Dropkick Murphys Explain Genesis of Mumford and Sons Collaboration

2013-01-09

Story by Charles Ken

Dropkick Murphys’ latest single, ‘Rose Tattoo,’ features banjo playing a la Mumford and Sons’ Winston Marshall

Dropkicks Murphys have a new album out, “Signed and Sealed in Blood,” and the group enlisted an alternative music heavyweight to contribute to the set: Mumford & Sons banjo player Winston Marshall. The band’s lead single from the album, “Rose Tattoo,” features some subtle lines from Marshall, and as the story goes, Dropkick Murphys mandolin player Tim Brennan says the two bands decided to collaborate after meeting during a show in Europe.

“We played a festival in Europe and Mumford & Sons were playing,” Brennan told Fuse. “It turned out that they wanted to come see us later in the night, on a smaller stage. We struck up a conversation.”

After meeting overseas, Mumford & Sons invited Dropkick Murphys to become a part of the lineup on one of their Gentlemen of the Road Tour tour dates in Portland, Maine. Brennan says that’s when the band “kidnapped” Winston and got him to play on the track.

“He’s a good guy, down to earth,” Dropkick Murphys singer and bass player Ken Casey said of Marshall, adding that the banjo player’s unique approach to the instrument was a perfect fit with the song. “It’s cool…that he played on the record. It’s subtle, but with that rolling finger-picking style, you know it’s him when you hear it.”

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Charles Ken

Meet the expert - Charles Ken is a graduate of Michigan State University where he studied writing and history. He's a longtime music buff and covers classic rock for Audio Ink Radio. Contact him at ken@audioinkradio.com.