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In their teens, childhood friends Chris Cheney and Scott Owens got together to form a covers band called The Runaway Boys paying homage to their musical idols, Stray Cats and The Clash. Having gathered enough confidence in their ability, the boys began playing locally within the prominent Melbourne rockabilly scene. Soon the pair began writing original material inspired by the fifties rockabilly sounds and decided upon renaming the band The Living End. Cheney would assume lead vocals and guitar while Owens took to double bass. The line-up would then be completed by Joe Piripitzi on drums.
In 1995 the band recorded the demo track “Hurricanes” and later that year they sent a copy of the track along with a band t-shirt to Green Day frontman, Billie-Joe Armstrong. So impressed with the demo, the band were invited to support Green Day on their Australian leg of tour. Later that year The Living End would release their debut EP “Hellbound” where they fused 50’s rockabilly with British punk.
After the release of their second EP “It’s For Your Own Good” in 1995, Piripitzi was fired from the band for his lack of commitment to the band and his lifestyle choices. Travis Demsey would take his place as the band embarked on a yearlong nationwide tour. The band released the double A side “Second Solution/ Prisoner of Society” in August 1997 with the intention to sell on tour. The single soared to through the charts peaking at number four and certifying double platinum, breaking The Living End into the mainstream as the track stayed in the top 50 chart for a total of 47 weeks.
In 1998 the band signed to Modular Recordings to release their debut self-titled album later that year. The album clinched the number one spot in the ARIA charts becoming the second fastest selling rock single in Australian music history. Churning out six singles, the album also earned the trio two ARIA Music Awards in 1999 for Best Group and Breakthrough Artist Album.
With pressure to match the success of their debut album, the follow-up “Roll On” released in 2000 wasn’t as commercially successful but both the title track and “Pictures in the Mirror” made it into the top 20. Whilst on the road supporting the album in 2001, Cheney was involved in car accident which left him unable to play for two months. The following year Demsey left the band citing family commitments and was replaced by Andy Strachan.
In 2002 to test out their new material for their upcoming album whilst putting Strachan through his paces, the band started a side project performing under the name Longnecks as well as number of other aliases. The Living End released their third album “Modern ARTillery” in 2003. Over the next few years Longnecks and aliases would reappear allowing the band to road test new material for the next releases.
By the time they had released their fourth album in 2006, the band had been relentlessly touring, released a live DVD, greatest hits and accumulated four JACK awards along the way, leaving Cheney feeling burnt out and lacking inspiration. After taking a year break from the band, Cheney returned as they played the 2007 Great Escape Festival in Brighton, England.
In 2010 The Living End released their sixth studio album “The Ending Is Just the Beginning Repeating” which debuted at number three in the ARIA charts. The band continue playing shows across the globe spreading their definitive punkabilly sound.
The current line up of the Dropkicks Murphys as of 2014 consists of: Ken Casey - bass guitar, lead vocals, Matt Kelly - drums, bodhran and vocals, Al Barr - lead vocals, James Lynch - guitar and vocals, Tim Brennan - tin whistle, accordion, mandolin, bouzouki, keyboard, piano, vocals, and lead guitar, Jeff DaRosa - banjo, bouzouki, mandolin, guitar, keyboard, piano, harmonica, tin whistle and vocals.
The band went platinum with their song "I'm shipping up to Boston". This is one of the bands trademark song and has seen them reach great success.
In 2007 the band signed with Warner Bros. Records. After previously being signed to Hellcat Records while they were constantly touring.
The band has many influences such as: AC/DC, Stiff Little Fingers, Swinging Utters, The Ramones, The Clash and Sex Pistols, The Pogues and The Dubliners.
As of 2014 the Dropkick Murphys have released 8 albums, their most recent album "Signed and Sealed in Blood" gained positive reviews, Allmusic gave it 4 out of 5 stars. This album matched the score of their earlier album "The Meanest of Times" which contained "The State of Massachusetts" which has been named one of the 100 most played songs on U.S. modern rock radio in October 2007.
