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| INCREDIBLE SHANE |
| Special thanks to reporters and the best regards to all Shane's fans all over the world |
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| This section contains the latest rumours, news, gossip, reviews I find rummaging about Pogues/Popes/music sites/messageboards/guestbooks and is dedicated to |
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| HOW I CAME TO LOVE THEM fans' love stories |
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| SEPTEMBER 2008 - JANUARY 2009 |
| ROCKIN BOPPIN LUNATIC |
| ARCHIVES |
| FANDOM |
| FRIENDS OF SHANE mailing list |
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| JOEY CASHMAN fan page |
| FANFICS |
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| All FANFICS on one page (26 for the moment) |
| MARCH 2006 - APRIL 2006 (USA TOUR) |
| Following last year success there was another Irish post-Christmas tour of Sharon Shannon, a host of exceptional musicians, and very special guest Shane MacGowan. The dates were: 27th Dec 2008, Sat - Royal Theatre, Castlebar , Co Mayo Doors: 10:30pm, Show: 11:00pm Tickets are ˆ44.50 (seated) & ˆ39.50 (standing) and may be purchased online: Web: http://www.royaltheatre.ie or any of the usual outlets. E-mail: boxoffice@royaltheatre.ie Tel: 0818 300 000 (Royal Theatre Box Office) 28th Dec 2008, Sun - Abbey Hotel, Donegal Web: http://www.abbeyhoteldonegal.com E-mail: info@abbeyhoteldonegal.com Tel: +353(0)74 9721014 29th Dec 2008, Mon - Savoy Theatre, Cork Show: 9:00pm Tickets are ˆ43.50, book via Plug'd Records, tickets.ie & ticketmaster.ie Web: http://www.savoycork.com E-mail: enquiries@savoycork.com 30th Dec 2008, Tue - Leisureland, Galway Doors: 7:30pm Tickets are ˆ39.20 (general admission), book via ticketmaster.ie Web: http://www.leisureland.ie/ E-mail: leisureland@galwaycity.ie Tel: +353 91 521455 31st Dec 2008, Wed - INEC, Killarney Doors: 8:00pm, Show: 9:00pm Tickets are ˆ44.20 (all kinds), book via ticketmaster.ie Web: http://www.inec.ie E-mail: info@inec.ie Tel: 064 71555 (INEC box office) 1st Jan 2009, Thu - White's Hotel, Wexford Doors: 7:30pm Tickets are ˆ39.20, book via ticketmaster.ie Web: http://www.whitesofwexford.ie E-mail: info@ whitesofwexford.ie Tel: 053 91 22311 2nd Jan 2009, Fri - West County Hotel, Ennis, Co Clare 3rd Jan 2009, Sat - Hub At Cillin Hill, Kilkenny Doors: 7:30pm Tickets are ˆ39.20, book via ticketmaster.ie 1,400 pack The Hub for Sharon Shannon and star guests By Katharine Blake Kilkenny People 09 January 2009 LEGENDARY performer Shane MacGowan joined Sharon Shannon, Mundy, Dessie O’Halloran and Richie Buckley on stage at The Hub at Cill?n Hill last Saturday night for what could well prove to be the gig of the year. The crowd of 1,400 were treated to their favourite Shane MacGowan / Pogues hits including, ‘Fairytale of New York’, ‘The Irish Rover’, ‘Rainy Night in Soho’ and ‘Fiesta’. MORE >>> The Irish Rover, Killarney, New Year's Eve 2008 "Great craic in Wexford on New Years night... Seemed like a full house, or very nearly a full house. The crowd was really rowdy, in a good way.. Shane came on and get a great job, but this time for me the true highlight was Joey Cashman's dance moves while playing that whistle of his... Priceless. Shane did his customary glass on head trick and some dance moves of his own. The other musicians were spot on too... The version of "Land Down Under" in particular." -- Dublinrambler at Medusa "We were at the INEC for the Sharon Shannon party with Mundy and Shane McGowan. A fabulous night it was too, great musicians having a great time. Old Shane appeared after midnight evidently a bit the worse for wear, but he does ham it up a bit as the p*ssed up old troubadour, so managed to get through his set still on his feet and with most of the lyrics delivered on time and in the right song! Dessie O'Halloran turned up to a great welcome, and one of Sharon's road crew, called Dec the Tech, gave us a couple of songs - he was really something, just stood up and gave it his best shot. The New Year celebration was outside my experience, which is, I can tell you, quite considerable! If there's anything like it next year, don't miss it." -- reviewer annonymous Courtesy of Ray D., a nice collection of photos from the Ennis gig was added to the Medusa gallery: http://pogues.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=26345 More pics from the gig here. COLABORATIONS AND PROMISING PROJECTS Shane has recorded a track with The Mighty Stef, a Dublin singer Frank Murray manages. Also Cait has recorded a duet with Stef for the same CD. The CD title is "100 Midnights". It's Stef's second studio album and due to be released in Feb 2009. Seachtain na Gaeilge is a non-profit organisation which helps to promote the Irish language and culture both at home and abroad within a two week festival held in March every year. Ireland’s musicians are getting in on the act too. Not content with storming up the charts with their hits sung in English they have now taken up the invitation in their droves for help from Seachtain na Gaeilge to chime out their tunes as Gaeilge. Till now there have been four music compilation CDs – SnaG ’05, Ceol ’06, Ceol ’07, Ceol ‘08 – showcasing such as the Corrs, the Frames, Damien Dempsey, The Hothouse Flowers and Mundy singing the songs we know with a little Gaelic twist. All proceeds go to the charity (Concern who continue their amazing work with the world’s poorest people and Barnardos who work to improve the lives of disadvantaged children in Ireland). In 2009 Seachtain na Gaeilge continues with this interesting and imaginative project as well as with their cooperation with Barnardos. Ceol '09 is being recorded at the end of this month. And here’s where good news begin: Orla Nic Suibhne from Seachtain na Gaeilge has been in touch with Shane about getting involved and doing a track on this year’s album. TV APEARANCES AROUND CHRISTMAS OCTAVE Ronnie Drew: A Ryan Confidential Special - 1st Jan 2009, RT? One A two-hour Christmas special dedicated to the late Dublin legend Ronnie