Bruce Springsteen and punk group the Dropkick Murphys have joined forces to raise funds to benefit the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings.

The Boss joined the Boston, Massachusetts band in the studio to re-record their song Rose Tattoo and the track has been released on iTunes as a charity Ep.

Dropkick Murphys guitarist James Lynch says, "Bruce actually called us up the day of the bombing and asked what he could do to help.

"As soon as we figured out what we were going to do, Bruce went into the studio, recorded his parts and nailed them right away."

Proceeds from the sales of the download will be handed to The Claddagh Fund, an organisation run by the band's bassist/vocalist Ken Casey, that serves the most "vulnerable".