We've got (in alph. order): Al Barr on vox; Ken Casey on bass/vox; Matt Kelly on drums, etc.; James Lynch on Guitar/backing vox; Marc Orrell on Guitar/backing vox; Josh 'Scruffy' Wallace on bagpipes and various minstrelsy.
2. HOW LONG HAS THE BAND BEEN PLAYING TOGETHER?
Since 1/96.
3. HOW DID DM FORM?
Acquaintances from around Boston/South Shore got together to do cover tunes in the basement of a Quincy barbershop...first gig was played on a dare.
4. DM HAS A UNIQUE IRISH/ROCK SOUND, WHO WOULD YOU SAY ARE THE BANDS INFLUENCES?
I think the Irish/Rock sound is only a facet of our sound....Our influences include old Boston Hardcore like SSD, Gangreen, DYS, the F.U.'s, Jerrys Kids, etc., original rock'n'roll like Chuck Berry, Little Richard, etc., the classic bands like the Who, Stones, CCR, AC/DC, Rose Tattoo, Slade, Sweet, old punk like the Ramones, Dead Boys, NY Dolls, Dictators, La Peste, the Neighborhoods, Outlets...Brit and Irish '77 punk bands and some of the original Oi! bands...and of course the Pogues, Dubliners, Clancy Brothers, etc...
5. HOW MANY ALBUMS DOES DM HAVE TO DATE?
Five full-length lps, a live double lp, a split lp with the Business, and a slew of 7"s splits, and compilations.
6. YOU ARE CURRENTLY ON TOUR PROMOTING YOUR LATEST ALBUM "BLACKOUT". WOULD
YOU SAY THAT IT DIFFERS FROM DM'S EARLIER ALBUMS? IF SO, IN WHAT WAYS?
I think everyone in the band contributed equally on almost all of the songs...In the past it was Ken and myself writing all the words and music, but now we've learned to all write together. I think it's a bit more varied than the last album(Sing Loud...), and has some of the flavor of the Do Or Die album that the last couple were missing.
7. TELL US ABOUT THE TITLE TRACK "BLACKOUT" AND HOW YOU CAME ABOUT USING IT
FOR THE ALBUM?
Apparently, Woodie Guthrie's granddaughter, Nora, has a son who's into the band. So Nora graciously called us up and asked if we wanted to sift through the coveted Guthrie archives, in which lie hundreds of unused and unpublished songs, poems, and notes by Woodie himself. We of course were into that!!! The song "Blackout" was picked for its theme and toughness.
We're honored to be part of something that cool....hopefully old Mr. Guthrie isn't rolling over in his grave!
8. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW LINEUP CHANGES IN THE PAST, WITH SINGER MIKE
McCOLGAN AND DRUMMER JEFF ERNA
LEAVING DM TO PURSUE OTHER PROJECTS. WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF THE BAND AND WHAT YOU SEE IN THE FUTURE FOR DM?
Jeff 'the Shark' Erna was one of a couple temporary drummers, but recorded on a few of the early singles...he didn't want to give up his job for a life of touring, and passed the torch to me in early '97. MIke left the band in March '98 for similar reasons. The current core of Ken, Al, and myself has been in place since July '98, with James and then Marc joining soon thereafter. This lineup has toured more, recorded more, etc. than past lineups...We're at the strongest we've ever been, and looking toward the future with hopeful hearts. I imagine the future will bring us more albums and more touring....hopefully meeting new people and seeing cool shit.
9. ANY MEMORABLE SHOWS OR TOURS COME TO MIND?
Since we're boring as shit and have no 'tales of glory', I'll blast off a couple memorable gigs: H.I.T.S. 2000 Berlin with Cock Sparrer, the London Fleadh opening for Strummer and the Pogues(w/Shane), Crystal Palace '02 opening for the Sex Pistols.
10. IF YOU HAD TO DECIDE BETWEEN THE FOLLOWING, WHICH WOULD YOU WANT:
TO BE KNOWN AS A RECORDING BAND, OR TO BE KNOWN AS A
LIVE BAND BETTER?
Not that I don't enjoy recording, but I'd way rather be known as a live band, not Steely Dan!
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Thanks to Matt Kelly for taking time out for this interview.
Checkout DKMs website Click Here.
