by Ian Brennan
This conversation began with Mr. MacGowan shouting in a thick brogue two or three times, "I’d like to go to the toilet, please," and then leaving me on hold (long distance to England mind you) for over thirteen minutes as British television blared in the background.
When he returned and was questioned about the time difference, he stated, "I don’t know what time it is," and seemed not the least bit interested either. For the record, it was a little after 2 AM on his side of the Atlantic.
All other factors aside, the man is a genius, a walking endorsement for the myth of the drunken poet. Many aspire to the mantle of Bukowski and Dylan Thomas, but he is one of the few whose lifestyle is a means to an end (i.e., poignant songs), rather than simply an end in itself.
When asked what his most hated interview question is, he slurred, "being asked how much I drink. (for the record: the answer is clearly a lot). They always ask that question. Every single time."
Let this stand on record then as the first Shane MacGowan interview ever, not to ask that question.
What do you think of the whole Napster thing?
What’s that?
You know, the Internet thing. Sharing music for free
It’s a lot of rubbish (the lawsuits)? People have been bootlegging for who knows how long. People will buy whatever is there. The bands are just being greedy. It’s just like the radio, isn’t it (Napster)? Listen before buying?
Do you ever use the Internet-- e-mail or anything?
I’ve never even touched one. People sit there all day-- dot.com slash, dot.com slash. God-forsaken mothers. That ain’t no life. Hasn’t happened in Ireland yet, though. It’s going to take awhile to get the Irish out of the booze.....especially now that the money’s coming in (laughs).
What’s the worst show you’ve ever played?
Fell over with my trousers around my ankles in Germany. They didn’t even notice (long raspy laugh). They tear gassed us once there, as well. That’s the way they show you they like you, a sign of appreciation.
What have the highlights been?
Playing with the Dubliners. Meeting Keith Richards, Springsteen, Tom Waits. He (Waits) is America’s major genius. Neil Young, too. If you’ve got one Neil Young record, you’ve got them all. It’s such a great record though, why not keep making it? (laughs)
What do you think the biggest myth is related to you?
That people don’t believe that you half-starved to death as a child in Ireland. They have no conception. No conception that Ireland was a Third World country up until five years ago. Frank McCourt (author of the best-selling novel Angela’s Ashes) didn’t exaggerate it at all. He was a brave man. He told the truth.
What is your songwriting process?
I write all of the time. Hundreds of songs a year. I write in my head. When people are boring me-- they keep wrapping at me at a bar-- I just sit there, staring at them, and make up a song.
What do you strive to accomplish with a song?
Nothing really. It’s just something I do. I have to do. It’s what I do. I love music. I want to represent Irish music to the world.
What do you think the Corrs represent (million-selling Irish pop group comprised of sisters)?
Girls with big tits (laughs).
Are you following the American Presidential race?
They’re both idiots, aren’t they? It doesn’t really make any difference (who wins) anyway. It’s all the same.
How do you feel about America?
There are parts of it I love-- California, New York, New Orleans, Boston, Baltimore, Washington DC....downtown, that is. Most of it (America) is a shithole, though.
What about America don’t you like?
Gary, Indiana (laughs). Philadelphia.
Philadelphia?
Unless you’re Black, you don’t see any action and if you go into the center where the action is, you get you’re head blown off.
How do you feel about African-America culture?
I love it
.
What about it do you love?
The drugs. The music, the clothes, the attitude. But Black music is going downhill, just like Irish traditional music. I don’t know why.
How do you feel about Irish-Americans?
I hate the racism. They’re a good bunch of people overall. St. Patrick’s Day has fuck-all to with Ireland, though.
And the English?
We just don’t understand each other. They don’t have sense of humor, or at least they have a different sense of humor than us (the Irish).
But you’ve lived in London off-and-on for twenty years.
Yeah, but I only drink in Irish bars....or Greek ones. It’s a gang city. There’s a war right now between the Irish and the Blacks.
How are American audiences different than other countries?
You don’t think you’re sophisticated. You don’t try to be critics. People just get fucked up and have a dance. Europeans have their noses up their asses. To be a cult band in America isn’t so bad. That’s what we are. It’s like being #1 in Europe, because the place (U.S.) is so fucking big.
What do you think about Nick Drake’s music being used for a television commercial (VW Jetta’s co-opting the 1972 folk classic "Pink Moon")?
It’s sick. This guy was torn apart, pouring his feelings out before he killed himself and now it’s used to sell a car. It’s disrespectful.
What if somebody did the same thing with your music 50 years from now?
I guess, I wouldn’t really care really. It really wouldn’t matter.
What new bands do you admire?
I like Nick Cave.
Newer bands. Like what do you think of Radiohead?
I don’t (laughs uproariously).
Do you think of yourself as a writer or a songwriter?
It’s more difficult to be a songwriter because you’re mixing two different mediums.
What do you think makes a great singer?
Soul.
And what makes that?
If I knew, I’d probably be out of a job really (laughs). I don’t think you can live a sheltered life and be soulful. I wouldn’t want anybody to imitate my own life. Honestly. I’ve buggered up my own and others.
Who are the great singers?
Michael Jackson, Leadbelly, Robert Johnson, Sinatra.
What do you see as the future of music/art?
We’re in a phase. It’s very dirty (right now). Something always comes along and blasts it all apart and gets it back on track. We’re waiting for that to happen.
If there’s any one thing you would want to tell the readers what would it be?
That Duchas is a great band, (because) they wrote a song about me (laughs). And your property’s safe in Ireland to go on Holiday now. Nenagh is going to be the next hip city in the world. It’s all over (the war). There’s a few pieces still. Northern Ireland’s got central heat, cable television in the hotels. Brilliant....and it’s cheap. Just like Thailand, only with different weather.
Copyright Zeromag.net 2000