Dropkick Murphys

The hardcore punk/Celtic folk outfit Dropkick Murphys formed in south Boston in 1995; vocalist Mike Mccolgan, guitarist Rick Barton, and bassist Ken Casey comprised the original nucleus of the group, with a series of drummers passing through the lineup before the addition of Matt Kelly in 1997. After a series of EPs including Fire and Brimstone, Tattoos and Scally Caps, and Boys On The Docks, The Dropkick Murphys signed to Hellcat Records to issue their 1998 full-length Do Or Die, produced by Rancid's Lars Frederiksen; Mccolgan exited the group soon after (he later went on to form the like-minded Street Dogs) and was replaced by vocalist Al Barr for the follow-up, 1999's The Gang's All Here.