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Oracle of DelphiShane MacGowan: From the Pogues and back again
July 13th 2006 01:15
Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan (b. 25 December 1957 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England) is an Irish musician. He is best known for his involvement with The Pogues as their original vocalist, and is considered one of the most important and poetic songwriters of the last thirty years, often echoing his influences such as Brendan Behan in his writing style.
MacGowan drew on his Irish heritage to create The Pogues, a band that he founded, but was away from during a long hiatus during the 1990s. He has written songs that many consider of astonishing beauty, though their lyricism is sometimes obscured by the quick, rough performance and folk-punk sound of the band, as well as his slurred voice. Many of his songs are influenced by Irish nationalism, Irish history, the experiences of the Irish in London and in London life in general. MacGowan has often cited the 19th century Irish poet, James Clarence Mangan, as well as author/poet/playwright (and IRA member), Brendan Behan, as influences.
Since leaving The Pogues, he has formed a new band, Shane MacGowan and The Popes.
The Pogues and MacGowan re-formed for a sold out tour in 2001 and re-formed again in 2004, 2005, 2006 for two further sold out tours, including headline slots at Guilfest (UK) and Azkena Rock Fesitval (Spain). In 2005, The Pogues re-released "Fairytale of New York," one of their signature songs, to raise funds for the Justice for Kirsty Campaign and Crisis at Christmas. The single was the best selling festive-themed single of 2005, reaching #3 in the UK Singles Charts. The newly reformed Pogues are embarking on their first US tour in over a decade, which has also completely sold out.
In 2006, he was voted 50th in the NME Rock Heroes List.
MacGowan has always been a complex, contrary so-and-so. A self confesed alcoholic his songs are like the man: uncouth, belligerent but with streaks of insight and sensitivity. The latter wasn't immediately apparent when he had his first stab at notoriety as Shane O'Hooligan. MacGowan had arrived in the 1976 London punk scene after growing up in a Tipperary farmhouse (where a large extended family gave him Guinness aged just five) and a scholarship at Westminster public school that ended in drug-related disgrace after six months. Then, as now, his diet was literature (Brendan Behan, Ernest Hemingway, Oscar Wilde, The A to Z of Communism . . .) washed down with whatever was available. However, he has attained a level of fame and, to some, notoriety, that he surely never dreamed was possible as a young man.
If you don't know the Pogues music I definitely recommend you get into it. And McGowan himself has to be one of the most fascinating contemporary musicians.
Shane MacGowan on the cover of the 1994 album The Snake by Shane MacGowan and The Popes.
MacGowan drew on his Irish heritage to create The Pogues, a band that he founded, but was away from during a long hiatus during the 1990s. He has written songs that many consider of astonishing beauty, though their lyricism is sometimes obscured by the quick, rough performance and folk-punk sound of the band, as well as his slurred voice. Many of his songs are influenced by Irish nationalism, Irish history, the experiences of the Irish in London and in London life in general. MacGowan has often cited the 19th century Irish poet, James Clarence Mangan, as well as author/poet/playwright (and IRA member), Brendan Behan, as influences.
Since leaving The Pogues, he has formed a new band, Shane MacGowan and The Popes.
The Pogues and MacGowan re-formed for a sold out tour in 2001 and re-formed again in 2004, 2005, 2006 for two further sold out tours, including headline slots at Guilfest (UK) and Azkena Rock Fesitval (Spain). In 2005, The Pogues re-released "Fairytale of New York," one of their signature songs, to raise funds for the Justice for Kirsty Campaign and Crisis at Christmas. The single was the best selling festive-themed single of 2005, reaching #3 in the UK Singles Charts. The newly reformed Pogues are embarking on their first US tour in over a decade, which has also completely sold out.
In 2006, he was voted 50th in the NME Rock Heroes List.
MacGowan has always been a complex, contrary so-and-so. A self confesed alcoholic his songs are like the man: uncouth, belligerent but with streaks of insight and sensitivity. The latter wasn't immediately apparent when he had his first stab at notoriety as Shane O'Hooligan. MacGowan had arrived in the 1976 London punk scene after growing up in a Tipperary farmhouse (where a large extended family gave him Guinness aged just five) and a scholarship at Westminster public school that ended in drug-related disgrace after six months. Then, as now, his diet was literature (Brendan Behan, Ernest Hemingway, Oscar Wilde, The A to Z of Communism . . .) washed down with whatever was available. However, he has attained a level of fame and, to some, notoriety, that he surely never dreamed was possible as a young man.
If you don't know the Pogues music I definitely recommend you get into it. And McGowan himself has to be one of the most fascinating contemporary musicians.
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