Drew features Shane as well. - Thursday 1 January 2009 6.30pm Last year, Gerry Ryan interviewed Ronnie Drew as part of his "Ryan Confidential" series. Although Ronnie was then undergoing treatment for cancer, he displayed his characteristic wit, intelligence and humour. The programme ended with a mesmerising version of one of the songs with which Ronnie will be for ever associated - "The Old Triangle". Sadly, Ronnie succumbed to his illness earlier this year. Now, Gerry has re-visited his interview with Ronnie to include material that was not included in the first broadcast - as well as tributes from some of those who knew and worked with Ronnie over the years. What emerges is a powerful and moving picture of a man who became as well-loved for his indomitable character as for the quality and originality of the music that he made Gerry Ryan: "I interviewed Ronnie shortly before he died so we have two hours of unseen footage. He had just come out of chemotherapy and I found it an incredibly moving, funny and poignant experience, and he said to me: 'If you can't get f***ing something out of that, you're f****ing stupid -- I'm going to die soon!' "So we're just stitching together reflections about Ronnie from people who knew him like Barney McKenna and John Sheahan, Shane MacGowan and Ronnie's children, too." It also features some of the best-known figures in the Irish music industry, who worked with Ronnie over the years – such as Bono and Eleanor Shanley. "Fantastic show and some great footage. Shane was a guest on it. Gerry had interviewed him too. Best Ive seen shane in a long time as far as interviews go.." -- DeiseBhoy at Medusa Clip #1 Clip #2 The Late, Late Show tribute to Joe Dolan - 27th Dec, RT? Shane is among performers of "The Late, Late Show" tribute to Joe Dolan (died on December 26 last year) Along with Johnny Logan, Dustin, Niamh Kavanagh, Paul Brady .. Shane performs I Love You More And More Every Day Geantra? na Nollag - 25th Dec, TG4 It’s a special Christmas programme from the popular TG4 trad music series Geantra?, filmed in Campbell’s Tavern, Cloughanover, Co. Galway, on the 1st of Dec this year. The programme is presented by Dait? ? S? and along with Shane and Sharon Shannon features The Sharon Shannon Big Band, Sliabh Notes, singers Mundy, Karan Casey, Caithl?n N? Chuala?n, musicians Catherine McEvoy, Liz and Yvonne Kane. 'Fairytale of New York' considered to be the best Christmas song ever is 21 years old this Christmas. Also Shane MacGowan who co-wrote the song celebrates his birthday on Christmas Day and what better way to mark the occasion than for Shane to sing 'Fairytale' on Geantra? Na Nollag on Christmas Day along with singer Joyce Redmond and Sharon Shannon and the Big Band. 'Galway Girl' one of the big songs of the year is performed by Mundy with Sharon Shannon and the Big Band. Mundy also duets with Shane MacGowan on the classic 'Rainy Night in Soho'. Sharon Shannon and the Big Band perform 'NeckBelly and 'Gaffo's Ball' and Karan Casey sings her own unique version of 'Black is the Colour'. Shane is doing Fairytale of New York Fairy City (special Christmas episode) - 25th Dec, RT? One Love and carnage are never far apart in Carrigstown, and the Christmas season is no different. Paul and Niamh finally make it to the church for their double wedding with Ray and Gina, but the ultimate wedding-day disaster puts everything else in the shade. Romance turns to devastation, with Barry, Annette and Seamus caught in the crossfire. Elsewhere, the spirit of Christmas prevails. Things are already rocky, with families at breaking point and a controversial multi-cultural Nativity Play raising hackles. Worse is in store when a power failure plunges Carrigstown into darkness. It looks like salad for Christmas dinner, until Charlie's inspired touch saves the day. Festivities erupt in the Community Centre, with the whole community pulling together to keep the bad times at bay. The unexpected appearance of Leo's old friend Shane MacGowan rounds off an emotional day with a touching Christmas carol. OFF THE BOOZE? by SEAMUS ROSS Sunday Mirror, Dec 28, 2008 POGUES frontman Shane MacGowan has rubbished a rumour that he is off the booze - by revealing his top five favourite watering holes. The legendary singer and songwriter, 51, is infamous for turning up sozzled for gigs but still putting in classic performances. Shane, whose birthday is on Christmas Day, has been spending the festive season with his parents at their County Tipperary home, while his girlfriend Victoria Mary Clarke has been with her parents in County Cork. MORE >>> Racing fans ignore the economic doomsayers (with a pic of Shane and Vicky) Punters splashing the cash on festive day of fun Irish Independent 27 Dec, 2008 The first day of racing festivities was filled with the usual mix of glamour and seasonal cheer, with almost 17,000 people savouring the dazzling winter sunshine. St Stephen's Day racing has a special feel to it and even the most seasoned of punters cannot help but enjoy the lively atmosphere. <...> Leading the way were Bono and his wife, Ali, who made it a hat-trick of visits in the last three years. Pogues frontman Shane McGowan was also in attendance as well as actor Stephen Rea, publican Charlie Chawke and politician Michael Lowry. Profile Shane MacGowan - The Fairytale goes on Sunday Tribune December 21, 2008 Everyone said the Pogues singer wouldn't see another one in 1987. But he's still with us, and as much a part of Christmas as booze and family bust-ups, says Valerie Shanley Shane MacGowanIf a ghoulish bet had been taken in 1987 as to which of the singers duetting on 'A Fairytale of New York' would make it to the millennium, it's unlikely anyone would have wagered on the untimely demise of Kirsty MacColl. But over two decades on is the staggering, 100% proof of Shane MacGowan, who continues to deny the obituary writers their day. He appears to exist in a limbo between rehab and oblivion, but, to paraphrase Mark Twain, rumours of the singer's imminent demise are greatly exaggerated. MORE >>> Fifty not out The Irish Post