Matt Kelly (drummer) explained

Matt Kelly
Birth Place:Leominster, Massachusetts, U.S.
Instrument:Drums
Genre:Celtic punk, hard rock
Current Member Of:Dropkick Murphys
Years Active:1997–present

Matt Kelly is an American musician from Leominster, Massachusetts. He has been the drummer for the Boston Celtic punk group Dropkick Murphys since May 1997.[1] [2] [3] Kelly also sings background vocals for the band and has not missed playing a show with the band for 22 years as of 2019.

Gear

Matt's Kelly's drum kit consists of an 8x12 rack, a 14x14, 16x16 floors, and a 20x22 kick. He mostly uses a 6.5x14 snare. His kit is emerald green acrylic, with custom wood badges with Celtic symbols on "claw style wood hoops". Kelly calls these drums "my green precious emeralds." He uses a DW 5000 kick pedal, and Zildjian cymbals.

Kelly has been influenced by rock drummers such as John Bonham, Phil Rudd, and Ian Paice, and also jazz musicians like Art Blakey, Joe Morello, Max Roach, and Philly Joe Jones.

Personal life

Kelly was born in Leominster, Massachusetts, one of three children.[4] His father, Ed, was also a drummer and played for the Psych/Garage band Pugsley Munion. Kelly took six years of drumming lessons starting when he was eight years old, with Don Kirby at the Music Box in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.[5] He has been married to his wife Liz since 2007.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Beresford . Jack . Dropkick Murphys drummer Matt Kelly talks Trump, The Departed and his Irish origins . The Irish Post . February 3, 2020 . November 16, 2020.
  2. Web site: Barsalou . David . Matt Kelly: Dropkick Murphys' Driving Force . Not So Modern Drummer . November 21, 2018 . November 16, 2020.
  3. Web site: Weinmann . Charlie . A Conversation with Matt Kelly of The Dropkick Murphys . Drumhead Magazine – Welcome to Drumhead Magazine . November 14, 2019 . November 16, 2020.
  4. Web site: Semon . Craig S. . Leominster's Matt Kelly and fellow Dropkick Murphys lend a hand for fallen Worcester firefighter's family . Leominster Champion . December 4, 2019 . November 16, 2020.
  5. Web site: Dinner with... Leominster's first family of rock . Sauvageau. Lindsay . Leominster Champion . April 27, 2007 . November 16, 2020.
  6. Web site: Whitcomb . Tom . 5 questions with Dropkick Murphys' Matt Kelly . The Bozho . February 18, 2019 . November 16, 2020.