Ken Casey has a problem with Ed Sheeran. The Dropkick Murphys frontman spoke with Boston Public Radio this week about the ongoing feud between Sheeran and Macklemore, and he made his position clear: a headlining act should stand with the bands that open for them, no matter what.
The situation began when Macklemore made pro-Palestine remarks during one of Sheeran’s concerts. Robert Kraft, the New England Patriots owner who runs Gillette Stadium in the Boston area, responded with an ultimatum. He told Sheeran to drop Macklemore or cancel the upcoming show at the stadium. Kraft also reportedly encouraged other NFL/stadium owners to take the same stance.
Casey, a politically outspoken figure in rock music, said the decision to remove Macklemore from the tour goes against everything he believes about how bands operate. His response was blunt: “You live or die with the people you bring on the road.” That phrase captures the core of his complaint — Casey believes a headliner should ride or fall with the support acts they choose, and he argues Sheeran failed that test.
The Band You Bring On the Road
Casey framed his argument around the idea of family. He said that as a musician for 30 years, he has always selected the bands that open for the Dropkick Murphys. Those selections represent brotherhood and sisterhood, he said, and they are family.
“You live or die with the people you bring on the road,” he said. “They’re your people.”
He extended that logic to Sheeran. If a headlining act takes a knee for a cause, he argued, they should take the knee with everyone else involved in the show.
“And the fact that Ed Sheeran took the knee, no matter what the cause is, and not stood with his fellow tour partner, just doesn’t sit right with me,” Casey said. “And that’s not how Dropkick Murphys would operate.”
A Festival Where Half the Crowd Turned
Casey’s own experience offers a parallel. He recently appeared at Rocklahoma, where his band’s anti-Trump messaging likely lost them half the crowd. He said he probably upset the festival’s organizer in the process.
Casey said he needed to do what he had to do.
That framing captures the heart of his argument. Casey is willing to lose fans and anger promoters when he feels he needs to speak out. He expects the same from the people he shares the stage with.
The Comparison Between Casey and Sheeran
Casey’s approach rests on loyalty. He expects a headlining act to stand with the bands they bring on the road, no matter what the cause. Sheeran’s approach, by contrast, separates the cause from the business relationship. Casey sees that as a difference in principle.
The table below draws out the contrast:
| Ken Casey’s Approach | Ed Sheeran’s Approach | |
|---|---|---|
| Loyalty | Live or die with support acts | Drop Macklemore to keep stadiums open |
| Political Stance | Speak out regardless of consequences | Avoid taking sides publicly |
| Stand | Take the knee with fellow acts | Take the knee alone |
The table shows the gap between the two approaches. Casey’s is a blunt, old-school idea of loyalty. Sheeran’s is a more cautious approach to public relations.
What Comes Next for the Dropkick Murphys
The band has a busy stretch ahead. They will play Tom Morello’s Power to the People festival in Columbia, Maryland, on October 3rd. Then they head to Australia and New Zealand for a tour with Rise Against.
Casey’s comments come as the Sheeran-Macklemore dispute continues to simmer. For now, Casey has made his position clear: a headlining act should stand with the bands they bring on the road.
Watching Casey Make His Case
The full interview is available for those who want to hear Casey’s words in context. Casey is speaking from decades of experience in the business.
His defense of Macklemore is a reminder that loyalty still matters to some artists. Casey’s own career has been defined by it, even when it cost him half the crowd at Rocklahoma and possibly the organizer’s goodwill. Now he is asking others to measure up to the same standard.
The question of whether Sheeran will change course remains open. For now, Casey has spoken his mind, and he has done it with the blunt force of someone who knows what he stands for.
See the video the story is built around at Consequence.
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