December 10, 2008 IF Ireland dished out knighthoods, the fella first in line would surely be incorrigible wordsmith and troubadour extraordinaire Shane MacGowan. ‘Nothing is true, everything is permitted’ — from anyone else that beatnik quote would sound as pretentious as pilates on ice. But from the mangled and muchmaligned mouth of Shane MacGowan it hints at the erudite depths of a seasoned songwriter and his battle against the lies and half-truths that have followed his long and illustrious career. MacGowan, now 50, is no slurring fool, a caricature he’s often been painted as. And he’s no slouch either. He’s in the middle of his umpteenth tour with The Pogues, a series of gigs which will reach its Celtic climax at south London’s Brixton Academy next week in front of nearly 5,000 people. And when the perspiration cools from that show MacGowan will take to the decks for a DJ spot at a nearby nightspot — joining old friends on stage for yet more vocal duties. MORE >>> The Pogues, Christmas Tour RDS, Dublin, Ireland - 22 Dec,2008 Songs and merriment but not a drink in sight Shane McGowan and the Pogues gave the fans what they came to hear by belting out a classic set list from their first three albums. By EAMON SWEENEY Irish Independent Wednesday, December 24, 2008 FOR a sixth consecutive year, the Pogues festive roadshow gives their fans an annual excuse to sing, drink and be merry. Sadly, the barn that is the RDS isn't the ideal locale to enjoy the spiky delights of a band once memorably described as the Sex Pistols meeting the Dubliners on speed. In fact, it sucks for one simple and straightforward reason -- you can't have a drink and watch the band. MORE >>> Kiss My Arse (fan's review) 23 Dec 2008 Even though you can never tell with Shane McGowan - is he sober enough to turn up? will he be able to sing at all? - I had set high hopes into this concert. Maybe because I know the music of the Pogues from my own teenage years as that was right in their heyday... However, I am sorry to report that this was not the best ever concert I have attended! That wasn't Shane's fault. He was actually fine - his singing was grand even though he was drinking and smoking on stage. MORE >>> There will be much ding donging, merrily and on high, on December 22 in Eamonn Doran's. The Pogues Christmas revelry doesn’t end at the RDS on December 22, with Shane MacGowan DJ-ing at an after-show party in Eamonn Doran’s. Entry is ˆ10 with every single cent going to buy toys for the Irish Association of Children in Care, Barnardo’s and other families in need. Shane is doing If I should Fall From Grace with Liam McDermott's Funzo After Show Party , Eamonn Dorans, Dublin, 22 Dec, 2008 The Pogues, Christmas Tour Brixton, London, UK - 18-20 Dec,2008 The Pogues Deliver Early Christmas Gift For London Fans At Brixton Academy... by Jason Gregory Photo by: Carsten Windhorst Gigwise December 19, 2008 The Pogues brought their annual festive tour, and a healthy dose of Christmas spirit, to London last night (December 18th). The band wowed a sold out crowd on what was the first night of a three night residency at the Brixton Academy. Fronted by Shane McGowan, who looked resplendent in a black suit jacket, the group delivered a set of greatest hits. But it was their now iconic festive song, 'Fairytale of New York', which drew the biggest reception. Nice photos from the gig are HERE The Pogues at Brixton Academy, SW9 -- Rating: * * * (out of five) The more Shane MacGowan messed things up, the more the audience seemed to enjoy his antics - and his great songs David Sinclair The Times December 22, 2008 Following in the footsteps of Slade and Madness, the Pogues have become a seasonal fixture in recent years. Reunited again, they performed the first of three festive shows in Brixton to an audience steeped in a startling excess of alcoholic goodwill. The spike in the Academy bar takings can only be imagined and, as usual, Shane MacGowan looked as if he had made a personal contribution over and above the call of duty. Draped in a scruffy black overcoat and gripping a bottle of wine, the 50-year-old singer made his way towards the microphone with the unsteady gait of an old tramp as the band struck up the jaunty refrain of Streams of Whiskey. MORE >>> The Pogues, Brixton Academy, London by Nick Hasted The Independent 24 December 2008 There are occasional rumbles as to the point of the Pogues' now-annual Christmas reunions (and St Patrick's Day US equivalents). In the seven years since the joyous release of seeing Shane MacGowan return to his old band at the Manchester Academy, these chaotic, maudlin occasions have too often relied on the crowd's memories of what MacGowan might have been singing, if he could only remember his name. MORE >>> The Pogues. Brixton Academy. December 18th. Planet Notion 22 December 2008 It’s Monday 22nd December, we’re three days away from Christmas and Planetnotion is still at fucking work. Which begs the question: Christmas, huh, yeah, what is it good for? And the reply: Absolutely nothing. ‘Cept of course, Christmas is kinda good because we’re guaranteed the annual Pogues December tour. MORE >>> 'We will continue to pay to see Shane MacGowan, provided he does his job' John Walsh The Independent 23 December 2008 It was the whirling lager bottle that did it. I'd gone to see The Pogues perform at Brixton Academy for the fourth year running, and this year I'd taken my two eldest children. They'd been listening to the music of the London-Irish band since they were in romper suits, and they'd heard about the legendary Christmas concerts, where everyone sings along to the bittersweet lyrics of "Fairytale of New York" and weeps when the snow cascades down. MORE >>> Shane MacGowan's fall from grace By John Aizlewood, Evening Standard 19 Dec 2008 John Aizlewood's rating: two stars out of five Reader rating: four stars out of five Now in its sixth year, the Pogues’ Christmas tour is undeniably part of the festive fabric. That last night was the first of three Academy shows suggests genuine public demand means we’ll meet again same time, presumably