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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 |
26.02.2004 27.02.2004 GIG AT KIPSALA HALLE RIGA, LATVIA, 13 Feb 2004 Well :)) Here you are Photos - (c) Bars, Moscow, Russia, Sergey Zaitsev, St.Petersburg, Russia by courtesy of Dmitriy "Dee" Borokhov, St.Petersburg, Russia Photo-report about the gig itself. 4 pics Boozing with Shane & Co. Documentary evidence from Paddy Whealan's Pub, 9 pics. Dee's review of Shane's show and next day boozing (kinda "Inconceivable Adventures of Russians in Riga") In Russian, sorry :)) 17.02.2004 Another portion of great Sziget pics has been uploaded. Special thanks: Max Sedov (photographer), Yuri Borisenko (supplier) 2.02.2004 Helpfull hint by Paul McCluskey (shane's official site guestbook): "Found this article on my trawling of the web" Shane MacGowan at the Boogaloo 02 February 2004 WWW . Virtual Festivals . Com The Irish have a passion for the drink, and Shane MacGowan sets a fine example to his entire race! But tonight the talent wins out over insobriety at the Boogaloo - and we were all in for a treat. MacGowan might look like just one more Vic Reeves pub singer wannabee these days, but the man still manages to carry an aura of greatness about him... and that aura sits as comfortably as his middle aged paunch on that newly heavyweight frame... MORE >>> 03.02.2004 CONSPIRATORIAL GIG Shane MacGowan - Live and Unleashed 30 January 2004 WWW . Virtual Festivals . Com With only 100 tickets available and some 'special guests' promised then Saturday 31st Jan could be a special and intimate event indeed - although the combination of McGowan and a pub might lead to mayhem. Gig of the Week! Sometimes our e-mail inbox reveals something quite special, and today was one of those days. Tucked up on Archway Road in North London is the Boogaloo pub - a great old fashioned watering hole much favoured by the musical cognisenti - if only for the fantastic juke-box and mind-bendingly difficult music based pub quizzes. MORE >>> I saw Shane play at the Boogaloo in Highgate.What a brillant show , he went on stage on time and played for about one and a half hours, was straight and together throughout and even took requests, it was a very special night in my life, being a fan for years but never getting that close to him before.He sang loads of old covers like 'cupid', blue moon of Kentucky ', thats alright mama', some Sam Cooke songs and about 5 or 6 Pogues numbers.He was backed by an amazing band , not the Popes his usual band , they had steel guitars and stand up bass, someone told me they have played with him before. My faith has been restored in him after him letting me down once for a show not turning up at all.Sorry about the rambling on but am genuinely excited as am a great lover of his music. john jordan (shane's official guestbook) 27.01.2004 SHANE HELPS OUT SCREAM AGAIN NME Published: 26-01-2004-10-11 PRIMAL SCREAM were joined onstage by POGUES legend SHANE MACGOWAN on Saturday night (January 24) during their gig at LONDON's ELEPHANT & CASTLE CORONET. The singer was greeted by huge cheers as he emerged from the side of the stage to add his vocals to 'Movin' On Up'. MacGowan had also joined Bobby Gillespie and co. earlier in the week at their Glasgow Academy (January 17) show to perform 'Loaded' and 'Born To Lose'. According to one fan at the Coronet: "I'd heard that Shane had come onstage up in Scotland, but it was a real surprise when he walked on tonight! I couldn't really hear what he was singing exactly but the whole song sounded great." 20.01.2004 CELTIC CONNECTION Shane MacGowan and the Popes Barrowland, Glasgow James Smart Tuesday January 20, 2004 The Guardian Shane MacGowan's reputation precedes him. Past gigs in Glasgow have been cancelled due to missed flights and a tumble from a bar stool, and the atmosphere in the Barrowland is electric, in a sozzled sort of way. Choruses of Dirty Old Town ring round the downstairs bar, which gets busy and stays busy. When MacGowan eventually makes it on stage, clutching a large, lurid drink, it's the wrong side of 11 o'clock. MORE >>> SHANE GETS 'LOADED'! NME Published: 19-01-2004 PRIMAL SCREAM were joined by a very special guest during their gig at GLASGOW ACADEMY on Saturday (January 17). During the set, ex-Pogues singer Shane MacGowan appeared onstage to rapturous applause during 'Loaded', before lending his vocals to the track. According to a fan: "Shane stumbled on stage, beer in hand to rapturous applause from the sold out crowd." MORE >>> Shane MacGowan and The Popes THE SCOTSMAN MUSIC REVIEW Jay Richardson Shane MacGowan and The Popes **** THE STRATHCLYDE SUITE, BARROWLANDS, GLASGOW SACRILEGIOUS to say, but watching Shane MacGowan nowadays is akin to watching the pontiff himself. Shuffling and unsteady, physically supported, and always a grim fascination surrounding whether he turns up at all. But the crowd hang on every word, every slurred, guttural utterance. Leering, growling and prowling the stage with bloated disdain, MacGowan’s punkish sulks had to be repeatedly tempered by indulgent Popes, coercing him through stage invasions, lager showers and attempts to strangle accordion player Kieran Kiely. Communal feeling got cemented early, though, as a swaying, singalong Dirty Old Town followed the yelping Rock and Roll Paddy, while The Boys From the County Hell received its full, vicous head - the singer spitting lyrics while crashing a tray off his skull. MORE >>> Celtic Connections: Shane McGowan and the Popes The Herald AIDEEN McLAUGHLIN January 19 2004 Barrowlands, Glasgow AT 11pm, Shane MacGowan, stooped and misshapen, stumbled on stage to the strains of The Popes. Then, the self-confessed "Rock 'n' Roll Paddy" let rip. By this time, the crowd was rampant. The pre-concert build-up had been provided by