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