same place next year. Joy of joys, seven of them were on sterling form, rolling back the years and replaying their youth, be it James Fearnley, the remarkably spry accordionist, or Spider Stacy whose tin whistle could bring the comatose out of a coma. MORE (with a pic) >>> "I saw the Pogues in Brixton a couple of nights ago. By the time they got to Fairytale in New York Shane was so drunk he was even singing real words for most of it. Stumbling about on stage singing completely out of time with the rest of the band. It was a great gig though." -- reviewer annonymous Matt Kent photography - The Pogues The Pogues performing at Brixton Academy Dec 18 2008. I first met Shane MacGowen, the singer with the band, around 1976 and used to buy records from him. It's amazing he's still around 32 years later. A very dark performance in terms of lighting. Haha, did I say lighting?? I like the first shot though as it reminds me of someone else... Shane + Popes: Church of the holy spook. London Aftershow party, Jamm, 19 Dec 2008 Shane + Popes: Cotton Fields London Aftershow party, Jamm, 19 Dec 2008 Shane + Popes: Outlaw heaven London Aftershow party, Jamm, 19 Dec 2008 The Pogues, Christmas Tour Bristol Academy, Bristol, UK - 16 Dec,2008 The Pogues: Carling Academy -- Crackerjack rating: 8 / 10. Lee Hanson Crackerjack, section: Music 17th December 2008 Anyone who has seen The Pogues can vouch for the mercurial nature of their live performances and place the responsibility for that firmly at the door of singer Shane MacGowan. Three years ago in Cardiff Arena he was aided on stage and appeared perplexed about exactly why he was there for much of the evening. A helping hand was employed as the band took to the stage, and initially the self-destructive singer seemed unstable on his feet but in far better voice during the searing opener Streams Of Whiskey. MORE >>> Gig Review - The Pogues Tuesday 16th December 2008 @ Academy With Support From: The Urban Voodoo Machine Jude Butler SuitYourself Magazine The Academy was a sea of green tonight and plenty of festive cheer all round. Christmas means only one thing tonight; The Pogues are in town! Support came from London based gypsy folk travelling band The Urban Voodoo Machine, a nine piece circus of noise. Armed to the teeth with accordions, banjos, and fiddles and fuelled on Jack Daniels, this band stormed the stage with their presence. Originality doesn’t come much stronger than this, such noise and passion! Not one, but two drummers, one of which painted through and through bright green - yes that’s right, painted green! MORE (with a nice pic) >>> Christmas Eve (Babel) An Idiot's Guide to Dreaming Wednesday, December 17, 2008 ...The Pogues at The Bristol Carling Academy last night... packed to the gills (can't remember the last time I saw something genuinely popular)and seething with brain-disconnected-from-head dancing...the crowd urging them on towards, inevitably, A Fairytale... Shane MaGowan is to The Pogues as Mark E Smith is to The Fall; his band need to circle carefully around him, watching and listening for his every mood in order to rearrange the songs, making the world fit him rather than trying to make him fit the world. It's this that breaks The Pogues away from the look-at-me-dad-I'm tinwhistling! strand of homogenised folkrock murk, this that makes them transcend their cod everything approach; the shamble is the music, it doesn't interrupt it... MORE >>> The Pogues, Christmas Tour Birmingham Academy, Birmingham, UK - 15 Dec,2008 The Pogues: rampaging kings of Christmas Colin Irwin The Telegraph 17 Dec 2008 The Pogues on how their rollicking festive jaunts have become such an annual fixture. There's a tattooed middle-aged guy with an orange Mohican pogo-ing in frenzied excitement. There are kids on their dads' shoulders waving wildly. There are teenage girls, mobile phones aloft, ready to capture the moment for their chums on YouTube. And the rest of the heaving, beaming mob bounce up and down on the lager-sodden floor chanting "There's only one Shane MacGowan!" The object of their adoration stands on stage in a ridiculous Santa hat absorbing their outburst of love in wide-eyed wonder, muttering something incomprehensible and cackling gloriously, like a demented Sid James. MORE >>> "It was Christmas Eve babe in the drunk tank..." (fan's review) 6 December 2008 There's nothing quite like seeing The Pogues perform Fairytale of New York to muster the festive spirit. They were in fine form last night in Birmingham; the drunken legend that is Shane MacGowan, clearly enjoying himself on stage, looked to be drinking beer rather than the customary gin concoction that has become his trademark. After 26 years, The Pogues still deliver a live set that has their loyal fan base soaked in beer and sweat, delirious to have seen Shane and comrades still touring like it's their last. The festive outing has become something of a tradition for the band: this is their seventh Christmas tour in recent years. And why not? With Fairytale of New York, they have a Christmas gem that embodies Shane's songwriting genius. The Pogues, Christmas Tour Manchester MEN, Manchester, UK - 13 Dec,2008 The Pogues Byron Evans CityLife 14 December, 2008 A FEW thousand people gagging for a knees up are in the busiest entertainment venue in Europe to hear a bunch of middle-aged men play some big mandolins, banjos, accordions and a tin whistle. This may be a new age of digital music but, for one night at least, the M.E.N. Arena is hosting an old fashioned Christmas concert that would rival the rowdiness of any punk gig. I'm stood next to three generations of Celtic fans frantically throwing shoes, jumpers and empty wallets at that perennial pretty boy of rock n' roll, Shane McGowan. MORE (with a photo and fans' comments) >>> Live Review: The Pogues & The Stranglers - MEN Arena Martin Hutchinson The Bolton News Saturday 13th December 2008 After a superb set by The Stranglers, I was in a great mood, and so was everyone else at the crowded MEN Arena. The whole auditorium was ready for a great show by The Pogues. The