the fans. It was kind of the opposite, yet equivalent, of that pre-match practice they have at Parkhead of playing Pogues songs over the PA. By 10.30pm, the atmosphere had reached feverpitch, and the near-capacity crowd who, earlier, had been quietly picnicking on fags and beer atop their tricolours spread out on the ground, were egging him on to choruses of "There's only one Shane MacGowan". When he took centre-stage and wrapped a Celtic scarf round his head, the fans went ballistic. Tonight, it was Celtic Connections with a very soft 'C'. Shane MacGowan sang the songs; The Popes followed along, always watching him for the next move. It was only when he left the stage that they finally came into their own, sounding like a band instead of a hired side-show playing another band's songs. They rattled through all the old Pogues favourites: the Behan-inspired Streams of Whiskey, A Pair of Brown Eyes, The Auld Triangle, accompanied at times by Shane playing percussion off his head. They ended with The Wild Rover, as MacGowan strangled the accordion player with his microphone lead. Flattered by chants of "We shall not be moved", he returned for an encore, culminating in If I Should Fall from Grace with God. It was poignant; it was sad; it was absolu-tely mental. As a fan beside me said: "It was like going to see Alex Higgins try to play snooker." Barrowlands, Glasgow AT 11pm, Shane MacGowan, stooped and misshapen, stumbled on stage to the strains of The Popes. Then, the self-confessed "Rock 'n' Roll Paddy" let rip. By this time, the crowd was rampant. The pre-concert build-up had been provided by the fans. It was kind of the opposite, yet equivalent, of that pre-match practice they have at Parkhead of playing Pogues songs over the PA. By 10.30pm, the atmosphere had reached feverpitch, and the near-capacity crowd who, earlier, had been quietly picnicking on fags and beer atop their tricolours spread out on the ground, were egging him on to choruses of "There's only one Shane MacGowan". When he took centre-stage and wrapped a Celtic scarf round his head, the fans went ballistic. Tonight, it was Celtic Connections with a very soft 'C'. Shane MacGowan sang the songs; The Popes followed along, always watching him for the next move. It was only when he left the stage that they finally came into their own, sounding like a band instead of a hired side-show playing another band's songs. They rattled through all the old Pogues favourites: the Behan-inspired Streams of Whiskey, A Pair of Brown Eyes, The Auld Triangle, accompanied at times by Shane playing percussion off his head. They ended with The Wild Rover, as MacGowan strangled the accordion player with his microphone lead. Flattered by chants of "We shall not be moved", he returned for an encore, culminating in If I Should Fall from Grace with God. It was poignant; it was sad; it was absolu-tely mental. As a fan beside me said: "It was like going to see Alex Higgins try to play snooker." Shane MacGowan and The Popes, Barrowland, Glasgow, Friday, January 16 IT doesn't get much better than MacGowan and a seven piece band at Barrowland. And plenty of people thought so too. Under the Celtic Connections banner, a diverse crowd was drawn along. Football neds asked punks for hair care tips in the downstairs bar before the gigs, before they joined up for the obligatory mosh in front of the stage. Older fans and couples stood further back, but that didn't stop them getting into the spirit of things. There was also a healthy smattering of younger fans, who seemed to know more of the words to the Flogging Molly music played before MacGowan came on stage, than The Pogues hits which made up the bulk of the set that MacGowan and The Popes served up. That's the real problem with these gigs. A lot of the so-called fans don't have a clue about his more recent albums and the work on those deserves a more regular airing on stage. Some of these later songs did feature Mother Mo Chroi opened the show and More Pricks Than Kicks was introduced with the delightful ''This is a romantic one...ladies choice'' but many of them are lost on the vast majority of the crowd, who think the sum total of MacGowan's songwriting is everything before 1992. His albums, The Snake and Crock of Gold, are as good as The Pogues' If Should Fall from Grace With God, the last good album his original band made. Musically, everything was spot on, although he may well be breaking in a new drummer why else would he have to turn his back on the audience and shout ''Right, this is a fast one'' at the boy with the sticks. MacGowan was in his element, putting on the kind of performance that has earned him the sort of reputation that made Celtic Connections so keen to get him in thefestival over the past few years howling, dancing, whipping the mic cord at his accordionist and even giving the neds a bit of advice on how they should cut down on the drinking and fighting. Shane MacGowan is a lot of different things to different people, but to himself he's still a Rock'n'Roll Paddy who won't stop till he's six feet under and that won't be any time soon. 05.01.2004 LATER WITH JOOLS HOLLAND HOOTENANNY - 31 December 2003 - featured: - Desmond Dekker - Lulu - Shane McGowan - Candi Staton - Paul Rodgers (from Free & Bad Company) - Texas - The Hot Club of Cowtown - Primal Scream - Sugababes "New Year's Eve wouldn't be the same without Jools Holland. While other channels see in the New Year in a more traditional manner, Holland turns BBC Two into the coolest place to be at midnight. Holland's annual Hootenanny gathers together some of the biggest names in music, from legends to recent chart stars, for a big ol' knees-up. "Imagine all these musicians living in the same street," says Holland. "And you going to each of their houses, one party to the next... " But Holland didn't