Shane MacGowan of the Pogues [Update: Dead at 65]
 

What happened to this guy?

http://cache.gettyimages.com/comp/53...57C85AE85A779B

might be the first time i've ever seen a picture of the guy. funny how he looks just like he sounds: drunk and beligerent

He didn't always sound that way. His earlier vocals (on Pogues albums) were much more intelligible.

I think he had more teeth then.... or some teeth then.

Check out this movie:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...v=glance&s=dvd

Is it worth getting? I love offbeat rock documentaries.

I can't believe that ugly fucker got even worse looking than the last time I saw him. :eek:

It's definately worth seeing. I don't own it, but I rented it awhile ago and enjoyed it.

I understand the rest of The Pogues kicked him out of the band because he was doing to much LSD. I imagine his physical state is due to too many drinks, barfights, etc.

I've never heard the LSD thing. I always heard it was drinking.

I was worried when he looked like this:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...CLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

my...precious!

fucker looks like gollum!

In that picture at the top, he looks like he's in such bad a shape that he can't even give someone the finger properly-like he can't get his index finger to go under his thumb.

I think he's giving the British version of "up yours"...

Shane's been very active lately. Last December all the original members of the Pogues reunited for a series of shows that got very good reviews (in mags like "Q", "Mojo", and "Uncut"), and they're getting together again this July for more live shows. In between, Shane plays gigs with his current band the Popes. There's even been a recent report that he's going to get a set of teeth. I own the documentary "If I Should Fall From Grace", mentioned above, and I really like it. Lots of music videos, concert and tv footage, plus lots of footage of Shane and his then girlfriend--Victoria Mary Clarke--and other friends, family and band members being interviewed, and just being followed around by the camera. Some of it's kind of hard to watch because Shane's so drunk and basically incoherent. But, the music's great!

Yeah, the documentary is great. His albums with the Popes are ok, not as good as the Pogues albums, though. Amazing, his teeth are finally gone, looks like... there were a few still hanging on in "If I Should Fall from Grace with God"!

I saw the Pogues a few times back in the day, they were unbeatable live. The final time I saw them (Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1989) was during their downfall ("Hell's Ditch" tour). Shane came out on stage, stumbled through (mangling) the lyrics of the opener, "Boat Train", shouted "F*** you and your f***ing Batman!" and left the stage.

Yes, Tim Burton's Batman had just opened, guess he didn't like it. The rest of the band stood around looking at each other, Spider went back to check on Shane.

About 10 minutes later, Spider came out and said "He's too F***ing pissed to sing. But you'll still have a show". Spider then took over vocals for most of the set, with Terry Woods filling in from time to time. Philip Chevron sang "Thousands are Sailing", a song which he wrote.

It was actually a great show. The band showed how solidly they worked without the drunk in the front. I love Shane's stuff when he's sober, but I was very happily surprised by how good the Shaneless Pogues could be.

The Pogues first three albums will always be among my favorites.

Blind Pig?

Great story, btw.

Glad you like it ; )

No, I can't remember the exact name of the place, but was a smaller University of Michigan-owned concert venue. The one by Thayer, not the big one... it was normally used for classical music(!).

It was really weird to have assigned seating at a Pogues show.

The previous times I'd seen them were at Todd's Sway Bar (on 8 mile) on a "Poguetry in Motion" tour (Joe Strummer played onstage with them) and St. Andrew's Hall on the "If I Should Fall from Grace with God" tour. Appropriately, seating was not an option at these places ; )

My best friend :D

Seeing them Friday, possibly. Psyched!

A lot of ignorant gobshite comments in this thread and a lot of mis-information.

The documentary is great, but also depressing for fans of Shane, but I believe he has been doing much better lately. Good for him Tiocfaidh ar La.

The documentary is great. The Pogues are great.

His last tooth fell out a couple of weeks ago.

I saw the Pogues in Chicago last Monday and can say that they still put on a GREAT show. Shane was in great shape and the band was at their best.

Unfortunately, Shane broke his leg in Boston on the 11th, which caused one of the NY shows to be cancelled. He is finishing the the final shows of the tour, Philly tonight and back to NY on Sat., from a wheelchair.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...a/IMG_0427.jpg

yeah, the pogues are still an amazing live act (wish i could say the same for the popes), but when i saw them in la a few months back, it was the worst crowd i had ever been. the band was more than good enough to make up for it.

Awesome show, awesome crowd, totally worth every penny. Very glad I did catch them.

Bump. Going to see them in NYC this weekend. And to think a year ago I couldn't even hum one of their songs.

i saw the pogues last week in chicago, the second of 2 nights, and they were awesome. shane could hardly walk but he sounded great and killed on all the songs, funny how guys like vince neil cant do it but shane sure can. it was well worth the very very very long time ive been waiting to see shane.

the crowd sucked until the last few songs but thats chicago for ya.

I hate you guys. Seriously. Closest show is in Baltimore. :(

Yay! Less than 24 hours left. The show I saw them was, far and away, the best live show of any band I've ever seen. And the guy was in a wheelchair. I hope they can repeat themselves.

Another awesome show!

Audio is not very good during the louder parts, the video isn't complete. Sorry, limitations of my camera. :)

re: Shane MacGowan of the Pogues [Update: Dead at 65]
 

atlantamoi, they're playing in Atlanta this year. You going?

I just got face-value tickets for one of the NYC shows. One of my most anticipated days of the year.

:dance: :dance: :dance:

re: Shane MacGowan of the Pogues [Update: Dead at 65]
 

I sure hope so! I'm very excited they are coming to Atlanta. My wife will be out of town with our kid so that actually will make it easier for me to go. I never buy tix through Ticketmaster and will just try and pick one up on Ebay or Craigslist a week beforehand. I really hope I can get in. If so, I'll be very stoked.

Morrissey is playing in a small theater three days before and I might try and squeeze into that gig as well.

re: Shane MacGowan of the Pogues [Update: Dead at 65]
 

One month to go!

re: Shane MacGowan of the Pogues [Update: Dead at 65]
 

My wife worked at a music store when this album came out. We cutout the head from the promo cardboard flats and wore it around as a mask. It was horrendous. :lol:

re: Shane MacGowan of the Pogues [Update: Dead at 65]
 

I'm going to the Atlanta show at the Tabernacle in March. Glad I'm finally able to see them live.

.

re: Shane MacGowan of the Pogues [Update: Dead at 65]
 

The Bus, do you still have tickets for an NYC gig? I hear they cancelled Thursday night.
I just got back from the Atlanta show and it was a lot fun. Shane was unintelligible between songs. Funny. Just glad he's able to get up on stage. I realized that when I listen to Pogues albums I like the variety of Shane vs. Spider and the concert was almost all Shane. Would have enjoyed just a bit more variety, but I enjoyed it. Glad I caught them!

re: Shane MacGowan of the Pogues [Update: Dead at 65]
 

Looks like Thursday's show will be happening on Saturday. I guess Roseland will be twice as packed? Hard to imagine how exactly that will work since I assume both shows were sold out. Why didn't they sell close to capacity?

I'm seeing them Friday though. Can't wait.