The Ducky Boys

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Left to Right: Mark Lind, Jason Messina, Tom DeRocco, Joe Riot
Left to Right: Mark Lind, Jason Messina, Tom DeRocco, Joe Riot
Background information
Origin Boston, Massachusetts
Genre(s) Street punk
Punk rock
Years active 1995 – current
Label(s) Sailor's Grave Records
I Scream Records
Website duckyboys.com
Members
Mark Lind
Jason Messina
Douglas Sullivan
Former members
Stone Gossard
Mike Marsden
Mike O'Leary
James Lynch
Tom DeRocco
Joe Riot

The Ducky Boys are a street punk band from Boston, Massachusetts. Since forming in 1995 in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston, the band has spanned over ten years with two tenures that have led to four full-length albums and over 50 songs. The band derives its name from the name of an Irish street gang in the 1979 movie, "The Wanderers". (There is also another punk band by the same name: The Ducky Boys from Brooklyn, NY formed in the early 1980s and are featured on the "Staring Down the Barrel" compilation, which features over a dozen tracks by very obscure, unknown punk bands from '79 through '83.)

Lead on bass and vocals by band frontman Mark Lind and drums by mainstay Jason Messina, while featuring a rotating cast of guitarists, the band released four full length albums before being placed on hiatus by Lind in early 2007. The band is scheduled to perform in September 2007.

Over the last ten years, the band's sound has evolved from quick punk riffs to more stripped down rock music and a developing message of social consciousness. However, the band's influences, which include Rancid, Social Distortion, The Clash, Bruce Springsteen, and dozens of other punk and rock n' roll bands, still remains a prevalent element in the band's sound. [1]

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Formation and early years

The band was formed in 1995 by Lind (age 18), Messina (age 19), and former guitarist Mike Marsden (age 17). The band's first two songs were "White Slum" and "Pride". The band soon recorded their first official release in a 7" split with Dropkick Murphys and within two years, the band was picked up by GMM records.

The band's first album, No Gettin' Out was recorded at Salad Days, Boston and was released in January 1997. Featuring, the song "I'll Rise Up", the album was composed of 15 tracks that totaled a length of almost 39 minutes.

[edit] Dark Days

Soon after the release of No Getting Out, the band, plus guitarist Mike O'Leary, returned to the studio. Recorded between February and March 1998, the album Dark Days would help define the band and eventually increase their status in the punk rock community. Featuring songs such as "These Are The Days" and "I've Got My Friends", the album was widely praised and deemed a street punk classic.

However, as Lind stated in a recent interview, "we didn't know what we were doing" soon after the release of Dark Days. "We thought bigger than we actually were", Lind further stated and as a result, the band soon experienced turmoil over the future direction and would eventually break up though they would remain on and off until 2002. [2]

[edit] Three Chords and the Truth

Sullivan, Messina, and Lind
Sullivan, Messina, and Lind

After almost five years, which saw several successful side-projects by Lind, Sinners and Saints and Dirty Water, the band permanently re-formed in 2003. Gone were Marsden and O'Leary with former The Eleventh Hour lead singer Douglas Sullivan taking over on lead guitar.[3] With this soon came the recording of the band's third album, entitled Three Chords and the Truth. Under the production of Jim Siegel, the album has a clear, big, professional sound found in both the punk shout outs and melodic rock n' roll type songs. [4]

The album features a punk influenced cover of the notable song "Stand By Me". Lind's song writing was widely acclaimed and the album as a whole proved to be a huge success in both sales and popularity.

[edit] The War Back Home

Lind began writing shortly after the release of Three Chords and within a year, production began on the band's fourth album The War Back Home. The album was more of a group presentation with several lyrics written by Sullivan and a more complex drum sound. The album features both punk and blues elements with influences by both The Clash and Dropkick Murphys clearly heard with the message again evokes social themes of political, social, and economic magnitude. It received relatively positive reviews. [5]

The 12 song album features "Celebrate", "Bombs Away and "The Middle Children of History", which all exhibit the developing style and message of the band; and especially focusing on topics such as poverty and the war in Iraq.

The album is the first of a two album contract with Sailor's Grave Records.

[edit] The Future

The band is currently on hiatus, with Lind pursuing other musical outlets, including the release of his second solo record. Joe Riot has moved on to front a new musical project.

There was a reunion in September at T.T. the Bears place. This would include the most successful lineup featuring Mark Lind - Vocals/Bass, Douglas Sullivan - Guitar, and Jay Messina - Drums. There is another show scheduled in January for the Pug Uglies final show.

[edit] Members

  • Mark Lind - bass, lead vocals
  • Jason Messina - drums
  • Douglas Sullivan - guitar, vocals

Former members

  • Mike Marsden - guitar, vocals
  • Mike O'Leary - guitar, vocals
  • James Lynch - guitar, vocals
  • Joe Riot - guitar, vocals
  • Tom DeRecco - guitar, vocals

[edit] Performances

The Ducky Boys have performed with the following bands:

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums:

[edit] Splits:

[edit] Compilations:

  • Give 'Em the Boot IV
  • Scene Killer Vol 1
  • Old Skars And Upstarts 2005
  • Oi! Skampilation 3
  • Skins & Pins Volume 1
  • East Coast Of Oi!
  • Never Mind the Sex Pistols Here's the Tribute

[edit] External links