Dropkick Murphys

Celtic punk rock group Dropkick Murphys formed in South Boston in 1995 with singer Mike McColgan, guitarist Rick Barton and bass player Ken Casey. The line-up has seen many changes since then as they won popularity as a boisterous live band with five recordings that reached the top ten on Billboard's Top Rock Albums Chart. Their 2017 album '11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory' went to number one on that chart and also on the Alternative Albums Chart. It peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200. McColgan left the band in 1998 and the current line-up includes Casey, drummer Matt Kelly, singer Al Barr, guitarist James Lynch, Tim Brennan and Jeff DaRosa on various instruments and Lee Forshner on bagpipes.

The original players toured with the Mighty Mighty Bosstones in 1997 and released some EPs before their first album release, 'Do Or Die' in 1997. Their 1999 release 'The Gang's All Here' just made it on to the Billboard 200 at number 184. 'Sing Loud, Sing Proud' (2001) went to number 144 and 'Live On St. Patrick's Day from Boston' (2002) reached number 155. 'Blackout' (2003) moved to number 83, 'The Warrior's Code' (2005) went to number 48 and 'The Meanest of Times' (2007) reached number 20 on the 200 but made number seven on the Alternative Albums and Top Rock Albums Charts. On a roll after that, 'Live On Landsdowne, Boston MA' (2010) hit number eight on the Top Rock Albums Chart and number six on Alternative Albums. 'Going Out in Style' (2011) made it to number two on both Top Rock and Alternative lists and 'Signed and Sealed in Blood' (2013) peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200, number four on the Top Rock Chart and number three on the Alternative Chart.

Actively supportive of unions and Democratic Party politics, Dropkick Murphys play regularly at fundraisers, sporting events and festivals. Their 2017 release, '11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory', features songs about drug addiction, workers' rights and terrorism.