The Pogues
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Biography
Universally revered for one of the greatest Christmas records ever â âFairytale Of New Yorkâ (featuring Kirsty MacColl) - the Pogues burst out of the ashes of punk to take Irish folk music by the scruff of the neck and launch a new generation of wild and frenzied dancing. The group was founded in London, England in 1982 by hard-drinking, tooth-challenged singer singer-songwriter Shane MacGowan (formerly the leader of punk band The Nipple Erectors / The Nips), who wanted to add a punk spin to the Irish folk songs he'd learned while growing up in Tipperary, Ireland. The original line-up of the band also included Spider Stacy (vocals / tin whistle), Jem Finer (banjo / guitar / vocals), James Fearnley (accordion / mandolin), Andrew Ranken (drums), and Cait OâRiordan (bass). Originally called Pogue Mahone (Irish for âkiss my arseâ), they released their first single, âDark Streets Of London,â and their debut album, Red Roses for Me, in 1984. Although the album was not an enormous commercial success, The Pogues quickly built an avid following with their ramshackle, good-time gigs. Amid stories of alcohol-fueled mayhem, however, MacGowan emerged as an inspired songwriter, writing richly evocative songs like âA Pair Of Brown Eyesâ and âSally MacLennane,â both of which were featured on their sophomore album, the Elvis Costello-produced Rum, Sodomy & the Lash (1985). This album thrust the band into the spotlight, and they became an international sensation. Their Poguetry in Motion EP (1986) was another success and included âRainy Night in Soho,â another classic in the groupâs catalog. In late 1987, The Pogues released the single âFairytale of New York,â a collaboration with singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which went on to become the groupâs best-known song as well as being considered a Christmas classic. The single - which reached number 1 in Ireland and hit the Top 10 in the UK, Norway, and New Zealand - was included on their critically acclaimed 1988 album If I Should Fall from Grace with God. The album Peace and Love (1989) was also a success, but MacGowanâs heavy drinking began to affect his songwriting and performing, and he became increasingly unreliable. In 1990, The Pogues released the album Hellâs Ditch and after a chaotic show on their 1991 tour, Shane MacGowan was kicked out of the band. Without their leader, the band recruited former Clash leader Joe Strummer for a tour before Spider Stacy took over most lead vocals. The bandâs first MacGowan-less album was Waiting for Herb (1993), which included the international hit âTuesday Morning.â However, after the departure of several longtime members and the lukewarm response to their 1996 album Pogue Mahone, the band officially split up. However, the band reunited with MacGowan in 2001 and underwent a successful UK tour. Although they never released another studio album, The Pogues continued to do critically acclaimed short tours up through August 2014, when they split up for good. Philip Chevron died from esophageal cancer on October 8, 2013, at the age of 56. Longtime bassist Darryl Hunt died on August 8, 2022, at the age of 72. Shane MacGowan died from pneumonia on November 30, 2023, at the age of 65.
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Albums
Top Tracks
- Track Popularity
- I Fought The Law
- London Calling
- Dirty Old Town
- Dark Streets of London
- Transmetropolitan
- Streams Of Whiskey
- If I Should Fall From Grace With God
- Thousands Are Sailing
- Sally MacLennane
- Young Ned of the Hill
- I'm A Man You Don't Meet Every Day
- The Auld Triangle (The John Peel Show) [as Pogue Mahone] [April 1984]
- Poor Paddy On The Railway (The David 'Kid' Jensen Show) [July 1984]
- Dingle Regatta (The David 'Kid' Jensen Show) [July 1984]
- Whiskey You're The Devil (The John Peel Show) [December 1984]
- Connemara, Let's Go (The David 'Kid' Jensen Show) [July 1984]
- Navigator (The John Peel Show) [December 1984]
- The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
- The Irish Rover
- The Gentleman Soldier
- Billy's Bones
- Six to Go
- Navigator
- A Pair Of Brown Eyes (The Phil Kennedy Show) [March 1985]
