| The Rumjacks | |
| Origin: | Sydney, Australia |
| Genre: | pirate metal, hardcore punk, Celtic punk, folk punk, punk rock, hard rock |
| Years Active: | –present |
| Label: | Four Four |
| Current Members: |
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| Past Members: |
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The Rumjacks are a celtic punk band originally formed in Sydney, Australia in 2008.[1] Known for their loud and energetic live shows, the band has released five studio albums, two live albums, and a series of EPs and singles. In 2016, the Rumjacks relocated to various parts of Europe, where they currently live and tour.
One of the band's best-known songs, "An Irish Pub Song", became a viral hit and has earned over 85 million views on YouTube.[2]
Current members
Former members
Formed in 2008, the Rumjacks combine a variety of musical influences, including elements of punk rock and traditional Celtic folk. They released their debut EP Hung, Drawn & Portered, which was followed by their second EP Sound as a Pound later in the year.[3] The Rumjacks secured international support from punk legends like U.K Subs, GBH, and Gypsy punk legends Gogol Bordello. After early lineup changes, the band maintained their lineup of lead singer Frankie McLaughlin, bassist Johnny McKelvey, drummer Anthony Matters, guitarist Gabriel Whitbourne, and banjo/mandolin/bouzouki player Adam Kenny recording three critically acclaimed albums together: Gangs of New Holland (2010), Sober and Godless (2015), and Sleeping Rough (2016), before Matters' left after their 2016 European tour.[4]
The Rumjacks have performed on European tours.[5] The first European tour, in 2015 included the Jarocin Festival in Poland and Boomtown in the UK. On their 2016 Euro tour they performed at festivals like Przystanek Woostock, Mighty Sounds, Punk Rock Holiday, and the Lowlands Festival.[6] The Rumjacks embarked on their first US tour in March 2017, which included performances at San Diego's Get Shamrocked Festival Launch Party and Austin's South by Southwest Music Festival. The band also toured Europe in 2019.
Rivkees began filling in for Dropkick Murphys singer Al Barr in February 2022. Barr was forced to drop off of his band's tour to take care of his ailing mother.[7]
The band had an international breakthrough with their 2011 single, "An Irish Pub Song", which was taken from the 2010 album Gangs of New Holland. The song is an observational commentary on the fact that there are Irish-styled pubs in every part of the world as well as a protest against what the band saw as a commercialization and inauthentic expression of Irish diaspora culture. The song's official music video amassed over 85 million views on YouTube.
In an 2016 article Billboard[8] said that the song was #4 of the 25 "Most Popular St Patricks Day" songs on YouTube for the US demographic, before becoming #5 in 2017, #3 in 2018, and #5 in 2019.[9]
In early 2018 the band recorded their fourth studio album Saints Preserve Us over two weeks in Milan, Italy at Crono Sound Factory.[10] It was the first album with new drummer Pietro Della Sala. Paul McKenzie from the Real McKenzies was featured on the duet "The Foreman O’Rourke", and Mickey Rickshaw appeared on the song "Billy McKinley". The album includes a version of the Irish classic Irish: "An poc ar buile" (The Mad Puck Goat), which is sung in Irish. The album was released on 12 October 2018. At the end of 2018, the band toured Southeast Asia for the first time and went to Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
McLaughlin was sentenced for three domestic violence[11] offences in 2012: an assault occasioning actual bodily harm committed on 2 March 2010; a further assault occasioning actual bodily harm committed on 18 August 2010; and a common assault committed on 26 September 2010, which the band addressed publicly through their Facebook page at the time. Due to public backlash, the Rumjacks released another statement in 2016.[12] He was removed from the band in April 2020 due to bad behaviour and violent acts towards band members and support crew.[13]
| Title | Year | Label | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gangs of New Holland | 2010 | Laughing Outlaw | |
| Sober & Godless | 2015 | Four Four | |
| Sleepin' Rough | 2016 | Four Four[14] | |
| Saints Preserve Us | 2018 | Four Four | |
| Hestia | 2021 | Four Four |
| Title | Year | Label | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hung, Drawn & Portered | 2009 | Shite & Onions | |
| Sound as a Pound | 2009 | Shite & Onions | |
| Brass for Gold | 2022 | Four Four |
| Title | Year | Label | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live in London – Acoustic Sessions | 2019 | Four Four | |
| Live in Athens | 2019 | Four Four |
| Title | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|
| "I’ll Tell Me Ma" | 2009 | |
| "Uncle Tommy" | 2010 | Nathan Macdonald |
| "Green Ginger Wine" (Live) | 2011 | |
| "An Irish Pub Song" | ||
| "Crosses for Eyes" | 2012 | |
| "Blows & Unkind Words" | 2014 | James Shepherd |
| "Plenty" | Lawrence Lim | |
| "Home" | 2015 | |
| "One Summers Day" | ||
| "A Fistful O’ Roses" | 2016 | Josh Groom |
| "Fact’ry Jack" | Jordan Allison | |
| "Patron Saint O’Thieves" | ||
| "Saints Preserve Us" | 2018 | Loraa White |
| "A Smugglers Song" | ||
| "Billy McKinley" | 2019 | Czar Campos |
| "Cold London Rain" | ||
| "Sainted Millions" | 2020 | Mike Rivkees |
| "Hestia"[15] | 2021 | Gianluca Grandinetti |
| "Light in my Shadow" | ||
| "Rhythm of her Name" | Mike Rivkees | |
| "One For The Road" | ||
| "Bloodsoaked in Chorus" | ||
| "Bounding Main" | 2022 | |
| "Whitecaps" | ||
| "What Was Your Name In The States?" | Mike Rivkees |