Dropkick Murphys - Boston's Finest Quiz

Answer: Matt Kelly

Formed in 1996, the band first started playing together in the basement of a friend's barbershop. The original line-up consisted of Mike McColgan (vocals), Ken Casey (bass), Rick Barton (guitar), Jeff Erna (drums) and Joe Delaney (bagpipes). Matt Kelly replaced Erna on drums prior to the release of 'Do or Die'.

Answer: Hellcat

The only album to feature lead vocalist Mike McColgan, 'Do or Die' was released in 1998 with lead single 'Barroom Hero' as a video single. The album was a mix of hardcore punk and Oi songs but also included traditional Irish and Irish-American songs such as 'Finnegan's Wake' and 'Cadence to Arms'. McColgan left the band soon after the release of this album to become a Boston firefighter.

Answer: The Bruisers

Al Barr founded and was also lead vocalist of The Bruisers from their formation in 1988 to his departure in 1998. The Bruisers had only released two albums but had released numerous EPs and singles. Barr was hired by the Dropkick Murphys after the Bruisers had played numerous together with the Murphys.

Answer: The Fighting 69th

The 69th Infantry Unit is a New York Army National Guard Unit known as 'The Fighting 69th' as christened by General Lee during the American Civil War. The Fighting 69th have fought in wars ranging from the American Civil War to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The unit has also been christened 'The Fighting Irish' as stated in the poem 'When the 69th Comes Home' by Joyce Kilmer.

Answer: Mandolin

A producer, an engineer and technician for various bands, Foltz primarily played the mandolin during his three years with the Dropkick Murphys, but also played other instruments such as a dulcimer and tin whistle. Foltz only features on one album before departing the band prior to the release of 'Blackout'. Spicy McHaggis joined the band at the same time to play the bagpipes.

Answer: Over 400 pounds

According to the lyrics, Spicy is going:
'From city to city, running around
Always looking for chicks over four hundred pounds.'

Spicy had joined the Murphys during 2001 to play bagpipes as original piper Joe Delaney could not play with the band on a full-time basis due to other commitments.

Answer: Botany Bay

According to the lyrics:
'As that prison ship sailed out against the sky
Sure she'll wait and hope and pray,
for her love in Botany Bay
It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry.'

Answer: Bankers

According to the original lyrics which were faithfully reproduced by the Murphys:
'In the factories and mills, in the shipyards and mines
We've often been told to keep up with the times
For our skills are not needed, they've streamlined the job
And with slide-rule and stopwatch, our pride they have robbed.'

Answer: Boston Red Sox

The song features as a bonus track for their album 'The Warrior's Code', released in 2005, though the song was originally released as a single in 2004 prior to the 2004 MLB season. Most of the band members are Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruin fans. The song opens with the following commentary on the album version:
"Swing and a ground ball, stabbed by Foulke. He has it. He underhands to first. And the Boston Red Sox are the World Champions. For the first time in 86 years, the Red Sox have won baseball's World Championship. Can you believe it?"

Answer: The Departed

'I'm Shipping Up to Boston' was previously recoded and released with 'The Field of Athenry' single but was re-recorded and added to 'The Warrior's Code'. The song also featured heavily in the film 'The Departed', which was set primarily in the Boston area, and also featured on one of the film's two soundtrack releases.

Answer: True

After five albums recorded on Hellcat records, the Dropkick Murphys started their own vanity label, Born & Bred Records, for their 2007 release 'The Meanest of Times'. The album entered the U.S Billboard 200 charts at number 20 with the albums first single 'The State of Massachusetts' becoming one of the top 100 songs played on US radio in October 2007.

The song was also number 83 on Rolling Stone's 100 Best Songs of 2007.

Answer: Broken Hymns

'Broken Hymns' is one of many songs from all Murphys albums that have a traditional Irish sound and deal with issues affecting Irish immigration to the United States. 'Broken Hymns' is about a young man called Jimmy, who left home in April 1861 and in 1862:
'Writes his mother back home in Brighton, but he ain't got much to say
He's forgotten what his town looks like, the smell of death is all around
He dreams of the blue Atlantic to once again be homeward bound'

Answer: Take 'Em Down

The Murphys released 'Take 'Em Down' in February 2011 through their own website in support of Union workers in Wisconsin who were protesting against a budget plan by then Governor Scott Walker. The album 'Going Out in Style' debuted at number 6 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

Answer: Signed and Sealed in Blood

The band announced through their Facebook page in August 2012 the title of the new album, 'Signed and Sealed in Blood', and first single, 'Rose Tattoo', from which the album name is derived. The album was released worldwide on January 8, 2013.

Answer: HMV Forum

The Murphys played two shows at the HMV Forum in London. The band visited most of Europe before a return to the USA for their St. Patrick's Day tour which ended in Boston on March 17th, 2013.