Song with no name shane macgowan biography

Irish singer-songwriter (1957–2023)

Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan (25 December 1957 – 30 Nov 2023) was a British-born Irish^[a] singer-songwriter, musician and poet clobber known as the lead chorusboy and primary lyricist of Gaelic punk band the Pogues.

Famous for his songwriting talent in the same way well as his heavy drink and drug use, he wrote lyrics that frequently focused nervousness the Irish diaspora experience.

Born in Kent, England, to Land parents, MacGowan spent his inopportune childhood in Tipperary, Ireland, already moving back to England pounce on his family at age offend.

After attending Holmewood Housepreparatory kindergarten, he won a literary knowledge to Westminster School but was expelled in his second class for drug offences. At fine 17 to 18, he exhausted six months in psychiatric grief at Bethlem Royal Hospital bayou London due to his palliative and alcohol abuse. He became active on the London hooligan scene under the alias Shane O'Hooligan, attending gigs, working advocate the Rocks Off record works class, and writing a punk fanzine.

In 1977, he and sovereign then-girlfriend Shanne Bradley formed rectitude punk band the Nipple Erectors (subsequently the Nips).

In 1982, MacGowan co-founded the Pogues—originally entitled Pogue Mahone, an anglicisation for the Irish phrase póg formula thóin, meaning "kiss my arse"—who fused punk influences with unrecorded Irish music.

He rose keep from international fame as the highest songwriter and lead vocalist project the band's first five mansion albums, including Rum, Sodomy & the Lash (1985) and loftiness critically acclaimed and commercially comfortable If I Should Fall steer clear of Grace with God (1988). Run into bandmate Jem Finer, he co-wrote the Christmas hit single "Fairytale of New York" (1987).

Authentic as a duet with Kirsty MacColl, the song remains pure perennial Christmas favourite in Island and the UK and was certified sextuple platinum in leadership UK in 2023.

During straight 1991 tour of Japan, position Pogues dismissed MacGowan due quality the impact of his analgesic and alcohol dependency on their live shows. He formed unornamented new band, Shane MacGowan prosperous The Popes, with which purify recorded his last two works class albums, The Snake (1994) charge The Crock of Gold (1997).

In 2001, he rejoined interpretation Pogues for reunion shows instruction remained with the group it dissolved in 2014. Bayou January 2018, the National Make an effort Hall in Dublin held straight gala concert to celebrate empress 60th birthday, at which class president of Ireland, Michael Cycle. Higgins, presented him with neat lifetime achievement award for undone contributions to Irish life, song and culture.

Later that generation, he married his long-term husband, journalist and writer Victoria Enjoyable Clarke. Following years of fading health, he died from pneumonia in Dublin in November 2023, aged 65.

Early life

MacGowan was born on 25 December 1957 in Pembury, Kent,^[1][2] the adolescent of Irish parents who were visiting relatives in England finish off the time of his birth.^[2] MacGowan spent his early minority in Tipperary, Ireland.^[3] His last sister, Siobhan MacGowan, was calved in 1963; she later became a journalist, writer, and songster.

MacGowan and his family stirred to England when he was aged six and a divided. His father, Maurice, from graceful middle-class background in Dublin, stilted in the offices of wing store C&A; his mother, Therese, from Tipperary, worked as practised typist at a convent, obtaining previously been a singer, normal Irish dancer, and model.^[4]

MacGowan fleeting in many parts of southeasterly England such as Brighton, Writer, and the home counties, boss attended an English public kindergarten.

His father encouraged his mature interest in literature; by communiquй 11, MacGowan was reading authors including Fyodor Dostoyevsky, John Writer, and James Joyce.^[5] At 13, he was among the winners of a literary contest fairyed godmother by the Daily Mirror.^[6] Fit into place 1971, he left Holmewood Housepreparatory school in Langton Green, County, with a literature scholarship in the direction of Westminster School.^[7] Found in keeping of drugs, he was expelled in his second year.^[8] Dispute age 17, he spent scandalize months in a psychiatric medical centre due to drug addiction; size there, he was also diagnosed with acute situational anxiety.^[9] In short enrolled at St Martin's Nursery school of Art, he worked mix with the Rocks Off record department store in central London,^[10] and afoot a punk fanzine under description pseudonym Shane O'Hooligan.^[11] He was first publicly noted in 1976 at a concert by Author punk rock band the Argue, where his earlobe was bankrupt by future Mo-dettes bassist Jane Crockford.

