Dropkick Murphys

Bobby: Starting with the basics, can you please state your name and what you do in the Dropkick Murphys?

Marc: My name is Marc Orrell, I play guitar.

Bobby: Dropkick Murphys, where did you guys come up with that name?

Marc: I’s an AA clinic actually. It’s actually, back in the early 1900s, this big guy who use to carry around all the drunks from all the bars. I’ve heard that there’s rumors that he used to stick them in holes in the middle of fields; until they were sober enough to climb out and stuff, so they wouldn’t hurt anybody you know? Also, it’s like a boxer. But basically, they based it on the guy. The guy that carries around all the drunks.

Bobby: OK, your last CD is called “Blackout”; where did you get that name from?

Marc: We actually got that from Woodie Guthrie’s lyrics.

Bobby: Gonna Be A Blackout Tonight?

Marc: Ya, ya. Well his daughter gave us the lyrics and we thought it was just a cool title for the album, so were like “what the hell”; you know?

James: What’s your favorite song off the album and why?

Marc: Favorite song? I’m not sure… Probably the miner song, Buried Alive. Cause it was something that me and Al kinda just like put together. It was something I had the music for and he had the lyrics and we were kinda inspired by it. It was kinda a me and Al Barr’s first; cause this if my first time writing, on this album. It was just something me and Al Barr put together for the first time.

Bobby: How do you normally write the material?

Marc: Basically we just come up with riffs. Fool around with them, dick around with them; then eventually they turn into songs. Throw some lyrics into there, I mean what the hell, just experiment you know? It’s pretty easy; it’s not too hard; it’s not rocket-science.

James: How would you describe your sound?

Marc: Sound? Celtic, rock and roll, punk rock stuff. There’s no real label you know? It’s weird.

Bobby: 15 days from now, November 15th, you guys are playing at the Fleet Center after the Boston Bruins; you excited for it?

Marc: Ya, ya, I’m wicked excited for it. My dad used to take me to all the Boston Bruins games; at the Garden of course but now it’s at the fleet center. It’s gonna be awesome. They’re clearing out some handicapped seats for us and just like setting up a little stage. It’s gonna be really cool.

Bobby: How did you get that all set up?

Marc: Beats the hell outta me. Ken Casey’s dream or something. I’m not quite sure how it got set up.

James: How came up with the idea to do it?

Marc: It’s probably Ken Casey. We’ve been talking about it because they play our songs at the Boston Bruins game and we’ve just been talking back and forth. So I’m sure it was through Ken Casey.

Bobby: OK, you guys are currently on tour with Good Riddance, The Casualties and Roger Miret & The Disasters. How’s that going?

Marc: Those guys rule. I love it. It’s so awesome when you get a bunch of bands that are really good and that you can hang out with too. They’re so down to earth and really cool; the tour has been going awesome.

Bobby: Any memorable moments from it so far?

Marc: Last night actually!! On Halloween! Ok, we have this song that Stephanie Dougherty sings on. Last night, Roger Miret dressed up as a woman and came out and started to sing the song. It was hilarious! *he starts laughing*

Bobby: Is that “The Dirty Glass”?

Marc: Ya, ya. He came out and started singing the beginning all dressed up in drag. It was hilarious. Then Stephanie came out and sang the rest of the song as Roger too. She was Roger and he was Stephanie. It was kinda fun.

Bobby: That would be good to see! Ok, if you could pick on person, or band, dead or alive, who would you pick to tour with and why?

Marc: Wow. I don’t know. Probably maybe something like The Who or something. Maybe, like with the original lineup with Keith Moon or something. I don’t know. Rolling Stones or something, ACDC… THE CLASH, definitely The Clash; that would be top. I’d love to go on tour with The Clash.

James: How has being in a band changed your life?

Marc: I’d be working at Blockbuster Video right now if I weren’t in this band, you know? It’s defiantly a change in my life. My parents look at me different! *Laughs* It’s really cool. It makes me feel better. It makes me feel like I belong somewhere; other then putting back videos.

Bobby: You just mentioned Blockbuster. Is that the worst job you’ve ever had? Or what is your worst job you’ve ever had?

