The Ducky Boys
The Ducky Boys | |
|---|---|
| File:Ducky Boys 029.jpg Left to Right: Mark Lind, Jason Messina, DeRocco, Joe Riot | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Years active | 1995 – present |
| Members | Mark Lind Jason Messina Tom DeRocco Joe Riot |
The Ducky Boys are a punk rock band from Boston, Massachusetts. Since forming in 1995 in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston, the band has stood the test of time with two tenures that have led to four full-length albums and over 50 songs.
Lead on bass and vocals by band frontman Mark Lind and drums by Jason Messina, the band recently released it's fourth full length album, The War Back Home. In recent months, former guitarist Douglas Sullivan left on good terms and was replaced by guitarists [[Tom [DeRocco]] and Joe Riot, whom along with Lind and Messina, make up the current group. The band plans on releasing their fifth album, tentatively titled Dead Years and Matters of the Heart in early 2007.
Over the last ten years, the band's sound has evolved from quick punk rifts 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.
Formation and Early Years
The band was formed in 1995 by Lind (age 18), Messina (age 19), and former guitarist Mike Mardsen (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 Getting Out was recorded at Salad Days, Boston and was released in January 1997. Featuring, the hit I'll Rise Up, the album was composed of 15 songs that totaled a length of almost 39 minutes.
Dark Days
Soon after the release of No Getting Out, the band, plus guitarist Mike O'Leary and the signing of a record deal with Thorp Records, returned to the studio. Recorded between February and March of 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.
Three Chords and The Truth
After almost five years, which saw several successful side-projects by Lind, Sinners and Saints and Dirty Water, the band re-formed in 2003. Gone were Mardsen and O'Leary with former The Eleventh Hour lead singer Douglas Sullivan taking over on lead guitar. With this soon came the recording of the band's thrid album, entitled Three Chords and The Truth. Under the production of John Seigel, the album has a clear, big, professional sound found in both the punk shout outs and melodic rock n' roll type songs.
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.
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 record was again critically acclaimed for it's musicality and song-writing as Lind continued to tinker with the band's sound and message. The album features both punk and blues elements with influences by both The Clash and Dropkick Murphys clearly heard. The message again evokes social themes of political, social, and economic magnitude.
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 Future
Shortly after the release of The War Back Home, Sullivan left the band on good terms. Choosing to replace him with two guitarists, Lind recruited long-time friends of the band Joe Riot and Tom DeRocco. Lind has spent the last year writing over 50 songs and has begun pre-proudction on the band's next album, which is tentatively entitled 'Dead Years and Matters of the Heart. The album is expected to be released in early 2007.
Performances
The Ducky Boys have performed with the following bands:
- Rancid
- Dropkick Murphys
- Blood for Blood
- Ramallah
- Far From Finished
- Street Dogs
Studio albums
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No Getting Out, 1997
-
Dark Days, 1998 -
The War Back Home, 2006 -
