two 6's Upside Down" (July 2022), "Ten Times More" (August 2022) and "All You Fonies" (September 2022). All three would eventually appear on their eleventh album, This Machine Still Kills Fascists, which was released on September 30, 2022. The album was the band's first since their 1998 debut album Do or Die to not feature Barr, and was the band's first fully acoustic album. Its ten songs featured unused lyrics written by Woody Guthrie. "The Last One" (featuring Evan Felker), "Cadillac, Cadillac" (featuring Sammy Amara of Broilers) and "Never Git Drunk No More" (featuring Nikki Lane) were also released as singles from the album. The band embarked on an acoustic theater tour in the fall of 2022 to support the album. Their twelfth album, Okemah Rising, was released on May 12, 2023. The album, which again did not feature Barr, was recorded during the same sessions for This Machine Still Kills Fascists and similarly also features songs using unused lyrics written by Woody Guthrie. The band again hit the road to support the album. The album was preceded by the singles "I Know How it Feels" and "Gotta Get to Peekskill" (featuring Violent Femmes). "Bring It Home" (featuring Jaime Wyatt) was released as the album's third and final single in May 2023 On August 30, 2024, the band released the short documentary, This Machine Rising, on YouTube. The film documented the band recording This Machine Still Kills Fascists and Okemah Rising albums along with the theater tour that supported the two albums.

On September 19, 2024, the band released a new single titled "Sirens", their first original song to be released as a single since "Good As Gold" in December 2021. "Stand with Us", a new song, was performed for the first time on January 29, 2025, in Amsterdam. On February 17, 2025, the band announced the seventeen date Summer of Discontent U.S. tour with co-headliner Bad Religion and opening band the Mainliners. The tour will run from July 2025 to August 2025. On March 17, 2025, the band's founding singer Mike McColgan and his band the Bomb Squad, performed Do or Die in its entirety at a special St. Patrick's Day performance in Long Beach, CA. On March 9, 2025, in South Carolina, a new song titled "Chesterfields & Aftershave" was performed for the first time. On March 15, 2025, the band performed another new song, "The Big Man" (which is about Pennywise guitarist Fletcher Dragge), during a benefit show in Boston.

Musical style and influences

The band's early influences were punk bands like Greenland Whalefishers, Swingin' Utters, the Ramones, the Clash, and Sex Pistols, as well as the Pogues and Irish bands like Stiff Little Fingers and the Dubliners.

When they wrote their first song, Barroom Hero, they were surprised to hear how much the vocal melody sounded like those from old Irish music they heard as children, something the band members at one time tried to reject. "It dawned on us that Irish music was a bigger influence on all of us than we'd realized," said Ken Casey. "Growing up in Boston, every time you went to a wedding or a wake or your grandparents' house, you heard that music. I went through a phase of hating it just because it's what my (folks) listened to."

While frequently referred to as a Celtic punk band, some of their earlier material has also been classified under other punk rock subgenres like Oi!, street punk and hardcore punk.

They often cite AC/DC as an influence on their formula of maintaining a specific style; Casey once said, "I think our goal is to be the AC/DC of Celtic punk rock. The worst thing we can do to the local fans who have stuck with us is to all of a sudden try to be Fall Out Boy with bagpipes." Al Barr commented "We've always said we're like the Ramones or AC/DC with what we do; if it ain't broke, don't fix it. But at the same time, we have to keep challenging ourselves... if we find that tunes we're putting together for a record are boring us, we're not going to record them."

Political causes and charity work

Union support

The Dropkick Murphys have been known for supporting working-class and union causes, and have a strong relationship with the AFL–CIO. All of the shirts sold by the band are 100% union-made in the United States to show their support for American laborers.

The band shot a promotional music video in 2008 for their song "Tomorrow's Industry", which supported the United Healthcare Workers East and hospitals of Massachusetts who were fighting for free and fair union elections so their voice could be heard in the workplace and would provide a better future for their families and communities.

On February 22, 2011, in support of Wisconsin workers' rights, the band released their song "Take 'Em Down" from the album Going Out in Style on their website, along with creating a limited edition "Take 'Em Down" T-shirt which was to benefit the Workers' Rights Emergency Response Fund. Two days later on the MSNBC news show The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, "Take 'Em Down" was used as an intro song to a news story on the Wisconsin workers protest.

On Saturday August 13, 2011, Dropkick Murphys issued a statement of solidarity with the 45,000 Communications Workers of America (CWA) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) on strike from Verizon Communications, Inc.

The band shot a music video in collaboration with the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers to show their support for the many strikes occurring across the United Kingdom since May 2022, on February 14, 2023.

Ken Casey will appear on the Sing for Science podcast on June 12, 2025, for an episode called where he will discuss worker's rights with Professor of Practice and Executive Director of the Center for Labor and a Just Economy at Harvard Law School, Sharon Block.

Politics

The members of Dropkick Murphys identify as Democrats and were active in the 2004 presidential election through Punkvoter, contributing "We Got the Power" to the Rock Against Bush, Vol. 2 compilation.

In November 2014, an 18-year-old shouting "Dropkick Murphys" assaulted two Lancaster, Pennsylvania, police officers; Ken Casey later sent the injured officers band merchandise and concert tickets, expressing condolences.

On March 8, 2025, in Clearwater, Florida, Casey bet a fan $100 that his Trump MAGA shirt was not made in the US. When it was revealed that the shirt was in fact made in Nicaragua, the fan surrendered it and received a band tee instead.