Marc: The worst job I’ve ever had was a dishwasher at the Graftin Inn. It was awful. Dishwashing sucks. Ya, this is my best job and that was probably my worst.

Bobby: As a band, if you could change one decision you’ve made in the past. What would it be and why?

Marc: As a band?

Bobby: Ya, or yourself personally.

Marc: Nothing, I’ve got no regrets in this band. I’ve been having a blast ever since.

James: What can we expect from your new DVD that you’ve been shooting?

Marc: I don’t know. A lot of us being drunk. I don’t know, we have lots. The only think I’ve seen from it so far is The Warped Tour footage; and that’s got a lot of Eric Payne from Andrew W.K.; he’s hanging out with us a lot. There’s a bunch of random stuff, us hanging out. We have this little tent on the Warped Tour that we hang out at, on the outside of the bus, called “Kamp Krusty”. We don’t see a lot of Kamp Krusty on the tour. I don’t know, you’ll be able to see a lot of stuff.

Bobby: Do you think you’ll be on Warped Tour next year?

Marc: I don’t know, hopefully. Maybe, if they invite us. I don’t know.

Bobby: Now a days, you can get MP3s all over the internet. Kazaa, Morpheus, stuff like that. What do you about that? Is it good, is it bad? What are your opinions on it?

Marc: It’s a little bit of both. Some people rob the music. Some people just listen to a couple songs and like “Umm, who’s this band?”, you know? Just check them out. It can go either way with that thing. Like kids just like rob Napster. They just download all these cds and just like, you know, it’s kinda retarded. But then there’s those people who download two or three songs and then go buy the album. I don’t know, me, I take pleasure in buying the albums. Like I see albums in the stores that I already have and I’m like, “I wanna buy that! Cause it’s so good!” You know? I don’t know… I take pleasure in buying CDs.

Bobby: I recently read an article about Rancid in Alternative Press magazine, and one of the main themes was “Through Music, You Can Live Forever”. What do you think about that quote?

Marc: The first time I heard that was actually the line that stuck out. Because I kept listening to the great Joe Strummer. “Through Music You Can Live Forever”, the first time I heard that, my jaw dropped to the floor. I was just like “wow, that explains it all”. The quote of that album, that’s what I stand by. Especially though Joe Strummer’s eyes, with him being gone and all. I was a big Joe Strummer fan. Through music we can live forever, you know? It’s really cool.

James: Why did you to become a musician?

Marc: Because I was a loser in high school. I had nobody to hang out with. I just felt comfortable with the guitar and the drums and stuff.

Bobby: All right, do you have any tips for young musicians who are just starting?

Marc: Ya, keep playing man. Start up your shows, like a BFW or something. Just keep going, start a band, just keep going. Try hard and harder, hard work gets you far. It pays off.

Bobby: Ya. Ok, are there any bands, or albums, out there that you really like? Like what’s your top 5?

Marc: Of all time?

Bobby: Ya.

Marc: I love Rolling Stone’s Exile On Main Street, ACDC – Highway To Hell, The Clash – Give Em’ Enough Rope, the new Joe Strummer album’s amazing, Iggy Pop – Raw Power. I think that’s five.

James: What would your recent ones be?

Marc: Like I said, the new Joe Strummer, Andrew W.K., that’s fucking great…

Bobby: The Wolf?

Marc: Both of them. Those are great. I don’t know, it’s like whenever I go into a CD store, I’m like, “Ok, I’m supposed to get something”. I don’t know. I have a complete brain freeze whenever people ask me stuff like that. I don’t know. I love U2, I love The Replacements, basically that kind of stuff. Replacements, I love the Replacements.

Bobby: OK, if you could have One thing at this moment, anything in the world, anything that you’d want. What would it be and why?

Marc: If I could have one thing… umm, I don’t know. Looks like I’ve got it here in the mall, you know, I could pick anything. I don’t know, I have no clue. That’s a tough question. I think I’m pretty much happy with everything I have right now. I’ve got no complaints, I’m having a good time.

James: Any shoutouts?

Marc: Andrew W.K.! My man, those are my boys!

Bobby: Ok, I guess that’s about it. Thanks a lot for doing it and have a good show tonight.

Marc: Thank you very much.