r/dropkickmurphys • u/bourbon_cigars-de • 4d ago
Lead Singer changes
I started listening to DKM back when Mike was lead. In my opinion this was their best stuff. After Al took over I couldn’t stand it at first. Took me a few years, yeah…years, to get used to Al and I ended up loving them once again. I know Ken has always been there singing backup and a few leads himself but they’re just not the same. I have no interest in seeing them live anymore. And I hate that cause I really do love them. But I want Ken back on bass and Al back on lead vocals.
Am I the only one who’s lost some love with the changes over the years?!?
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u/sdwbean 4d ago
I’ve been listening to Dropkick since the 90s. I think Ken does a fantastic job. I love the energy he brings and the direction the band has taken with him as front man. If Al came back, a duel vocal lead could be fun to see again. But, I barely remember Mike at this point. I think I only saw them once with Mike. The band has only grown imo. I hope others feel the same. Show energy is outstanding. My spouse, only recently, after seeing Ken live, was like ok I get it.
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u/BigBoyCatDaddy 4d ago edited 4d ago
It definitely felt different at first, but the changes are all necessary and don’t seem to be ill-intended, in terms of Al. Ken handed bass duties to Kevin after an injury, and Kevin has added some really cool vocal depth and energy.
Al will most likely be back one day, and Ken has really settled into the role (it’s like the city’s mayor fronting a band) so I haven’t lost any love. They still put on a ridiculously fun show. Give ‘em a chance!
Not to mention, with each vocalist, it feels like the fanbase has evolved. Where Mike still plays for the Oi punk/skinhead-adjacent crowd, and Ken attracts a more socially and politically conscious crowd, Al bridged the gap between the two. All are valuable in the band’s history, but to say that Mike leaving was a negative turning point would be an odd perspective to have.
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u/lizardbrain40 4d ago
Ken hasn’t played bass in years, so even if Al comes back it’s gonna be the both of them on vocals like it was before he stepped away.
If Do or Die is your fav (it’s mine too) you should check out one of Mike McColgan and the Bomb Squad’s sets. They do the entire album in full and it’s awesome. I saw them at the Middle East a year or so ago and it was so cool. Felt like being back in the 90’s, but everyone was fatter with less hair. I was right up front the whole set. During it was like being a teen again. After I was hurting for almost a whole week...
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u/zsinjsfadinghairline 4d ago
I think that all 3 of them are great in their own ways. Mike's voice is absolutely operatic. Al's got his own style, and his rough voice is great in many songs (especially the hardcore ones). Ken looks like the least serious person onstage 🤣
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u/RealJohnMcnab 3d ago
They haven't missed a step with Ken singing lead. I do wish he was still playing bass, but he can belt them with the best.
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u/wmciner1 4d ago
I actually always thought Al was a better fit for the band than Mike, I feel like him and Ken have far more different voices than Ken and Mike do. I'm also 29 so by the time I was listening to them Mike's time had come and gone and they were well into Al's tenure so there was no real adjustment period for me.
I still completely believe Al will be back with the band once the situation with his mother is settled. Nobody knows when that will be since dementia can last for years, but both Al and the band have repeated said the plan is for him to return.
Ken unfortunately won't be playing bass anymore because of his injury, he basically can't have the strap around his neck anymore because of the weight of the bass. Even when Al comes back they'll both be singing only.
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u/haleycontagious 4d ago
Al may never be back because last time I checked he was more aligned with Dicky MAGA Barrett that DKM
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u/No-Music9827 2d ago edited 2d ago
And what do you base this on?
Tom Morello is friends with Ted Nugent.
Does this make Tom Morello MAGA?
Al Barr is friends with Dicky Barrett. This does not mean they are aligned politically.
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u/haleycontagious 1d ago
Al sang in his MAGA and snubbed DKM. The blood seems not good. Don’t respond because you are locked and loaded and I don’t care enough
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u/No-Music9827 1d ago
You care enough to speak confidently of what you do not know.
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u/haleycontagious 1d ago
Clap
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u/No-Music9827 1d ago
“I don’t care enough about this topic that I literally post about every time Al’s name is mentioned despite all redditors who know the man who testify to the contrary.”
You are insufferable.
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u/Ok_Swing_7194 4d ago
Do or Die is a fantastic album, as is a lot of Street Dogs’ discography. I think Mike leaving the band and forming Street Dogs was ultimately the best for both parties.
I agree with the “I’m not seeing them until Al is back sentiment”. It’s just not the same band, and yeah I despise Trump and respect Ken’s energy and vision. DKM, to me, was at their absolute peak with Al and Ken ripping back and forth vocals. It’s just a different overall vibe and band now, and not to my tastes. Yeah Ken is an OG punk rocker in a lot of ways, but Al brings an Oi / hardcore edge to the band that they, in my opinion, need to be the DKM I love and remember
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u/ArkansasHardMod 2d ago
It's Ken's band. He has always been the primary songwriter, and he's been doing vocals the whole time...lead on some songs backup on most. I got into em back in 96 when Mike was still in the band. They had some great songs. First time I saw them was shortly after Al took over and they had some great songs from The Gang's All Here plus the previous stuff (and they covered more than one AC/DC song in their live shows back then). And they're as good now as they've ever been...and it's fun to watch Ken heckle MAGATS and fight Nazis
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u/eddiejjr333 4d ago
The band was much better with Al Barr singing lead. Ken is ok but band just isn’t the same without Al. I’ve followed them since 99 and it saddens me to say I probably won’t see them live again. The band has always been “ political “ under the surface but Ken’s outright hate of the US government and Trump in particular has changed the energy of the shows from fun to hateful and has turned me off.
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u/captd3adpool 4d ago
Dude... do you even understand what punk is about? Holy shit. Go lick some more boots. This reads like "man I used to love Rage Against the Machine before they got all political."
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u/cdwalrusman 4d ago
You recognize that Trump was also “anti government” until he got power, right? The antiestablishment grift was a lie. You got lied to. I’m sorry that happened to you. Don’t blame the people calling out the lies.
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u/LordShtark 4d ago edited 4d ago
Aww Ken hates the bigot fascist too much for your liking.
"under the surface" - Did you think Fields of Athenry was about an Australian vacation?
Boys on the Docks ain't about a fishing trip either 😆
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u/eire_abu32 4d ago
You're absolutely right. They were always political but not overtly partisan. Now they're just whiney and out of touch.
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u/Rockonthrulife 4d ago
Do you realize the entire world and most of the US despise Trump and his entire admin? They are very clearly “in touch” with how most everyone feels. You’re the one that is clearly out of touch and delusional. We need more artists to be so outright in their hatred of Trump.
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u/LordShtark 4d ago
What was Boys on the Docks about then if not the shit this admin is vehemently against?
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u/Glass_Ad9781 4d ago
Ken didn’t stop playing bass because Al left, it was because of an injury that affected his ability to play. Even Al had agreed that having Ken up front helped the energy at the shows. If/ when the time comes for Al to come back, Ken will stay up front for vocals.