crowd erupted when they took the stage and launched into their set, but that’s when things went wrong for me. Let’s look on the good side; the music was infectiously catchy. You couldn’t help but tap your feet or clap your hands. It was lively too, and the throng on the floor of the Arena were definitely up for a good time. What spoiled it was when this shambling wreck of a man started making strange unintelligible noises into the microphone. MORE >>> A Fairytale in Manchester Andrew Mosley Bolton News Sunday 14th December 2008 The Pogues live at the MEN Arena, Manchester YOU could be forgiven for thinking this is an exercise in making easy money for The Pogues — reuniting every December to play a tour of greatest hits, mostly written more than 20 years ago. In many ways you would be right, but you would also be guilty of being among the most miserable of cynics. It is surely beyond irony that frontman Shane MacGowan, responsible for penning the greatest Christmas song ever in A Fairytale Of New York, was born on Christmas Day, the gateway to a prolonged period of excess. MORE >>> Mixed feelings on the Pogues (fan's review) Well first off, God I'm so relieved to be home. I'm stressed and relieved and annoyed and frustrated and relieved. I know I said relieved twice it just shows how relieved I am. Basically, I lost my wallet, my phone and my train ticket home in the midst of all the madness that was the crowd. I thought I had zipped my pocket up, and I'm pretty sure even now that I had, so either someone had gone in my pocket or I'm a dozy twat and left it open. It was half way through the show when I lost it, so there was no chance in finding it. I went up to customer service and nothing had been handed in, so they told me to come back after the show. Came back afterwards and there was still nothing. MORE >>> The Pogues - MEN Arena by Paul Kane Compulsive Reader 13 December 2008 Next up, the headliners. Perhaps the essence of The Pogues’ music is its vitality and unbridled energy. Shane McGowan remains the soul of the band, of course, and he was holding it together this night, just about. Granted, he bears still the cost of hard living, past choices made. MORE >>> The Pogues, Christmas Tour Sheffield Academy, Shefield, UK - 12 Dec,2008 REVIEW: The Pogues, Carling Academy By Rachael Clegg Sheffield Telegraph 19 Dec 2008 WHAT better way to bring in the festive season than an inebriated Shane McGowan singing Fairytale of New York. And tonight The Pogues deliver merriment in spades. Their set is packed with classics from albums such as Rum, Sodomy and the Lash with tracks including Dirty Old Town and A Pair of Brown Eyes. MORE >>> Live Review: The Pogues, Carling Academy Sheffield. 12/12/2008. (fan's review) Tuesday, 16 December 2008 Another Christmas is creeping up on us fast, meaning The Pogues are once again embarking upon their annual tour of the country to perform their greatest hits to the old fans and the new generation. Tonight's crowd is a great mix of youngsters (both those who really love the band, and those who have clearly been dragged along by their parents) and the old hardcore. MORE >>> The Pogues, Christmas Tour Newcastle Academy, Newcastle, UK - 11 Dec,2008 Pogues whip up a festive storm Matt McKenzie The Journal Dec 13 2008 PUT up tree, fail to buy presents until last minute, go to watch The Pogues. It’s becoming something of a Yuletide tradition round our way to share a few beers with Shane MacGowan and his pals at this time of year. Almost to the day 12 months ago, I witnessed this rabble of carousers whip up a wonderful festive storm to a sell-out Newcastle crowd and, on Thursday night, they did it again. MORE >>> The Pogues / Urban Voodoo Machine / DJ Scratchy Newcastle Academy on Thursday 11 December 2008 James Robinson eGigs.co.uk 15 Dec 2008 I have only ever been to one other place where I was so comprehensively the youngest person in the room by a good twenty years. That was at a W.I. Market and I bought a lemon drizzle cake. At Newcastle Academy however, on a crisp Christmas night, I came away with tinnitus and several bruises that were curiously shaped like forty-year-old elbows. The Christmas spirit is clearly alive and well in the north-east. MORE >>> The Pogues, Carling Academy, Newcastle By Darin Hutson The Shields Gazette 16 December 2008 THE Pogues' Christmas tour has become so well-established a fixture in the festive calendar that it's hard to believe this is only their sixth since reuniting with Shane MacGowan in 2001. Like turkey, indigestion, family feuds and Slade's Merry Christmas Everybody before it, and BBC1's Doctor Who specials since, the punk-folk veterans' seasonal outing seems more of an institution than the relatively-recent phenomenon it really is. MORE >>> (with a pic) The Pogues by John Longford Floatation Suite 23 Dec 2008 The morning after the night before and I'm looking forward to next December already. The Pogues Christmas tour rolled into town to promote the greatest Christmas song ever and as always didn't disappoint. The pub was in decent voice beforehand singing along with Rum Sodemy and the Lash that was blasting out through the juke box. Not the usual gig etiquette, but the Pogues isn't a normal gig. It's a yearly party. The Newcastle Academy was packed to the rafters. The Pogues seem to attract more pissed up people than any other band and they are there for one reason only, to have a cracking night. MORE >>> The Pogues, Christmas Tour Leeds Academy, Leeds, UK - 9 Dec,2008 Review: The Pogues ***** Sarah Freeman Yorkshire Post 12 Dec 2008 In an ever changing world, it's good to have some constants. Last time I saw Shane McGowan it was the early '90s and he was shambling about on stage with the ever lovely Kirsty MacCall. By now he should have drunk himself to a merry death or seen the light and be waxing lyrical about the benefits of rehab, but never one to stick to any kind of script, McGowan has kept on going. He is a walking miracle. A man whose vital organs soak up alcohol like water. MORE >>> The Pogues, Academy, Leeds Simon Price The Independent 