Dave King (singer)
A Dublin-born punk poet who traded hard rock for the raucous, fiddle-fueled anthems of Celtic rebellion.
Born 1961 (age 65)·American singer·Birthday: December 11·Baby Boomers
Biography
Dave King's journey is a transatlantic tale of musical reinvention. Born in Dublin, he first found a stage in the early 1980s as the frontman for Fastway, a hard rock outfit that gave him a taste of the spotlight. But it was his move to Los Angeles and the formation of Flogging Molly in 1997 that forged his true legacy. King channeled the spirit of Irish folk into a potent, speeding vehicle of punk rock, creating a sound that was both a raucous good time and a heartfelt ode to the immigrant experience. With his distinct, gravelly voice leading the charge, Flogging Molly didn't just play music; they built a dedicated, global community around songs of struggle, joy, and resilience, proving that traditional sounds could fuel a modern mosh pit.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Dave was born in 1961, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dave Was Born
The biggest hits of 1961
#1 Movie
101 Dalmatians
Best Picture
West Side Story
#1 TV Show
Wagon Train
Dave's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1961Born
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1966Started school
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1974Became a teenager
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Could drive
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1979Could vote
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Turned 21
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1991Turned 30
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 40
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 50
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 60
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 65 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Founded and fronts the influential Celtic punk band Flogging Molly, known for albums like 'Drunken Lullabies' and 'Within a Mile of Home'.
- Was the original lead vocalist for the hard rock band Fastway, formed by former Motörhead guitarist 'Fast' Eddie Clarke.
- Pioneered a distinct genre blend that brought traditional Irish music to a worldwide punk and alternative audience.
- Has maintained a consistent touring and recording career with Flogging Molly for over two decades, building a fervent fanbase.
Did You Know?
He worked as a salmon fisherman in Ireland before pursuing music full-time.
He is married to fiddle player and bandmate Bridget Regan.
The name 'Flogging Molly' comes from a Los Angeles pub, Molly Malone's, where the band held a legendary residency.
He holds dual Irish and American citizenship.
“We're not a political band, we're a social band. We sing about the things that affect us and the people around us.”