get his dream guest, Dame Vera Lynn, as she's now retired. "I wanted her to sing with Shane MacGowan from The Pogues," he says. "They could have sung I'll Be Seeing You, which isn't very Christmassy but it is very moving." Evening Chronicle (22nd Dec) Shane McGowan sounded just fine - don't know whether the tune he did was one of his own or a cover (sounded a bit Morrison-y), but he made an excellent job of it. Brendan That guy from The Pogues grabs the mike, and embarrasses himself majorly. I know there will be a lot of people on here who have a soft spot for him, but after hearing the tone deaf oaf lisp his way through some Ozzy and daughter-esque sentimental cuntwank, I can only say that soft spot is their daft fucking heads. Tommo (uk.sport.football newsgroup) It was good to see Shane looking well on the Jools Holland show, but what a terrible performance of a spectacularly average song. I don't think that public appearance is likely to enhance Shane's diminishing reputation in the business. Andy P. Davies (shane's official forum) Can you imagine what it must be like. You've heard of Shane MacGowan and you've heard of Fairytail but nothing more. Then you see him for the first time on Jools Holland. Fuck me, you are going to be disapointed. He sings a song, written by somebody else, and thats it. I love the man but tonight he came across as a druken karioki singer and nothing else. There were some good bands on tonight, and some twats in the audiance,but even the worst of them could sing without the words being in front of them. I was so wishing that he could of sung one of his own songs just to prove to people that the man has so much talent, but it didn't happen. I can't help thinking that everybody else on the show had a manager saying exactly what should happen. If you didn't love him so much it made him out to be a drunken has been. Ah well, fuck them all, we know better Hooley (shane's official forum) I saw the Jools Holland programme.Personally, I don't rate the song Shane recorded with Jools Holland and performed on the show. I don't think the song suits Shane's voice. I was hoping that with the vast array of female vocal talent (Sam Brown, Lulu etc.) that a version of "Fairytale" might have been performed but it's Joolls Holland's show.......not mine or Shane's! Paul McCluskey (shane's official forum) Jools always asks the guests if they have any predictions for the coming year. I loved it when he asked Shane, who looked stumped for a moment and then said 'Judgement Day'! Peter (shane's official forum) There was nothing wrong with Shane's performance, it's just Jules Holland being self-indulgent by asking him to do one of his own songs rather than one Shane wrote. If Jules asked him to sing that song, Shane isn't going to refuse is he? I just think that it is appalling that he had one of the greatest song-writers of all time on his show, and he didn't ask him to sing one of his own songs. I was looking foreward to hearing some new material. Andrea (shane's official forum) It was very apparent that Jools Holland is a BIG fan of Shane...but the song Shane sang and the situation did him no favours at all. He looked well...and not too pissed I thought. The best was saved until last when Shane did some light hearted tinkling on the ivories accompanying Jools on "Enjoy Yourself" Bastard Landlord (shane's official forum) BBC Radio 2 - SATURDAY 27 DECEMBER Pogue Mahone - The Story of the Pogues: 21:00-22:00 Mark Radcliffe travels to Dublin to meet Shane MacGowan and tell a tale of Irish folk colliding with punk in a swilling pit of alcohol and bad dentistry. The programme features interviews with Pogues fans Nick Cave and Ronnie Drew, as well as archive material from the late Joe Strummer and Kirsty Macoll. the broadcast went out and it was great! Shane was in great form...and m. Radcliffe was respectful and gave a good interview.... one quote to shane....." ever thought about having your teeth fixed"........shane..." well i've though of having a gold tooth here....but not a full set....it was hard enough getting rid of the first lot". the broadcast was good, and Shane gave some good answers and views. Ged (via FOS mail) Shane commented quite a lot, and yes, he did seem in very good form, happy and relaxed, cackling away. A bit cagey when the interviewer asked about prospects for more Pogues reunion shows. Not much that you didn't know already, except the gold tooth bit perhaps ;-) Focus on first three albums, lots of excerpts played, comments by Spider and others (Joe Strummer's were taken from the Town and Country video). I liked Kathy Burke's (who does the new production of Behan's Quare Fellow) recollections of going to her first Pogues' gig, deciding to stay way back at the bar and then suddenly finding herself at the front in the fray and loving it. Would you believe the BBC is still censoring not just the comments but even the songs - pathetic. Christine (via FOS mail) Regarding the BBC Radio2 program ... it was nice to hear Ronnie Drew use Shane to define (or redefine) the word "respectable" and to hear Joe Strummer praise Phil Chevron's guitar playing. Musicianship is a way of living, and Ronnie and Joe's remarks represent it at its best. Jeff (via FOS mail) 03.01.2004 CHRISTMAS TOUR 23.12.2003 - The Grill, Letterkenny , Ireland, Fantastic nite in Letterkenny, gig was fantastic, crowd enjoyed us I think too... and Shane was watchin our show from behind a curtain. We were walkin off stage, he calld me over and said, "Do another one!!" "I'm not goin on till you do another one!!!" Greatest honour and joy. Best nite of my life. Martin didn't get his interview unfortunately, Shaneo wasn't in the mood I don't think, and the usual fat fucking whores and sluts hangin all over him, especially those who can't sing!! Drives me mad, and he's