14 December 2008 Somehow Shane MacGowan stays upright long enough to lead a stout-soaked Christmas knees-up When the dust settles after the Third World War, the population of Earth will read as follows: Keith Richards, cockroaches, Shane MacGowan. Twenty-five years of bad living and somehow MacGowan's still standing. Not that he isn't showing the scars. When "Dirty Old Town" was recorded, MacGowan was a young man pretending to sound like an old derelict. Nowadays he doesn't have to pretend. It was Sir George Young, the Conservative MP, who infamously described the homeless as "the people you step over on the way to the opera", and it's a phrase that leaps to mind when contemplating the figure of Shane MacGowan, shuffling on stage in a long, battered overcoat, a drink in his hand, and now so dentally deficient that his diction makes it hard to decipher which song he's singing. But there's a twist, in his case: he is the opera. MORE >>> #1 Shane Macgowan (fan's review) 12 Dec 2008 I went to see the Pogues this week. I've been asking myself 'was it just an excuse to get really pissed or did I actually want to see them?' I've not decided yet. All I do know is there was one man in the venue that was more tanked than me and that was Shane-O. MORE >>> The Pogues, Christmas Tour Glasgow Academy, Glasgow, Scotland - 7 Dec,2008 Pick of the week: The Pogues Carling Academy, Glasgow Rachel Devine Times Online / The Sunday Times December 7, 2008 There are certain bands and musicians that will for ever be associated with Christmas, from now until long after they have spluttered their last note. Bing Crosby is one, Slade are another, and folk outlaws the Pogues must now be added to that list. In the case of the Pogues, and their charismatic, if vocally erratic, lead singer Shane McGowan, the last note probably will be a splutter, unless he gets his notoriously ragged teeth fixed beforehand. MORE >>> 12.12.2008 Fifty not out Irish Post 10 Dec, 2008 "IF Ireland dished out knighthoods, the fella first in line would surely be incorrigible wordsmith and troubadour extraordinaire Shane MacGowan. ‘Nothing is true, everything is permitted’ — from anyone else that beatnik quote would sound as pretentious as pilates on ice. But from the mangled and muchmaligned mouth of Shane MacGowan it hints at the erudite depths of a seasoned songwriter and his battle against the lies and half-truths that have followed his long and illustrious career. " MORE >>> 07.12.2008 The Pogues, Christmas Tour King's Hall, Belfast, Nothern Ireland - 6 Dec,2008 The Pogues singer Shane MacGowan performing live at the King's Hall Belfast, Northern Ireland Shane MacGowan Haggard As The Pogues Start Christmas Tour He's bloody, snot-encrusted and a mess... Monday, December 08, 2008 Photo by: WENN Saturday December 6, 2008 – The Pogues kick-start their annual festive tour at King's Hall in Belfast. However, even by his own high standards, singer Shane MacGowan is looking terrible. Bloodied, gaunt, snot encrusted and showing off his worn down gums, Shane even got a pack of pills out during the performance presumably to keep him going. Click through to see the worryingly haggard Shane MacGowan in action... Shooting Yeah x 5 video (kind of memoirs): “I just remember Shane turning up and falling out of the cab with an empty bottle of port in his hand. “From there he fell unconscious until 4am when we had to get Terry, his mandolin player, to go wake him up. “Anyway, it was getting bloody late and everyone was standing about getting paid double bubble and waiting for something to happen, so we lifted Shane onto this podium and he insisted on wearing a lamp shade on his head and looking at an oil lamp the whole time. “He couldn’t even manage to sing the words to the chorus, which essentially only consisted of going ‘yeah, yeah, yeah’.” - from walesonline.co.uk article 05.12.2008 Shane is among performers of "The Late, Late Show" tribute to Joe Dolan (died on December 26 last year) . Along with Johnny Logan, Dustin, Niamh Kavanagh, Paul Brady .. RTE1, 27th Dec 2008. Cupla videos from recent Shane + Sharon gig: Shane singing "The Irish Rover" live in Virginia, Co. Cavan, 25 Oct, 2008 Shane singing "Fairytale of New York" live in Virginia, Co. Cavan, 25 Oct, 2008 28.11.2008 MacGowan to play the loveable Pogue in soap Sunday World "A VERY special guest star is set to pop up in the Fair City Christmas Special. Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan (right) will be making his soap debut in the festive edition of the popular show. He filmed his scenes last Wednesday and was delighted to finally get a chance to appear, having been a huge fan of the programme for years. Accompanied by his girlfriend, writer Victoria Mary Clarke, he threw himself into filming and impressed his co-stars. Alan O’Neill, who plays love rat Keith, was so excited by Shane’s turn that later that evening he took to the microphone with his wife Yvonne to sing Shane’s Christmas Classic Fairytale of New York at a benefit night in Paddy Cullen’s pub in Ballsbridge, where his friend James Brown was presenting the karaoke. Unfortunately, for his fans Alan won’t be taking to the stage with five of the cast who perform a concert, billed as a Fair City Christmas December 4 and 5 in Liberty Hall in aid of the Bubblegum Club." 18.11.2008 Shane joined Primal Scream last night during their show at Olympia Theatre, Dublin: "Shane McGowan came on at the end, played marraccas and some vocals during Loaded and then sang Born to Lose at the end. Actually he was sober and fat, when he was announced I expected the skinny Shane but no he was heavy, carrying a can and to be truthful during Loaded I felt a bit embarrassed for him. But he gave it his best shot and the crowd loved him, Born to Lose was better he sang a verse and joined in the chorus. Well done to Shane." -- scotsman1, shroomery.org forum. Youtube video (shitty quality) 16.11.2008 THEY'VE BEEN TANGOED: Victoria Mary Clarke and Shane MacGowan dancing on Sandymount Strand The pic accompanied Vicky's article in Sunday Independent, 16 Nov, 2008 12.11.2008 Shane at The Lighthouse cinema, Smithfield, where he saw "Alarm". 