CELTIC-PUNK Q AND A WITH DROPKICK MURPHYS MATT KELLY

Hows this then? With the release of the new Dropkick Murphys album ‘This Machine Still Kills Fascists’ due in a few days Matt Kelly has kindly taken the time to take part in our regular feature – The Celtic-Punk Q And A. Turns out he had ‘Rainy Night In Soho’ as his first dance at his wedding too and we have the same favourite Pope but he’s also sadly West Ham!
So with out further ado…

Name / Nickname : *** Matt, MK, Kelz, Kel, Mutt, Magic, etc.

Age (Estimate allowed!) : 47

Status : happily married

Birthplace / Nationality / Ancestry : Leominster, Massachusetts. American.

Where do you live : New Hampshire

Occupation : Musician

First job : worked for the family business that did vinyl tops, pin striping, and auto care stuff.

A job you would have loved to do : Philologist

What / Who makes you laugh : Regional comedies, gurning contests, atheists

Favourite movie star : Patrick McGoohan

Favourite film / TV show : Only Fools and Horses

Favourite band/s : Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Stiff Little Fingers, the Who, Agnostic Front, Judge, the Chieftains, Straw Dogs, Bull the Buffalos, Strong Style

Favourite Celtic-Punk band : The Pogues

Up and coming Celtic-Punk band to watch : Blood Or Whiskey.

First and last record you bought : Led Zeppelin II in 1980; more recently(two weeks ago), I found a nice clean copy of Iron Virgin’s “Rebels Rule” single.

How many instruments can you play : Play well? One. I also play bass guitar, bodhrán, and murder the guitar once in a while.

How many bands have you been in : Ten. Late ‘80s/early ‘90s: GSP, Common Sense, Dive, Pressure Point, Mid-‘90s: Bound, Hatchetface, Grade H, Fit For Abuse, Late ‘90s: Get High, Dropkick Murphys.

Favourite venue / gig attended : W.A.S.T.E.D. festival in Blackpool at something-Gardens in 2006. Filled in on drums for East End Badoes. Saw most of the top UK Punk and Oi! bands all in one weekend and my liver fell out. Hell of a time!

Favourite venue / gig played : Dropkick Murphys at Voorst National outside of Brussels in 2019. Absolute magic.

Describe yourself in 5 words : Annoying, flippant, serious, quiet, foolish.

Most embarrassing moment : Most nights when I drop a drumstick in the most obvious of spots.

Favourite song and why : That is tough. It can vary. Sometimes it’s “A Rainy Night in Soho”, which was my and my wife’s first dance at our wedding reception; sometimes it’s “Nothing” by Negative Approach; sometimes it’s “Heaven and Hell” by the Who; sometimes it’s “A Day in the Life” by the Beatles; sometimes it’s “Because You’re Young” by Cock Sparrer; sometimes it’s “Warrior’s Law” by Bull the Buffalos; sometimes it’s “Moanin’” by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers…. Dunno, extremely difficult to answer.

Favourite album and why : AC/DC “Powerage”. It’s the pinnacle of perfect rock and roll.

Favourite song you’ve been involved in: when Dropkick Murphys recorded a cover of Angelic Upstarts’ “Never Again”.

Team/s supported as a kid : Boston Bruins, Boston Red Sox, New England Revolution, West Ham United

Favourite sportsperson : Patrice Bergeron

Favourite sport : Ice Hockey

All time hero : G.K. Chesterton

Favourite book : Tie between the poem Lepanto by G.K. Chesterton and The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Best friend : My Wife

Biggest influence on career : Probably my Dad. He’s a drummer and that influenced me to take up the sticks.

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given : “Try out! What have you got to lose?”— Dave Pratt, upon telling me I should try out for the Dropkick Murphys.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be : Right where I live, in the mountains, with my family and our dog.

Your five dream dinner guests : My Grandfather Bill Kelly, my other Grandfather Bob Lucier, my Grandfather’s Bill’s Aunt Tessie, St. Pope John Paul II, and Hilaire Belloc.

Your favourite quote: “A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it” —G.K. Chesterton

Anything to plug / promote : Dropkick Murphys have a new, acoustic, album coming out Sept 30, it’s a bunch of unpublished Woody Guthrie lyrics put to music by the boys. it’s cheekily called “This Machine Still Kills Fascists”…. Guthrie’s guitar had a bumper sticker on it that read “This Machine Kills Fascists” on it, then he painted another guitar with the slogan. Please don’t kill ANYBODY, but check out the album!