Originally Posted by Marc Orrell

You may have heard some talk that I am going to stop playing with the Dropkick Murphys. I wanted to confirm that the rumors are true and I am leaving the band. I'm very grateful for everything playing with DKM has brought me and I'm sad to be going but I feel like the time has come for me to try working on different styles of music and some of my own projects, I'm ready to spread my wings as they say.

I've been pickin', ticklin', strummin', squeezin', crashin', trashin' and smashin' with the Dropkicks for many years and am proud to have been a part of all the achievements and success we've had. However the greatest achievement of all has been the friends I've made and the people I've met along the way. Everyone has always supported me and the rest of the guys 100% in everything we've done which makes my leaving all the more difficult.

I'm very anxious and excited to see where the road takes me. DKM are (of course) going to continue on and Tim Brennan will be taking my place playing guitar, Tim is one of the greatest musicians around and I know he'll do an amazing job. I wish him and the band all the best for the future and thank all the guys so much for everything they've done for me and for giving me a chance to see the world and play in one of the best punk rock bands around. I am going to miss you all and can't tell you how lucky I feel to have been given the opportunity to play in DKM. Thank you all DKM fans everywhere. DKMs alive! Keep listening!

Marc Orrell.

Originally Posted by Dropkick Murphys

It goes without saying that we're very sad to see Marc go but we'll always be great friends and he will be part of the Dropkick Murphys family forever. Just like the mafia, once you're in you can't get out! Marc has told us he wants his music to go in a different direction and we all agreed that some of the new musical styles he wants to explore just aren't going to fit in with the Murphys sound. Marc and the rest of us all feel that preserving the Dropkick Murphys style the fans have come to know and expect should be the main priority. As Marc mentioned above Tim will be moving over to playing guitar and another great friend of ours and fellow Boston guy Jeff DaRosa will be taking over Tim's old duties. Jeff is another super talented musician and has been tight with us since our days playing at the Rat and will be familiar to you from bands he has been in previously like the Pinkerton Thugs and The Vigilantes (whose record we released on our label many years ago).

We want everyone to know that we are still very committed to Dropkick Murphys and making our fans happy. As you all already know Tim is an extremely accomplished guitar player and musician so the transition is going to be very smooth. DKM will continue on with the same dedication, effort and heart we always have and we want you all to know Marc's leaving will not change any of our forthcoming plans. This is just another bump in the DKM rocky road.

Ken, Matt, Al, James, Tim & Scruffy.