Celebrating their Irish heritage by melding the traditional Celtic music base with political, drinking, blue collar worker punk rock themes has become popular enough to merit a genre of it's own ~ Celtic Punk.

Flogging Molly

"If it didn't have mandolin, accordion, fiddle and whistle, it would be punk rock, and if it didn't have guitar, bass and drums, it would be traditional Irish music. You can't be bothered being labeled."

Celebrating their Irish heritage by melding the traditional Celtic music base with political, drinking, blue collar worker punk rock themes has become popular enough to merit a genre of it's own ~ Celtic Punk.

Flogging Molly - The beginnings

After honing his talents on prior bands, working on a solo album, and leaving a record deal behind due to artistic differences, in 1993, Dave King met Ted Hutt, Jeff Peters and Bridget Regan, forming the unique quartet that would produce their own signature sound. Rocking Irish melodies and King's lyrics brought a following for the Celtic blended rock music they played at Molly Malone's Los Angeles pub on Monday nights.

The unique songs written during this time includes Black Friday Rule and Devils Dance Floor. Even after Peters and Hutt left to return to former bands, King and Regan brought Dennis Casey, Bob Schmidt, Nathan Maxwell, and George Schwindt together creating the band now known as Flogging Molly. For the next few years the "flogging at Molly's" continued, uniquely blending the Celtic mandolin, fiddle, bodhrán, and uilleann pipes with guitars, drums, and bass; the group built a loyal following.

Not fitting into any preconceived marketable demographic slot didn't phase Flogging Molly's drive or determination. Their initial live album, Alive Behind the Green Door, was released in 1997 as an independent work before the band's unique sound and the intensity of their music impressed the owners of SideOneDummy Records and a deal was inked.

Onto the road and into the studio

Flogging Molly's label debut Swagger was released in 2000 with popular singles The Likes of You Again, Black Friday Rule,

and The Worst Day Since Yesterday (which was used in the film Mr. and Mrs. Smith) amazed the industry by selling over 50,000 copies. Drunken Lullabies (2002) brought sellers Rebels of the Sacred Heart and The Sun Never Shines (on Closed Doors) showcasing the range of musical and lyrical talent within the group. September 2004 brought Within a Mile of Home and again showed the agility of the members' musical talents.

The 2006 release project Whiskey on a Sunday was a 2 hour documentary on the history, life events, and attitudes of the team with a full length live album. For 2007 there was another live release, EP Complete Control Sessions and March 2008 brought their first two chart hits on Float. Float was recorded while Flogging Molly was on tour in Ireland and was received with the highest positions for that label and was a milestone for the Celtic Rock genre. Requiem for a Dying Song and Float made #35 and 40 consecutively on the Billboard for Modern Rock. The huge September 2009 project Live at the Greek Theatre resulted in a double CD and full length DVD being released in 2010.

Making milestones

The simple, fanatical, almost frantic passion for their music is evident in their penchant for contact with their fans. They tour so extensively that Hensley left in 2007 to spend time with his family. They are regulars on the Warped Tour, appeared at the American Fleadh Festival, were contributors to Rock Against Bush, and have an annual Green 17 Tour. During the Float tour Dave and Bridget tied the knot in Tokyo, Japan. Their Drunken Lullabies went gold in June 2009.

On the road

Flogging Molly has performances booked all over the world. April and May USA shows are booked with European shows booked over the summer to culminate with the August 1 Niigata Japan, Fuji Rock Festival. Free music downloads can be easily found throughout the web.

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