such a nice guy he wouldn't tell em to fuck off, or the drunken locals who were talkin shit in his ear. Shane is far too polite to ask someone to fuck off. Unlike the, and I use this term loosely, lady, who was lucky enough to try and sing with him on Fairytale of New York, we were polite and to be honest I didn't even get to speak to Shane till near the time he was leaving. She, apart from being a poor singer, was a pretentious fat sloth who barged in on the sing song which Tom, Shane's driver, was trying to instigate. "I have to sing this song!" and then ranted into some pathetic rendition of what I'm sure is a perfectly nice song about Letterkenny. her and some other fella who'd fallen and broken his nose, through drunkenness. So perhaps you can see where both the statements, "drunken" and "fat fucking whore" came from. A lad was trying to sing, A Jug of Punch, which if you haven't heard it is a Clancy Brothers song, (Shane borrowed some of the words for Paddy Rolling Stone from said) and Shane also tried to sing along. But your broken nosed fella and his slate mirror manufacturing buddy were having none of it, telling drunken stories to which Shane listened politely, whilst looking in despair at the singer, still trying to listen. Shane doesn't decide who meets and greets him, that's up to the security at the gig, or whoever's on the guest list. If I'm wrong correct me but I only saw one backstage pass and that was Brian Kelly's, which he'd been wearing since the Olympia gigs the weekend previous. Tom, the aforementioned driver exited with Shane to take him someplace else, either Dublin or Letterkenny, which was still undecided, at 5:30am. Unfortunately this was not the case, as the guy who makes the slate mirror's had previously asked him if he would accept one from him. Shane had said yes backstage, and through no fault or involvement of the manufacturer, the fat ginger singer was shouting at Shane, who had been on the road since 10am, if he was a man of his word or not. Tom wanted to get home, and without being a "spokesperson" perhaps Shane did also. What right does she, who with her vocals would put a fox out of a hen house, have to question Shane Lynch MacGowan on his word? this was nearing day light, the birds were tweeting. So Shane agreed, being polite and peaceful. Well I left then, but I wish her well. Tom was in absolute despair, if you remember correctly, there were 8 people in that car, a Toyota Avensis. If Tom had've been caught by the gardai, he'd have lost his licence. And I'm sure they'd have all felt sorry and agreed that it was a silly thing to do. Rock n Roll Paddy (shane's official forum) 22.12.2003 - Time Venue (Osprey Hotel), Naas, Ireland (Co. Kildare) Went to Shane n popes gig on 22nd in Naas,more out of respect for a living legend than really expecting a memorable gig. But what a performance from the man and his band,he put on a show the likes of which I haven't seen from the man in more than ten years...will we ever see his like again. Truely a f@*kin living legend... Donncha (shane's official forum) 20.12.2003 - Olympia Theatre, Dublin, Ireland, Last nite's gig was the best i've ever saw. Bear in mind I'm only a wane and haven't saw The Pogues! They played mostly Pogues tunes, Shane was dancin not sittin, played Sally McLenanne South Australia, Streams of Whiskey I can't think off hand. Fantastic anyone who saw him will agree I'm sure, well on form, as were the rest of the lads. Drinkin wit him n Bob for a little while afterwards, in The Mezz, then went round to Lillie's on Grafton Street but they would only let Shane and, if u believe me, Victoria an her sister Vanessa, and Bob. Rock n Roll Paddy (shane's official forum) Some more on the Olympia 20th Dec. shane on half tenish, very much alive and kicking, band expanded with mandolin courtesy of Brian Kelly which is great but a squeezebox or fiddle would make a bigger impact on their sound as it sounds much like the banjo, but what am I complaining for? A great night, packed venue, Cashman on towards end on tin whistle, plus the brown-haired girl who did the Xmas duet, whow was she? Not O'Riordan. So it was that the biggest line-up for a few years. Shane stuck doggedly to the Pogues greatest hits set plus a few Popes numbers which has been current for several years. For Chrissakes the man has a phenomenal back catalogue, how about dipping into it Shane? Open the next show with Sea Shanty, Snake With Eyes Of Garnet, Billy's Bones and Sit Down By The Fire, will you? Bloody laziness, but we take what we can get! And I certainly felt I got my money's worth on saturday. The band were drinking in Brogans next door before the gig and were as friendly and down to earth as ever. Great atmosphere inside. Shane sat for a couple of the ballads which doesn't really detract from slow numbers, and stood for all the fast ones and most of the set. Ending with Sally Mac, Sick Bed, Irish Rover, Fairytale, Bottle Of Smoke and South Australia, not in order, and kicking off with Dity Old Town. Now if he'd just drop all this 'I'm in no hurry to make an album,' shit we'd have nothing to complain about!! Father Mc Greer (shane's official forum) Brilliant Gig last nite in my opinion, the Fluid Druids were not the best but gave it their all. Shane was amazing, Im a man you dont meet everyday and South Australia were my favourites, plus Eamon Campbell on stage was special. Shane seemed in good form, holding up a T shirt of Himself, Mad Dog saying "Shane Guevara" when he saw it. The crowd were great, I was up the front and as always a great vibe. I got the Set list at the end but its only half right, good to get it all the same though Eamo (shane's official forum) I have been to many Shane gigs. The Ambassador, The RDS, Borris in Ossary etc. I always enjoyed them, never had trouble, always found