The band should stand as living proof to punk rock purists that commercial success is not, and has never been, the same thing as selling out. Yes, the band’s sound is far more accessible today than the visceral hardcore of their early years.
However, if they were to take a cursory listen to the lyrics of any random song of theirs, they would be shocked to find that they are still as intelligent, profound and straight up angry as they ever were and this even stretches to the bands biggest hits.
Take songs like “Help Is on the Way", “Savior”, "Make It Stop (September's Children)" and “Prayer Of The Refugee” for example. These are polarising songs about difficult, yet very topical subjects that don’t shy away from taking a defined stance.
However the combined Youtube hits for those videos are, astonishingly enough, around 86 Million. This is a band that manages to plug the It Gets Better project, PETA and Amnesty International while filling arenas in their home country and large theaters and concert halls around the world.
To have a fully-fledged rock band with a message as vital as theirs playing on such a large scale the world over is a blessing that we haven’t had since the days of The Clash. With a tour schedule like theirs, it’s only a matter of time before they play wherever you are, and there are few bands out their more likely to change your life than the one and only Rise Against.
Hailing from Australia, The Living End are a punk rock band who incorporate double bass and psychobilly influence in their music. The band are best known for their 1997 hit “Prisoner of Society” which has since become a punk classic. As the band grace the stage it’s clear that the audience is in for something a bit different. Scott Owen throws his double bass around while providing backup vocals as Chris Cheney wonders around, strumming his guitar and singing at the top of his lungs. The energy is high and tracks like “Second Solution” get big crowd reactions. The Living End are an exciting band to catch live. Their unique brand of punk really works, but this is more clear when watching them live than listening to recordings. The extended solos and double bass twirling tricks (or even standing on it at points) make for an enthralling viewing.
Their cult following is well justified; and while they may be seen as “that band who released ‘Prisoner of Society’” by the mainstream punk audience - they are way more than just that. The Living End are definitely a band to see on one of their UK visits - which do not happen too often.
Man I can still remember going to see Jebediah from around three years ago and it was so amazing. I had to bring some of my friends go come along with me since I had seen them about three times before. Every time I have went to go see one of their shows they are absolutely great and a real pleasure to listen to. This time though they were a little bit more casual but that is exactly what I wanted to see because I really love when a band can kick back and relax and play some good music. They had so much energy on the stage it was awesome, Kevin was dancing on stage and through the crowd that's is how amazing their performance was. After the performance one of the band member's came out and took pictures with some people from the crowd which really shows how dedicated they are to their fans that they will take the time out of their lives and make a fans night. If you have never seen Jebediah before you should first take a listen to their music as some people are not the biggest fans, but if you have and really dig their music come out and see a show.
Seeing The Dropkick Murphys live was a totally amazing experience in and of itself. The second I entered the show, I was greeted by the sights and sounds of good old celtic punk. Ken Casey's uplifting and majestic voice gladly welcomed me into a realm of sweet guitarwork and overall an insane time.
The concert was packed but everyone there had one goal, to listen and to enjoy the Dropkick Murphys's killer music. I must say, being in big mosh pit while Shipping up to Boston is playing was one of the most thrilling experiences of my life. Seeing this band live is highly recommended. You will not be dissapointed.
I was lucky enough to see rock band Rise Against live at Rock am Ring in 2010. They were loud, heavy, and fun.
They instantly launched into the hardest song that they could find and did not let up for anything until the end of the set. They did not build up, they did not wait, they just played hard, jamming, fast, fun music for everyone that was there to rock. The crowd loved it and cheered and head banged to their intense, hard music as hard as they could. It was an excellent experience.
Everyone loved the music and the band's intense nature, refusing to let up or to slow down. They kept going and going, getting louder and harder until it was impossible to get any louder or any harder. The audience really loved them and so did I. They actively engaged with us and made it a fun, engaging show to be a part of.
They refused to be outdone and rocked as hard as humanly possible, while we the audience tried our best to keep up. It was an amazing show and I highly recommend any one that is interested see a Rise Against show as soon as they can.