29.10.2008 No pain, no Shane SHELLEY MARSDEN talks to the legendary Shane MacGowan The Irish World 28 Oct 2008 Shane MacGowan needs little introduction.The Paddy in the Smoke, the notorious alcoholic, the frontman of The Pogues, is not just an entertaining drinking partner whose incessant mumble makes him difficult to make out.He is a gifted songwriter, who has written some of the most beautiful songs of recent times. The post-punk icon is holed up in Ireland somewhere when I call him. From the background noise, it may well be the corner of a cosy old pub – at least that’s the picture that forms most comfortably in the mind. MORE >>> 27.10.2008 Pumpkin up the volume (with a pic) By Breda Heffernan Irish Independent Monday October 27 2008 THE Halloween fun started early for the thousands of children who gathered in Virginia, Co Cavan, for the second annual Pumpkin Festival. The winning pumpkin was then paraded to nearby Lough Ramor where a fireworks display lit up the night sky. Musical acts Shane MacGowan, Sharon Shannon and Mundy entertained crowds in the Pumpkin Marquee. Saturday night in a very big tent by Brendano Sunday, October 26, 2008 I had a great night last night. My wife and I, along with 1,500 others, went to see Sharon Shannon's band, Mundy and Shane McGowan in an enormous tent, as part of the local pumpkin festival. <..> and then Shane McGowan appeared. He looks like a corpse up close, but his voice was in much better shape than I had feared it would be (it's often been a travesty of late) ... he did four Pogues classics with the band - ‘The Irish Rover', ‘Rainy Night in Soho' (one of my favourite songs), ‘Fiesta' and ‘Fairytale of New York' - the last with a young woman whose name I didn't catch singing the Kirsty McColl part. They all came back for an encore of ‘Courting in the Kitchen' (which I hadn't heard since childhood) and ‘Galway Girl' ... a Steve Earle song and a huge hit for Mundy and Sharon Shannon in Ireland this summer. All in all, a great night's entertainment. God bless pumpkins. MORE >>> And a little switching shirts trick And Shane signing Box Set (new pics of an old event, 31 May, 2008, Dublin) 20.10.2008 Shane MacGowan & Liam Clancy plus fun & frolics NYC photos by BP Fallon 19.10.2008 Finally, a report from Poulots: "The legendary singer and raconteur was the star turn at the charity bash in Poulot's restaurant in Donnybrook last Friday night in aid of the St Francis Hospice in Raheny. The black tie event, organised by Claire Malone from the Stars From The Commitments, was attended by Marcus Sweeney and his lady friend, Leigh Arnold and Brian Ormond with Pippa O'Connor. Rebecca Storm and Paul Harrington provided the entertainment, while Mr Pussy MC-ed the evening. Shane MacGowan added his own colour to the proceedings when he performed an on-the-spot version of A Fairytale of New York. Of New York. I mean he did it twice in the space of five minutes". -- by Barry Egan of Irish Independent. (Sun, Oct 19 2008) 17.10.2008 Last week Shane was supposed to take part in two different charity events: Fri, 10th Oct: a party at Poulots restaurant in Donnybrook, in aid of St Francis Hospice. Sun, 12th Oct: Art, Literature and Photographic Auction at Grogan’s Pub, South William Street, Dublin. For the case of three people, poisoned by by pesticides and fighting for their rights. No more details about both. Shane and Vicky peeped into Gate Theatre: "Shane and I are at a performance of Hedda Gabler, the Ibsen play that's been adapted by Brian Friel. (Yes, I have taken the liberty of doing my own rewrite of the script here, as you aficionados of the theatrical masterpiece will have noticed, so no need to write a snotty letter.) Anyway, as I was saying, we are attending the theatre, in an attempt (a) to get a bit of culture into us, and (b) to be seen to be the cultured types.", -- says Vicky. Good excuses, why not.. Interview with Paul Mad Dog McGuinness (Shane got mentioned more than briefly ): The Popes at 12 Bar, Swindon on Friday October 24 By Flicky Harrison This is Wiltshire 16th October 2008 Paul McGuiness former guitarist with The Pogues know all about jailhouse rock, having just written a whole album’s worth of songs while on remand in Pentonville Prison. The musician was accused of perverting the cause of justice but has since been released without a stain on his character. MORE >>> Sharon Shannon, Mundy and Shane McGowan for Pumpkin Festival By Sinead Hogan The Anglo Celt 15th October 2008 One of the main events at the Virginia Pumpkin Festival will be a concert featuring Sharon Shannon (above right) with special guests Mundy(above left) and former Pogues frontman Shane McGowan. What do Galway Girls and pumpkins have in common? Both will feature in the Virginia Pumpkin Festival, which will be held from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 October. Following on from the success of the inaugural festival last year, this year’s main event will be a concert on the Saturday night in the Pumpkin Marquee by Sharon Shannon and band with special guests Mundy and former Pogues frontman Shane McGowan. The impressive line-up is a coup for the festival, given Sharon Shannon and Mundy’s phenomenal success this year with the hit single, Galway Girl. MORE >>> 12.10.2008 Oldi - Maxim Interview with Shane, Dec 2007. By The Grace of God Shane MacGowan is 50... (scans of the article) Part1 Part2 Part3 Part4 Shane (old photo) Same bollix, just a side view: 'I have bought a Gordon Ramsay cookbook. I will be wearing an apron when he arrives and the house will be spotless and smell of coffee' By Victoria Mary Clarke Sunday Independent March 30 2008 An extract (Full article here) DAY ONE THERE'S a bloke coming from an American men's magazine to interview Shane. I'm not prejudiced, but I can imagine what he's like. A beer-swilling, football-watching, sexist pig. And I know what he will write, too. They all write the same thing. That they spent a night with the piss artist/tortured genius Shane MacGowan, and survived. There