the fans very nice and friendly until I went to the Olympia on Saturday night. The Olympia was over booked for a start, way too crowded and dangerous. I never in my life saw such a drunken, badly behaved mob, a crowd of drunk hooligans. I did not listen to or watch Shane because my night went trying to shield myself from the rough mob. I watched a woman who I would think was over sixty years of age who was looking forward to seeing Shane and her joy turned to fear as the drunken mob were jumping all around her. You know guys, everyone from 18 to 90 had a right to see that show in peace without having to watch their backs I watched bouncers jump in and drag out lads by the score and nearly knocked me over a few times as they were doing that and then the bouncers lost it and were not able to maintain crowd control and then they started at innocent people who were doing no harm at all. I left the show before it ended and I never did that before but I felt I had to for safety as the mob would be spilling out onto the street just as aggressive as they were inside. I am no prude when it comes to drink and I am not against drink and I had as much to drink as anyone there but I know how to behave when I drink. Maureen (via FOS mail) 19.12.2003 - Olympia Theatre, Dublin, Ireland HEY!!! Just an update on tours an the olympia gig last nite! Absolutely fantastic, shane in an hawaiian shirt lol, lads were in great form... Cait came on and did Man you don't meet everyday, then duetted for Fairytale! Eamon Campbell on guitar for Irish Rover, met Barney McKenna outside afterwards, he was over seein Ronnie doin panto in the Gaeity. Absolutely fantastic nite, can't wait till tonight, all over again. Rock n Roll Paddy (shane's official forum) 17.12.2003 - Dolans, Limerick, Ireland Went to see Shane last night in Dolans in Limerick. I don't know how I felt about the show. In some ways it was too polished in other ways there were some bad cock ups. Dolans is an Ideal venue for Sound, The Man on the desk could have done more. Shanes Vocals were not loud enough and not enough reverb on them. Animals Banjo sounded Sh1t, Drums were mic'ed too loud. New Mandolin player could not be heard. Why another stringed instrument ? Overall though a good show, Most would have been impressed by it. I don't what it is but The show has become almost Karoke like. Shane starts off sitting down for the first two songs, I was thinking to myself this is bad sign as sitting like he was last year in the wheelchair takes away any energy from the show. He stood up for the remainder thank god, and he looked great and sounded good. Body of an American got seriously mixed up, Sick bed of cuchullain was started and shane demanded cutting it as the intro was in full fling, It appears Shane was handed a request for " Sean South", Shane proceeded to introduce same and the crowd went mad. Roddy McCorly was played instead which is the same air as Sean South. The Crowd were puzzled to say the least. I would have preferred more Popes stuff last night rather that Pogues stuff. Surprised that Graunulle did not get played ! Texas Rider ..North West Tipp (shane's official forum) I was in Dolan's last night too. I've seen Shane many times there before. Overall, not a bad show, but nothing earth shattering. WE did get to hear "Roddy McCorley" which isn't played live too often, I actually thought Shane's vocals were quite good, but I agree, the mandolin couldn't be heard. Although I thought the band's sound was quite good in general, not as tinny as it was last year. He arrived on around 11.40pm and finished around 1.10 am. No encore - although I suspect the "encore" was the end of the set with the "do you want to hear another one" comments..No "Fairytale" either, I can't help thinking that the whole show is now a parody of the Pogues stuff but he's putting bum's on seats (or standing), so I'm sure he soesn't mind..I get the feeling some people would think it was great if he just stood there - but that's the joy's of being drunk I suppose..Overall - good enough for this era.. The support band the Fluid Druid's were quite good - playing a punk/reggae mixture. Ceilidh Cowboy 12.12.2003 - The Elk NiteClub, Toomebridge , North of Ireland (Co. Armagh ), Last nite was absolutely fantastic and absolutely shite also. Fantastic for us, The Rapparees, who dined and drank with Shane and the Popes all nite long, but absolutely shite for the crowd who couldn't hear a thing cause the sound was terrible. Not Sarge's fault but the fat bastard cecil who's gear us and The Popes were usin. Made some lame excuse that he couldn't turn it up or some other shit. Shane was in great form, and Brian Kelly (maybe) the mandolin player was fantastic, 5 times all ireland tenor banjo champion and 5 times all ireland mandolin champ. Only a young fella, fantastic. Sound didn't do it justice, place was overcrowded. Greed! Met a lot of lovely people. We were warned beforehand that the band may be aloof, but to the contrary they were nearly officious, fantastic lads, spent a lotta time talkin to Andy and Bob and Tom. Had a sing song into the early hours with the black an tan flowin free. Yeah they wrote the set list out in front of us, and because they were in Toome they did Roddy MacCorley which was fucking amazing, mostly the same after that, Therese wasn't there for Fairytale, no duet. Rock N Roll Paddy (shane's official forum) 29.12.2003 POGUE MAHONE - THE STORY OF THE POGUES Saturday 28th December 21.00 - 22.00 Presented by Mark Radcliffe "For one brief, beery, gap-toothed moment, back in the bleakness of the second term of Thatcherism, it really did seem like there was a new folk revival. Improbably - during a period dominated by shoe-staring indie pop and stadium rock'n'roll - somewhere on the dark streets of London, an ex-public school