Editing Dropkick Murphys (section)

===Mike McColgan era: 1996–1998===
Dropkick Murphys were originally formed in 1996 in [[Quincy, Massachusetts]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Enger|first=Olga|title=Dropkick Murphys to Perform in Newport|url=http://newport.patch.com/groups/arts-and-entertainment/p/dropkick-murphys-to-perform-in-newport|work=Newport Patch|access-date=October 11, 2013|date=May 7, 2013}}</ref> initially consisting of lead vocalist [[Mike McColgan]], bassist/vocalist [[Ken Casey]], guitarist [[Rick Barton (musician)|Rick Barton]], and drummer [[Jeff Erna]] (who was replaced the next year by Matt Kelly). The band was named after [[John Murphy (sanatorium operator)|Dr. John "Dropkick" Murphy's]] alcohol-detoxification facility. The "Dropkick Murphys" first started playing in the basement of a friend's barbershop and soon began to tour and record. They received their first big break when [[the Mighty Mighty Bosstones]] selected them as the opening act for their 1997 tour in support of ''[[Let's Face It]]''.<ref name="chron1">{{cite news|last=Himes |first=Geoffrey |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/3697473.html |title=Dropkick Murphys stumble upon a sonic pot of gold |newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]] |date=March 3, 2006 |access-date=July 5, 2011}}</ref>

After putting out a series of EPs (which included their 1997 debut ''[[Boys on the Docks]]''), they were signed by [[Hellcat Records]] in 1997 and made their debut for the label on very first ''Give 'Em the Boot'' [[sampler (record)|label sampler]] album that same year. In 1998 they released their first full-length album, ''[[Do or Die (Dropkick Murphys album)|Do or Die]]'', which was produced by [[Rancid (band)|Rancid]]'s [[Lars Frederiksen]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1193847/a/Gang's+All+Here.htm |title=Dropkick Murphys – Gang's All Here CD Album |website=Cduniverse.com |access-date=July 5, 2011}}</ref> The band's only full release to feature their founding lineup.

Lead singer Mike McColgan left the band in 1998 during the middle of a US tour with [[The Business (band)|the Business]]. According to McColgan, he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his uncle and join the [[Boston Fire Department]], which he eventually would do in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.punknews.org/article/1942/mccolgan-to-be-fighting-fires-and-saving-lives-in-boston|title=McColgan to be fighting fires and saving lives in Boston...|website=Punknews.org|date=September 10, 2001 |access-date=June 12, 2015}}</ref> The band gave a different explanation for McColgan's departure in the liner notes of their 1998 release ''Curse of a Fallen Soul'': "We'd like to take this time to officially let you know that Mike McColgan, our former lead singer has quit the band. We apologize to anyone who was a fan of Mike as our singer, however contrary to popular rumor, he did not leave the band to join the fire department. Mike left the band because he is no longer interested in being a member of this band or the movement of which we are a part." The band explained that their music is very serious to them and that it did not feel right having a singer who was going through the motions. Even McColgan felt that the band deserved a singer who was emotionally invested in the music. McColgan returned to the punk scene in 2002 as singer of the [[Street Dogs]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Sculley|first=Alan|title=A spirited brand of old-school punk|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2011/09/spirited-brand-oldschool-punk|website=Hamptonroads.com|access-date=October 11, 2013|date=September 15, 2011|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006075759/http://hamptonroads.com/2011/09/spirited-brand-oldschool-punk|url-status=dead}}</ref>