Dropkick Murphys: What Would Have Happened if Mike Had Stayed?

The Dropkick Murphys are releasing their second live album next week and in preparation (and thanks to my good friend Steve) I have been on a DKM kick. One thing that I have always wondered as a long-time fan of the band, what would have happened if original lead singer Mike McColgan had not left the band to become a fire fighter?

It is my theory that DKM would have become a bigger band than they already are, if McColgan had stayed in the band. This is not a slight against Al Barr, who is himself an excellent front man (and has a better voice for ballads IMHO), but McColgan has a stage presence that is inspiring, and almost Bono-esque in its power. After having seen both men perform (Barr with DKM and McColgan with the Street Dogs) I have to think that the momentum that DKM had with the Do or Die album, that fizzled when McColgan left the band, would have continued to grow and that eventually the band would have gain huge mainstream success.

In a way though it’s a good thing that this didn’t happen. As it stands, the closest thing that DKM have come to a hit is “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” but even it hasn’t gotten much radio penetration (at least here in OK), so the band hasn’t suffered from becoming a one hit wonder or a mainstream rock act. Even though this band is huge and very well known, I think that they still hold on to a cult status and that probably would not be the case had McColgan stayed with the band.