boy was leading this bunch of musical hooligans out of the beer-sodden back rooms and into the charts! " MORE >>> 19.12.2003 Dec 19th 9:30pm RTE - Late Late Show (?) Dec 27th 9.00pm Radio 2 - Pogue Mahone - the story of the Pogues Dec 31st 11.05pm BBC2 - Jools's 11th Annual Hootenanny EXPRESS EXAMINATION Thanks to anonymous helper: Explain yourself: Shane MacGowan December 19, 2003 The Times (subscription), UK PAUL SEXTON What can we expect when you appear on Jools Holland’s Hootenanny show on New Year’s Eve? - A great line-up (Primal Scream, Lulu, Sugababes, Candi Staton, Desmond Dekker, etc). Anybody who doesn’t at least video it will be missing out. First record you bought? - Hey Joe by Jimi Hendrix. I would have been nine. Last record you bought? - I buy CDs of records I used to have. If I buy new ones, they’re hip-hop and house, or Nick Cave. Most stupid rock’n’roll moment? - Joining a democratic group — a mistake from which I have learnt. One big influence? - The music I learnt at home, where there were constant parties with people playing. And the Larry Gogan show on Radio ?ireann, a mixture of country, Irish showbands, Hendrix, the Stones and Beatles. Best cover version of one of your songs? - The first ones covered by Christy Moore and Ronnie Drew. And the worst? - Some guys did a so-called dance mix of Rainy Night in Soho, which was appalling. What do you want to be reincarnated as? - Same thing. I’d rob a bank or take somebody really important hostage until they came up with a cure for cancer and Aids. Have you ever been in a fist-fight? - No, I’m a dirty fighter. I don’t believe in the Marquess of Queensberry rules. After all, he had Oscar Wilde put in prison. When were you most frightened? - The first time I went to England. I was six or seven. Worst thing anyone’s said about you? - That I’m a poetic genius who’s going to be dead in six months. They’ve been saying it for 20 years. Who do you fancy? - Myself! It’s my round, what are you drinking? - The top shelf, left to right. AUSTRALIA ON THRESHOLD OF DOCUMENTARY BROADCASTING Show of the Week If I Should Fall From Grace - The Shane MacGowan Story SBS, 10pm If Ozzy Osbourne were less level-headed, had taken more drugs and brushed his teeth less, he might look something like Shane MacGowan. MacGowan, the lead singer of the Irish punk band The Pogues, managed to survive the '80s. But only just. When we meet him in this rockumentary, he is dirty, rotten-toothed and appears to be insane or retarded or plain drunk. MORE >>> If I Should Fall From Grace - The Shane MacGowan Story Friday, 19 December at 10pm A music driven documentary that provides the first real insight into the background and career of the legendary Irish artist who, as lead singer and songwriter of The Pogues, became a worldwide punk icon. All Music Guide calls MacGowan “A transcendent singer-songwriter and two-fisted gutter poet whose notorious drunken behaviour, rotten teeth and drug fuelled excesses threatens to eclipse his reputation as a performer.” MORE >>> 15.12.2003 INTERVIEW With the kind help from Peter: Ireland: Interview: Through a glass darkly The Sunday Times (subscription), UK 13 Dec 2003 By MICK HEANEY. Against all the odds, Shane MacGowan is well. In fact, he says, he feels great. If one was so inclined, it would be easy to believe him as he conjures up seamy anecdotes in lucid, lurid detail, sipping from his pint glass of Bloody Mary and letting rip with his trademark cackle. But then, by his own admission, MacGowan is not a man easily given to expressing his emotions. It is only at the end, as he gets ready to make his goodbyes, that the cackle dissipates for a second. “There’s nothing wrong with being domesticated, you know”, he says, looking around the near empty hotel bar where we have spent the previous two hours. “It’s nice to be able to go back to someone, rather than spend all your time in places like here.” It is only the briefest flash of melancholia, but it is telling. The pub certainly remains his milieu, the ever-present backdrop to his classic songs with the Pogues and his public image as a barfly sage. But while he is gregarious in company, he clearly pines for the company of his former girlfriend, Victoria Clarke. “It was totally unexpected when she left,” he says. “But at least it forced me to clean up my act.” MORE >>> 12.12.2003 Shane MacGowan will visit Filmdrome (52 William St., Limerick, Ireland) on Wednesday 17th December 2003 at 5pm. The entire event will be broadcast live on the Filmdrome website. 05.12.2003 In the absence of hot news time for oldies has come A link by courtesy of Honoured contributor Alex Stickel (thanks a lot, Alex, and sorry for delay !!) Hello! wedding, goodbye credibility Victoria Mary Clarke Sunday Independent, 17 Aug 2003 ... A few years ago, I was engaged to marry my long-term partner at the time, Shane MacGowan. And even though he was appalled at the notion, I began to wonder what we would be offered if we decided to sell our wedding. It started out as a joke, of course. We would get loads of money and invite all our friends and take the piss out of whichever publication was silly enough to pay us. Maybe I could even write an expose on the whole experience, which would undoubtedly be in the public interest. When you set about getting a price for your soul, you don't really want people to know you are doing it. You can say you're doing it for a laugh, but will anyone believe you? Will they not think you're pathetic and tragic? And horror of horrors, supposing nobody wanted your wedding; supposing no one was willing to pay for it. What would that feel like? So I set about finding out, very discreetly, if there would be any interest. I had an agent make very vague enquiries on behalf of her client who wished to remain anonymous. And it emerged that the wedding