When the NHL set up shop for its annual Winter Classic on New Year’s Day in Foxboro for a game between the Boston Bruins and storied rival Montreal Canadiens, it was probably just taken for granted fans would be treated to a performance by Dropkick Murphys at one point during the event.
And why not? The Dropkick Murphys have become the sound of all things Boston over the years thanks to their song “I’m Shipping Up to Boston.” But the Dropkick Murphys were left out of the fun, all because they were asked to do a duet with Nate Ruess of Fun.
“Also the reason we didn’t play is because the NHL asked us to do a duet with the guy from FUN,” lead singer Ken Casey said on the band’s Facebook page. “And that would not have been fun.”
Zing…?
“The guy from FUN” Casey is referring to is Nate Reuss, who did perform during the first intermission of the Winter Classic. The feedback from Twitter, as you might expect, was not too kind to the NHL.
@NHLonNBCSports @DropkickMurphys Why no Dropkick Murphys for Winter Classic?
— Artemis (@nolimitsartemis) January 1, 2016
https://twitter.com/m_ficarra16/status/683021604557877249
Nothing says @NHL #WinterClasic like a hipster band… Can we please have @DropkickMurphys back?
— Jay W. Pennell (@jaywpennell) January 1, 2016
The Dropkick Murphys, big fans of the Boston Bruins of course, have played during the Winter Classic before. In 2010, when the Bruins hosted the Philadelphia Flyers at Fenway Park, the band performed.
Odds are, the band will probably play the event again the next time the NHL picks Boston to host a future Winter Classic – just so long as they don’t have to perform alongside another artist they do not approve of.
Is it true @DropkickMurphys aren't playing at #WinterClassic ? Something not right here?! #Fenway did it right! pic.twitter.com/9KHnKiOPdh
— maiakphotography (@maiakphotos) January 1, 2016