At the March 16, 2025 show in Boston, Casey confronted a fan waving a MAGA hat, calling it a "cult" symbol. The following night at a March 17, 2025 St. Patrick's Day concert, Casey denounced Trump as "a rat and a coward" for his trade wars and support of authoritarian regimes.

In January 2017, drummer Matt Kelly revealed he voted for Gary Johnson and criticised both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, while singer Al Barr supported Bernie Sanders and left the Democratic Party over its perceived mishandling of Sanders' campaign. In July 2017, guitarist Tim Brennan affirmed the band's pro-union stance and anti-fascist stance following a Nazi salute incident from a fan jumping onstage. The 2019 album 11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory addresses the U.S. opioid epidemic, with tracks like "You'll Never Walk Alone" inspired by personal losses. In August 2020, the band endorsed Joe Kennedy III for the U.S. Senate, performing a virtual acoustic set in support. On June 24, 2021, Casey joined fellow artists at the U.S. Capitol to advocate for the American Music Fairness Act, seeking performer royalties for radio airplay. On March 23, 2022, the band publicly condemned local neo-Nazis for misusing their song "The Boys Are Back" in a parade video and promised to "smash" the hate group's efforts. In February 2023, the band released "All You Tories", a reworking of Woody Guthrie's "All You Fonies", in solidarity with UK public-sector strikes, produced in partnership with the RMT union. In April 2023 during President Joe Biden's trip to Ireland, he used "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" as his introductory music. In September 2024, the band released the single "Sirens", decrying political division as benefiting the wealthy elite.

Support for veterans, deceased soldiers and others

In 2005, the band released a two-song CD single for the family of Andrew K. Farrar Jr., a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps who was killed on January 28, 2005, in Al Anbar, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Farrar, who was a big fan of the Murphys, made a request to his family that if he did not survive his tour of duty, he wanted "The Fields of Athenry" to be played at his funeral. The single features a slower version of "The Fields of Athenry" that was originally recorded and placed in Farrar's casket, although the band decided to release the alternate version. The disc also features the track "Last Letter Home", which was written about Farrar and was featured on the Murphys' 2005 album The Warrior's Code. All of the proceeds from the $10 single go to the Sgt. Andrew Farrar Memorial Fund and can be purchased through the band's website or at one of their shows.

On October 19, 2014, the band played a special surprise performance at the memorial ceremony for Maj. Michael Donahue, who was from Whitman, Massachusetts, and was killed during combat in Afghanistan the previous month. Donahue was a fan of the band and they closed out the ceremony which included a performance of his favorite song, "The Green Fields of France".

On June 6, 2025, the band performed a nine-song set at the "Unite for Veterans, Unite for America" rally in Washington DC on the National Mall where they honored military veterans from around the country in support of their rights and benefits.

The group released the single "A Hero Among Many" on November 7, 2025, from their album For the People. The song is about Welles Crowther, a 24-year-old Boston College alum and volunteer firefighter who worked at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Welles is attributed with saving the lives of at least 18 people after United Flight 175 struck the 78th Floor of the WTC's South Tower.During the performance of the song at the band's March 15, 2026 show in Boston, Ken Casey brought out Alison Crowther on stage to honor her son Welles.

Charity work

In 2009, Ken Casey founded the charity organization, the Claddagh Fund which supports community-based non-profits with a focus on children and veterans organizations and programs that support alcohol and drug rehabilitation in cities across the country and around the world. In 2011, the band donated $1 from every ticket sold on their nine-date Sham Rock-N-Roll Festival to the Claddagh Fund. A dollar from every ticket sold at the show of September 11 in Altamont, New York on the tour was donated to various 9/11 charities.

After the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing, the Dropkick Murphys created a special "For Boston" T-shirt they sold through their website with all donations going to the victims. The donations reached $65,000 in less than 15 hours and totaled over $100,000. The band donated all money from sales from a special three song charity EP titled Rose Tattoo: For Boston Charity EP through iTunes featuring a re-recorded version of their song, "Rose Tattoo" with guest vocals by Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen contacted the band following the tragic events asking if there was anything he could do to help. The band also played benefit shows where all money was donated to the victims including the four who lost their lives.

In December 2015, the band announced they were teaming up with the Pablove Foundation, a group which invests in underfunded, cutting-edge pediatric cancer research, inspires cancer families through education, and improves the lives of children living with cancer through the arts. The band released an exclusive T-shirt which was available for only four days with 100% of the proceeds donated to the Pablove Foundation. In January 2018, the band teamed up with Devin McCourty of the New England Patriots for a raffle raising money for the Dropkick Murphys' Claddagh Fund and McCourty's Embrace the Kids Foundation. The grand prize included a trip and tickets to Super Bowl LII.

In November 2019, the band performed at a charity event for Worcester, Massachusetts firefighter Lt. Jason Menard, who lost his life after rescuing his crew from a house fire in the central Massachusetts city. The band also sold a benefit tee shirt as a fundraiser for his family.

On May 20, 2016, the Dropkick Murphys received the "Robert F. Kennedy Children's Action Corps' Embracing the Legacy Award" for years of charity work with various organizations including work with children and military veterans. The award, "which parallels Robert F. Kennedy's quest for social justice on behalf of society's most vulnerable people" was presented to the band at the Kennedy Library.

Band members

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)

The Meanest of Times (2007)

Going Out in Style (2011)

Signed and Sealed in Blood (2013)

11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory (2017)

Turn Up That Dial (2021)

This Machine Still Kills Fascists (2022)

Okemah Rising (2023)

For the People (2025)