could be of interest, if the right kind of people were there. What kind of people ? "A-list celebrities. Movie stars, supermodels, rock stars." Did we know any A-list celebrities who would come to the wedding? Yes, we knew a lot of A-list celebrities who would come to the wedding, but whether they would agree to be photographed for Hello! was a different matter. The Evening Standard had done a chart, telling you how much each of the major celebs was worth,for appearing at your wedding. Mick Jagger, Kate Moss, Elton John and such people could be worth serious money. There was even an agency in London, run by Meg Matthews, which could fix it for top celebs to attend your party. Surely deals could be struck for weddings, also? Maybe if it was too embarrassing to ask genuine friends to do it, we could hire some from an agency instead? I was assured that this was a possibility, after making some more discreet enquiries. But I was also assured that we would be required to sign confidentiality agreements so that I would never be able to write about the deal. And nobody would be allowed to talk about it either. Taking the piss was becoming less likely as a possible excuse for doing it. And a more disturbing thought was beginning to cross my mind. If we were renting celebrities, in order to push the price up, what would the family and friends feel like, the ones who weren't worth anything? Wouldn't they be upset to find themselves omitted from any photos, while people we didn't even know were posing with us? Wasn't it all a bit too hideous for words?.. MORE (registration required) >>> 02.12.2003 Series of concerts in the UK and Ireland Christmas shows for Shane MacGowan Shane MacGowan and the Popes have announced a series of pre-Christmas Irish concerts. MORE >>> UK gigs for Shane MacGowan Shane MacGowan and the Popes have announced details of a series of concerts in the UK and Ireland. MORE >>> 01.12.2003 FIRST HE TOOK RADIO... 19 Nov 2003, Ray D'Arcy Show, 102-104 TODAY FM (Ireland) PIC (Shane & Ray's mum) SOUND (Fairy Tale Of NY) The time reads just 10 mins past 10. I was on my break from work thinking about the 19th of december when we go to Dublin from Tipp to see our hero shane, the next thing a mcgowan song on national radio followed by shane's famous hee heee heeee laugh. I couldnt believe it its shane i shouted aloud. For a full hour or even more as alan correctly pointed out. Lads it was brillant. Where are the begrudgers of shane now. He was Brillant. He spoke clearly and was understandable and just such so funny. He was so happy it seemed. This is our hero, our legend our music maker. Today FM thank you. Ray Darcy's Mum thank you. This was the best day of my life. Paddy Coen, Eire 32, (shane's official site guestbook) Today's show was a special one. It was being broadcast from the kitchen of Ray's parents house! Because of this Ray decided to surprise his mother and have her biggest hero. Ray's mother is Shane's biggest fan and it was obvious from their chat that she knew her stuff, right through from the Nips to the Popes. Not bad for a woman in her 60's!!! Just goes to show the great man's appeal. Shane appeared on today's show for a full hour. It was more of an informal chat than an interview, they were still talking while they were off air. It started by Mary (Ray's mother) asking Shane about Victoria. He said that they are still dating but are no longer living together. It then moved on to talking about his house, he is still living in that house in Tipp and he told a few sunny stories. They also talked about the book "A Drink With Shane MacGowan" ("I don't how why my name is on the cover, it wasn't written by me but that's what the publishers wanted"), the DVD of "If I should fall", Fairytale of New York which Shane says he still loves to hear and sing. He sang a duet of this song with Mary who had picked it as her favourite song of Shane's. She was far better than Shane's mother!!! A pretty good version considering it was live and unrehearsed although some wayward guitar could have led them astray (but thankfully didn't). He picked three pieces of music (forgive my spelling and the titles could be wrong. C'mon, it was early!!!): "My home in Abbeyville" by An Cassairlaigh, Something "my baby" by Nick Cave and finally, "London, You're a Lady" by The Pogues, which he said was about his wayward lifestyle in London. Shane seemed in great form and was laughing and joking throughout the hour. However, before ye start asking(!!!) There was no mention of any new material or upcoming projects or tour dates or anything. It was probably one of the best hours of radio Shane will ever do. The two of them hit it off right away and it was obvious they were enjoying themselves. Alan, Republic of Ireland, (shane's official site guestbook) ... THEN HE TOOK TV 21 Nov 2003, Dunphy Show (TV3, Ireland) Shane has just been on the Dunphy show, he started up by singing the irish rover with a band made up off Terry Woods,Eamon Cambell and Paul Harrigon. Sounded great, he talked his life in London, politics, where he grew up and so on, looked very well but was a bit slashed, finished by singing a Ronnie Drew song with Eamon Dunphy which was great... Slugger O Toole, Ireland, (shane's official site guestbook) failte,watched shane on dunphy tonight in my localin kilcummin , killarney out in the country and we turned off the juke box and listened , not everybody but a good few, we allagreed on shane height of intelligence and that he was very interesting ,not 100%sober but real ,ya know what i mean,there were some beautiful moments and i could see in his eyes that when asked a question he was mentally tyravellin through time to remember the exact situation and circumstances, he cracked a few jokesand made some very gtood comments on politicians and the music of