In the six seemingly endless months since Donald Trump has been back in office, many performers have been outspoken, but none have had more panache than Dropkick Murphys. Those Irish-blooded punk rockers have no time for tyrants, kings, scammers, or cult leaders, and woe unto you if you align yourself with any of those traits by showing up to a Dropkick Murphys concert donning a MAGA hat! The band will call you out from the stage for such an offense! And being the artists they are, the band is finding innovative, timely ways to enhance their show as they tour. Which is how audience members over the weekend were treated to a new video backdrop during the song “First Class Loser.” What was the video? A photo montage of Trump and his good friend Jeffrey Epstein.
Dropkick Murphys have made no secret of their dislike of President Donald Trump.
The Celtic punk band has generated headlines in recent months for pulling out of a festival over the organizer’s ties to Republican politics and hectoring fans for their Trumpian merch. They upped the ante during a performance at the revived Vans Warped Tour over the weekend, projecting video of Trump and the convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein over a performance of their song “First Class Loser.”
As frontman Ken Casey sang about “a bully” and “a jerk,” the screen showed clips of Epstein and Trump together as well as quotes from the president where he called the late trafficker a “terrific guy” who likes “beautiful women…on the younger side.”
Dropkick Murphys are far from the first musicians to share their feelings about Trump. Bruce Springsteen used his massive platform to campaign for his opponent in the last election. Neil Young jumped on the commander-in-chief for wasting his time squabbling with artists in May.
“Stop thinking about what rockers are saying,” Young wrote. “Think about saving America from the mess you made. Taylor Swift is right. So is Bruce. You know how I feel.”
“Stop thinking about what rockers are saying.” But he CAN’T, Neil! He’ll always be rattled by anyone calling him out. And it’s extra humiliating for Don and the right because they know all the best musicians (and actors, comedians, etc) are against them. How does it always seem to work out that way? Well, I like to think that to be an artist you have to have a heart. And if you have a heart then you have empathy. And if you have empathy, then the innumerable crimes against humanity of the fascist heartless pernicious adjudicated rapist lying cheating over-suntan lotioned sorry excuse of a president currently hijacking the government are just too much to bear for anyone who has the ability to care. So while republicans publicly rail against elite liberal artists, I’m convinced that underneath it all they’re just steaming that the only “talent” on their side is Kid Rock and Billy Ray Cyrus. That’s my theory, anyway.
Between this and the South Park episode, all of Trump’s (severely swollen) extremities must be ready to explode. Style, impact, balls… those crazy celts are meeting the moment like no other! They dropkicked that baby-fisted president in his little baby nutsack! So keep at it, Murphys, and may every concert be another wonderful secret.
Photos credit: IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Daniel REINELT/Avalon, Getty and via Instagram
“They dropkicked that baby-fisted president in his little baby nutsack!”
LMAOOOOOO Kismet.
Honestly, The Dropkick Murphys, Neil Young, the Boss, John Fogerty, Green Day and any musician that calls out Trump will be remembered as heroes who stood on the right side of history. I hope Kid Rock, BR Cyrus and every asshole who’s supported the orange menace become detested pariahs, remembered only for enabling a fascist dictator.
The last punk rock fest I went to (punk rock bowling) they showed anti Trump/fascism clips between all of the sets, it was great.
What I love most is that people are also pressing DM on using Ticketmaster which is a much bigger Republican donor than the guy behind Brew Ha Ha
Punk rock is a straight up balm to the soul these days. Try Good Riddance from all decades if you want some good old fashioned punk rock against the authority. Good on Drop Kick Murphys.
This is why punk exists!!
I don’t know who this guy is, but I appreciate the help out of him.
The Dropkick Murphys are on the right side of history.
I saw them in Oakland this week. Awesome show! I couldn’t stay until the very end, so I might have missed the Epstein part, but they showed horrible scenes of ICE raids and made me and the punk rockers around me get watery eyes. I applaud them for always staying true to their punkrock roots and values!!!
Thank u dropkick murphys. I play them for the littles and they’ve all got I’m a sailor peg and I’ve lost my leg memorized. Shipping up to Boston is an easy one for kids just saying, lol. Before there was Danny Go, there was was punk and dropkick Murphys for kids….😂