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Flogging Molly

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Flogging Molly
Flogging Molly in 2015
Flogging Molly in 2015
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresCeltic punk, folk punk
Years active1994–present
LabelsSideOneDummy, Burning Heart, Vanguard, Borstal Beat, Rise[1]
MembersDave King
Bridget Regan
Dennis Casey
Nathen Maxwell
Matt Hensley
Mike Alonso
Spencer Swain
Websitefloggingmolly.com

Flogging Molly is an American seven-piece Celtic punk band[2] formed in Los Angeles in 1994, led by Irish vocalist Dave King, formerly of the hard rock band Fastway. They are signed to their own record label, Borstal Beat Records.

History

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Early years

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Prior to forming Flogging Molly, Dublin-born Dave King was the lead singer for the heavy metal band Fastway featuring guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke of Motörhead in the early to mid 1980s. He later fronted a hard rock band called Katmandu (1991), featuring Mandy Meyer of Krokus on guitars. Afterward, King retained a record deal with Epic Records and began to work on a solo album, but began to reconsider his record deal when the label opposed his idea of bringing in traditional Irish instruments. King negotiated out of his record deal to go his own way musically soon after.

In 1993, King met violin player Bridget Regan, guitarist Ted Hutt, bassist Jeff Peters, and drummer Paul Crowder[2] and put together a rock band with a Celtic music influence.

Career

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The band’s debut studio album, Swagger, arrived on March 7, 2000, their first of many with SideOneDummy. They joined the Vans Warped Tour for the first time that summer alongside Green Day, Weezer, and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones (whom they continued touring alongside in the fall).[3][circular reference]

Drunken Lullabies followed on March 19, 2002, and was certified gold by the RIAA in 2009.[4] They returned to the Warped Tour in 2003 with a lineup that included The All-American Rejects and Dropkick Murphys.

The group’s fourth studio album, Float, debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 in 2008 and produced two well-received singles: "Requiem for a Dying Song" (No. 35 on the Billboard Modern Rock charts)[5] and the title track (No. 40).[5]

March 2010's Live at the Greek Theatre captured a career-spanning Los Angeles, California performance from the year before as a CD/DVD set. In 2011, Flogging Molly appeared in the season premiere of Austin City Limits.[6]

Dave King performing in 2011

2011's Speed of Darkness was the band's first album issued through their own label, Borstal Beat Records.[7]

Life Is Good, the band's first new album in six years, arrived in 2017. It is the only Flogging Molly album released via Vanguard Records and Spinefarm. They co-headlined a US tour with Social Distortion in 2019.[8]

The band live-streamed a St. Patrick's Day performance on March 17, 2021, from Whelan’s Irish Pub in Dublin, Ireland. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales went toward Sweet Relief’s COVID-19 Crew Fund.[9] They co-headlined a tour with Violent Femmes the same year.

Flogging Molly released their seventh studio album, Anthem, in 2022, their first with Rise Records. They co-headlined a tour with The Interrupters the same year.[10]

In November 2023, the band announced the inaugural Shamrock Rebellion Fest, scheduled for March 16, 2024, in Silverado, California, and March 17, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada.[11] The Road To Rebellion Tour preceded the fest, with support coming from Amigo The Devil.[12]

Flogging Molly performed The Pogues' "The Old Main Drag" at the Sinéad & Shane (billed as "a St. Paddy's Celebration of Sinéad O'Connor and Shane MacGowan") at Carnegie Hall concert in New York City on March 20, 2024. [13]

After a June 20, 2024, fire damaged Molly Malone's Irish Pub, where the band got their start,[14] the band launched a merchandise line to raise money for the venue and staff.[15]

The band began a European tour on July 19, 2024, scheduled to run through September, with stops at several major festivals, followed by a headlining tour of the United States from late September through mid-October 2024.[16]

Salty Dog Cruises (2015–present)

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From March 13 to 16, 2015, Flogging Molly began hosting a yearly Caribbean cruise. The 2015 Salty Dog Cruise Cruise[17] featured shows by the band and many others, over three days leaving from Miami to Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay on the Norwegian Sky.[citation needed]

The Salty Dog Cruise 2023 ran November 8-13, sailing from Miami to Harvest Caye, Belize, and Costa Maya, Mexico. The line-up included Flogging Molly, Pennywise, Stiff Little Fingers, The Vandals, and Gorilla Biscuits, among others, with a Port of Miami kickoff show featuring The Interrupters.[18]

In late November 2023, the band announced the next Salty Dog Cruise, set for February 17-22, 2025, sailing from Miami to Grand Cayman, and Ochos Rios, Jamaica. As of December 15, 2023, the 2025 cruise was sold out.[19]

Musical style

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Flogging Molly's music is influenced by various artists, such as The Dubliners, The Pogues, Horslips, Johnny Cash, and The Clash. The album Within a Mile of Home (2004) is dedicated to the memories of Cash and The Clash frontman Joe Strummer.[citation needed]

Their music ranges from boisterous Celtic punk, like the pirate-themed "Salty Dog", "Cruel Mistress", and "Seven Deadly Sins", or the defiant "What's Left of the Flag", "Drunken Lullabies", and "Rebels of the Sacred Heart", to more somber songs like "Far Away Boys", "The Son Never Shines (On Closed Doors)", "Life in a Tenement Square", and "Float". Lyrics typically touch on subjects such as Ireland and its history, drinking, poverty, politics, love, and death and include several references to the Catholic Church. "What's Left of the Flag" and "The Likes of You Again" were written as tributes to King's father, who died when King was a child.[20]

Members

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Discography

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Main article: Flogging Molly discography

Studio albums

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References

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  1. ^ @riserecords (October 21, 2020). "We're happy to welcome @floggingmolly..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ a b Life Is Good Out Now. Floggingmolly.com, Retrieved on March 13, 2020.
  3. ^ "List of Warped Tour lineups by year". Wikipedia. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  4. ^ "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Flogging Molly – Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  6. ^ "Flogging Molly "Saints and Sinners" | Watch Austin City Limits Online | KLRU". Video. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  7. ^ "Borstal Beat Records Discography". Discogs. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  8. ^ "Flogging Molly, Social Distortion announce co-headliner". Alternative Press. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  9. ^ "Flogging Molly's St. Patrick's Day Livestream". Sweet Relief. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  10. ^ "Flogging Molly + The Interrupters Book Summer Co-Headline Tour". Loudwire.com. March 15, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  11. ^ "Flogging Molly's Shamrock Rebellion St. Patrick's Day Fest". Consequence.net. November 9, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  12. ^ "Flogging Molly Announce 2024 US Tour with Amigo the Devil". Consequence.net. November 13, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  13. ^ "Sinéad & Shane at Carnegie Hall concert listing". CityWinery.com. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  14. ^ "Fire schorches Molly Malone's, longtime Fairfax District Pub". Beverly Press. June 27, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  15. ^ "Flogging Molly Facebook post". Facebook. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  16. ^ "Flogging Molly Concert & Tour History". Concert Archives. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  17. ^ "Flogging Molly's Salty Dog Cruise – 2018". FloggingMollyCruise.com. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  18. ^ "Flogging Molly reveals 2023 cruise lineup: The Interrupters, Stiff Little Fingers, Gorilla Biscuits & More". BrooklynVegan.com. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  19. ^ "Flogging Molly Instagram Post". Instagram.com. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  20. ^ Ambrose, Anthony (July 27, 2009). "inTuneMusic Online: Warped Tour @ Oceanport 7/19". Archived from the original on May 29, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2009.
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