may be some grain of truth in the myth, but I prefer to create the impression that it is a myth. That we are a nice, normal, sophisticated couple who visit DIY shops and have friends over for elegant dinners and discussions about property. Insanely, we have agreed to let this guy come to the house, which means I will have to work extremely hard at making the right impression. We live in Donnybrook, which is a good start, although he is American so he won't realise that Donnybrook is posh. I have bought a Gordon Ramsay cookbook. I will be wearing an apron when he arrives, and the house will be spotless, and smell of coffee. Shane will be kept in his study (composing) and only brought out when it is absolutely necessary. DAY TWO A MOST horrific thing has happened. Just as the journalist was supposed to arrive, Shane cut his foot and was wandering around the house dripping blood on the nice clean floor. I actually retch at, and am incapacitated by, the sight of blood. So much so, that I had to call an ambulance. And even that took extreme concentration, because they asked a lot of questions. Luckily, the paramedics were not frightened by the sight of Shane's foot, and the injury was not too dreadful. But unlike most women, I can't multi-task, so the stress destroyed my plans for cooking a fabulous meal. I resorted to a Butler's Pantry takeaway and concentrated my energies on polishing the floor and getting Shane into a clean suit. Eventually, the journalist turned up. To my horror, he was completely trolleyed. He refused my (fabulous) dinner, with the excuse that it might make him throw up. Shane was both presentable and coherent, but the bloke couldn't work his own tape recorder, so I doubt he got anything he could write. And when he stood up to leave, he fell flat on his face on the kitchen floor, which meant me and Shane had to lift him by the armpits and drag him to the door. Where a kind passer-by assisted us in getting him to his guesthouse and into his bed, with his shoes still on. I drew the line at undressing him. 06.10.2008 Shane MacGowan joined the Loose onstage at UCD bar as well, on 11th Sept. Photo 1 Photo2 04.10.2008 At home with: Victoria Mary Clarke Writer Victoria Mary Clarke lives with her partner Shane MacGowan in the leafy surroundings of Dublin's Donnybrook. by Jackie Hayden Hot Press 11 Sep 2008 Victoria Mary Clarke and Shane MacGowan ended up living in a two-storey red-brick late Victorian house in the Donnybrook suburb of Dublin more by default than design. As she explained to Hot Press, "When we started looking for a house in Dublin about a year ago, we suspected some landlords mightn't be happy with Shane as a tenant. I can't think why! So we hired a female friend to do some checking around estate agents. Our suspicions were well-founded, but she found us this lovely house across the road from where she herself lives. By coincidence, my mother was born in a house in Herbert Park, so I've known this area since I was a kid, and it feels very safe." MORE >>> 30.09.2008 Shane was guesting at Sharon Shannon gig on 28th (Dungarvan, Co. Waterford): Although I wasnt there last night, i believe the man was an absolute disgrace in the Fraher Field last evening. Although I am a fan of his song-writing, it's a bit much to expect people to appreciate a man that is so drunk that he can barely stand up on stage. It's the talk of Dungarvan today. He had to be driven on to the field and then physically lifted by two people onto the stage. He then proceeded to fall down on his back. He was placed on a seat and even fell off that! He "sang" 4 or 5 songs and that was it! What a wondefrul example to young people! It's about time someone called shane mcgowan's bluff and tell him once and for all that he is a sh!te performer! (although he is a brilliant song-writer!) -- Waterford Discussion Forum Went to see sharon shannon with dessie joyce shane and the big band last night. Shane turned up late so the band had to play for an extra hour but they didnt seem to mind so all was good. Ive seen shane bout 30-35 times now mostly popes. Ive seen him in some conditioins clonmel being a stand out gig but that was just a bad patch where he was making headlines and people were going to see him just to see what kind of state he'd be in. ANYWAY last night was the worst I've seen him unfortunately. He came on ( being held up by three people) to the tune of the irish rover but as soon as he got the mic he was on his back. They helped him up and he was on his face. They got him a seat and he managed to fall off that. What amazes me is that he will never miss a word.It was still a fantastic gig but going on last night (and i know people have been saying this for the last 25 years) I think that this years christmas tour could be the pogues last...so don't miss it!! -- Pogues Forum 28.09.2008 Shane MacGowan joins the Loose onstage at The Academy Republic of Loose played their fifth show of the year at The Academy in Dublin last Thursday. <...> The band are well known for bringing special guests onstage for their Dublin gigs, with Sinead O'Connor and Damien Dempsey joining the Loose at their Academy shows in April. On Thursday, the audience were treated to a surprise appearence by Shane MacGowan. Shane arrived onstage for the encore, joining the Loose on the Stones classic 'Honky Tonk Woman' followed by the Pogues calssic 'Fiesta' Video 1 An All-star cast helps Jean to celebrate her birthday in style Jean Crowley, the legendary hostess in the VIP room of Lillie's Bordello, celebrated her birthday in style by taking a table for herself and 11 gal pals at the recent Nobu Ball. <...>Back in Lillies, the gals hooked up with Caroline's husband Denis Desmond, actor Liam Cunningham, chart-toppers The Script, singer Shane MacGowan and other pals. "Shane somehow heard it was my birthday," Jean said, "and came in specially to help me celebrate with some friends of his. We all had a great night, with the champagne flowing." 14.09.2008 Shane at Electric Picnic (31 August, 2008) Photos by BP Fallon: photo1 photo2 (with Tricia Ronane Simenon) |