today ,though dunphy said himself they skipped any conversation on the pogues or the popes directly, but what it was , was not an interview but a conversation from one irishman to the other and no judgement was passed on his lifestyle or character, just a man interested in the life of another and shane was delighted to talk about his views on life and so on. terry woods and one of the dubliners and another lad played at the start and were brilliant and at the end he sang with dunph RAGLAN ROAD AND WAS VEY VERY GOOD,WORTH RECORDIN,A VERY WELL PLAYED RENDITION OF ONE OF THE FINEST LOVE SONGS EVER. i liked the way terry woods stood so close to shane playin the mandolin as to suit shane singin and timing very nice , i was delighted and it has made my night , all this news of shane droppin thepopes is news tome ,though if he had a new band of musicians who were serious about the music, i would be delighted, oh yeah shane couldnt knock down the mic stand,i think it was rigged to stand up,so he tryed hangin himself with the mic lead Con, dear old Ireland, (shane's official site guestbook) Saw Shane on "The Dunphy Show" on TV3 (Ireland) tonight. I was most impressed. He performed "The Irish Rover" and "Raglan Road" with Eamonn Campbell (The Dubliners, Paul Harrigan (Woods Band), and Terry Woods. Apparently, Ronnie Drew is also involved with this project called "The Hellfire Club". Shane was very funny and his intelligence was well demonstrated throughout the interview. There were a few pauses as Shane tried to express himself. He did not look remotely wrecked. He talked about Tipp., poetry, rap music, and casual sex among other things. He got a few laughs from the audience too. The most memorable piece of the show for me was when Shane came over to speak to the host after doing his first song (Irish Rover. Eamon Dunphy, the host, saw Shane with a cigarette while he was singing. As Shane approached him Eamon asked for a drag. Shane motioned that he'd put the cigarette out and said "I'm not allowed to"(smoke in the interview area). When he sat down he spotted a glass of water on Eamon's table and asked could he have it! Strange days indeed! Paul McCluskey, Ireland, (shane's official site guestbook) WEll friends, i know it has mentioned before about shane being on the tele with eamon dunphy and i just wanted to add something.We are new seeing a new shane mcgowan. He has excelled himself twice in the public eye in a week. His attitude and behaviour is better than excellent. Could the wild man that we adore be coming to terms with his brillance and letting us all know as if we didnt know already. Paddy Coen, Eire 32, (shane's official site guestbook) just watched the shane on dunphy interview, for the second time, he seemed alright but he was gettin lost in those pauses, he was funny intelligent and interesting ... hellfire club it all seems a bit out of the blue to me ,he never mentioned the popes in any shape or form,he mentioned the pogues, punk, his origins and after playing the irish rover he said yeah playin with these lads, but gave no details, we shall wait and see...........oh yeah,somehow i dont think because we have seen him here in ireland ,publicy that he has seen the light , so to speak,i am sure that there are people who see him in tipperary alot and dont think hes changed at all... Con, Eire, (shane's official site guestbook) He was interviewed for about 15 minutes, talked about his new DVD, played a song (which I missed) and then played at the end with Eamonn Dunphy, Terry Woods, The guitarist from the Dubliner (Eamonn Campbell?? Not sure of the name, old guy with a beard :) ) and some girl on accordian that I have never seen before. They played On Raglan Road, and not sure what the first song they played was because I was out. For those of you that get this tonight and can tune into TV3, there is a repeat at 11pm this evening. Shane seemed in good form and in a good state when he was being interviewed, there was a few pauses where he was looking for words, but it was a pretty good show. Dunphy asked him if he was planning on recording any new material, or getting back into regular lifestyle...Shane replied saying something about how he was "hoping to be the first person not to die, but if it happens..ah well." But he didn't mention anything about recording new material at all, he just plugged the DVD and then they played Raglan Road. Dave Phillips (via FOS mail) I just got back from Ireland and was lucky enough to see the Shane interview with Dunphy. Firstly, I have to say that I have a new respect for Mr Dunphy. I never liked him before but I thought he was very good in his interview. He showed complete respect for Shane and it was obvious that he really really likes him. Secondly, at the end of the interview he sang Raglan Road. He had a great voice and him and Shane did a great rendition of a classic. The big news for me was that Dunphy referred to the band as Shane's new band. For the life of me I can't remember their name but it certainly was not The Popes. My observations: Shane looks great, was not drunk and looked very respectful. A few friends back home even told me he looks younger and better now than ever. However, he seems to have gained some weight in the belly (what man has'nt). Secondly, he was having a very hard time putting sentences together. It was kind of sad as it reminds me of how Ozzy Ozborne talks after years of substance abuse. Shane was really trying to advertise his DVD and did'nt talk about any new stuff. The same old stuff about growing up in London, family in Tipperary, etc, etc. He talked about his love of Irish poets, etc. The first song he sang was the Irish Rover and I have to say it sounded really, really bad. That's it really. Michael Madden (via FOS ma |
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