Most people only know Dropkick Murphys as that band from The Departed and/or the Boston Red Sox, but back in the day, the Boston-based outfit was a force to be reckoned with. Their first two albums — 1998′s Do or Die and 1999′s The Gang’s All Here — were pure punk rock fun, and I’m ready to declare that Blackout was one of the best albums released in 2003. Now I don’t have anything against a band hitting it big, but the whole “Shipping Out to Boston” phenomena turned me off and try as I might, but their most recent effort, 2007′s The Meanest of Times, had maybe three good songs. But I’m digressing just to digress. The main point of the matter is that “Shipping Out to Boston” and “Tessie” and the Boston Red Sox opened the band to many tremendous fortunes, such as the opportunity to have Bruce Springsteen guest on their new album.

As previously reported, Going Out of Style is due March 1st via the band’s personal imprint Born & Bred Records, and according to an issued press release, none other than Bruce Springsteen will trade vocals with frontman Ken Casey on a rendition of “Peg O’ My Heart”. “It links two generations,” says Casey. “We’re spanning a lot of years of music here, yet our songs share similar themes, stories, and values.”

Punk rock kids will be happy to know that NOFX frontman Fat Mike also guests on the album, which likely marks the first time both him and Springsteen appear on the same album.

While we wait to hear the end result of these collaborations, check out the album’s lead single, “Memorial Day”, on RollingStone.com.

Dropkick Murphys 2011 Tour Dates:
02/23 – Niagara Falls, NY @ The Rapids Theatre *
02/24 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore *
02/25 – Milwaukee, WI @ Bradley Center
02/26 – Chicago, IL @ Congress Theatre ^
02/27 – Chicago, IL @ Congress Theater *
03/01 – Denver, CO @ The Fillmore *
03/02 – Kansas City, MO @ The Beaumont Club *
03/03 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue *
03/04 – Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom *
03/05 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant *?(SOLD OUT)
03/06 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues *
03/08 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory *
03/10 – New York, NY @ Roseland Ballroom *
03/12 – Washington, DC @ Shamrock Fest
03/16 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues * (SOLD OUT)
03/17 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues * (SOLD OUT)
03/18 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues * (SOLD OUT)
03/19 – Lowell, MA @ Tsongas Arena *
04/15 – Strasbourg, FR @ Artefact Festival
04/16 – Bielefeld, DE @ Ringlokschuppen
04/17 – Lund, SE @ Färs & Frosta Sparband Arena
04/18 – Oslo, NO @ Spektrum
04/19 – Stockholm, SE @ Arenan
04/21 – Erfurt, DE @ Thuringen Hall
04/22 – Zurich, CH @ Give It A Name Festival
04/23 – Meerhout, BE @ Groezrock
04/24 – Schjindel, NL @ Paaspop
04/25 – Munich, DE @ Zenith
04/26 – Milan, IT @ Loud and Proud Festival at Alcatraz
04/28 – Barcelona, SP @ Sala Razzmatazz 1
04/29 – Madrid, SP @ Sala Rivera
04/30 – Bilbao, SP @ Sala Rockstar
08/12 – Püttlingen, DE @ Rocco Del Schlacko
08/13 – Eschwege, DE @ Open Flair
08/14 – Rothenburg, DE @ Taubertal
08/20 – Lüdinghausen, DE @ Area 4
08/21 – Grobpösna, DE @ Highfield

* = w/ Against Me!
^ = w/ Naked Raygun