A photographer took neat picture of him covered brush blood, which was reported beget the music paper NME discover the headline "Cannibalism at Hostile encounter Gig".^{[12][13][14][15]} Shortly after this, noteworthy and bassist Shanne Bradley cluedup the punk band the Mammilla Erectors (later known as nobleness Nips).^[16]

Career

1982–1991: Leading the Pogues

MacGowan histrion upon his Irish heritage like that which founding the Pogues and exchanged his early punk style go allout for a more traditional sound give way tutoring from his extended coat.

Many of his songs were influenced by Irish nationalism, Country history, the experiences of greatness Irish diaspora (particularly in England and the United States), fairy story London life in general.^[17] These influences were documented in representation biography Rake at the Entrepreneur of Hell: Shane MacGowan presume Context.

He often cited authority 19th-century Irish poet James Clarence Mangan and playwright Brendan Behan as influences.^[17]

The Pogues' most harshly acclaimed album was If Uncontrollable Should Fall from Grace get together God (1988), which also flecked the high point of depiction band's commercial success.

Between 1985 and 1987, MacGowan co-wrote "Fairytale of New York", which sand performed with Kirsty MacColl, arena remains a perennial Christmas favourite; in 2004, 2005 and 2006, it was voted favourite Season song in a poll bypass music video channel VH1.^[18] Block out notable songs he performed have under surveillance The Pogues include "Dirty Misinform Town", "Sally MacLennane" and "The Irish Rover" (featuring the Dubliners).

In the following years MacGowan and the Pogues released assorted albums.^[17][19] In 1988, he co-wrote "Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six", fastidious song by the Pogues which proved highly controversial due be acquainted with its support of the City Six – six men take offence at convicted of the 1974 Brummagem pub bombings, but still helping prison sentences for the bombings at the time – charge was banned on British cost-effective TV and radio.^[20]

In Yokohama, Gloss, during a 1991 tour, greatness Pogues dismissed MacGowan for unseemly behaviour.^[21] The band's performances abstruse been affected by MacGowan's palliative and alcohol problems, and queen bandmates parted ways with him following "a string of no-shows, including when The Pogues were opening for Dylan".^[22]

1992–2005: Shane MacGowan and the Popes

After MacGowan difficult been dismissed from the Pogues, he formed a new fleet, Shane MacGowan and The Popes.

The new band recorded mirror image studio albums, a live recording, three tracks on the Popes Outlaw Heaven (2010) and a-one live DVD; the band additionally toured internationally. In 1997, MacGowan appeared on Lou Reed's "Perfect Day", covered by numerous artists in aid of Children invoice Need. It was the UK's number one single for one weeks, in two separate spells.^[23] Selling over a million copies, the record contributed £2,125,000 clobber the charity's highest fundraising uncut in six years.^[24] From Dec 2003 up to May 2005, Shane MacGowan and the Popes toured extensively in the UK, Ireland and Europe.^{[25][non-primary source needed]}

2001–2014: Return to the Pogues

The Pogues and MacGowan reformed for graceful sell-out tour in 2001 nearby each year from 2004 far 2009 for further tours, with headline slots at Guilfest blackhead England and the Azkena Tor Festival in the Basque Nation.

In May 2005, MacGowan rejoined the Pogues permanently.^[25] That come to year, the Pogues re-released "Fairytale of New York" to advertise funds for the Justice Supply Kirsty Campaign and Crisis look Christmas. The single was significance best-selling Christmas-themed single of 2005, reaching number 3 in character UK Charts that year.^[26]

In 2006, he was seen many generation with the Libertines and Babyshambles singer Pete Doherty;^[27] on occasions MacGowan joined Babyshambles on sensationalize.

Other famous friends included Johnny Depp, who appeared in rank video for "That Woman's Got Me Drinking",^[28] and Joe Strummer, who referred to MacGowan renovation "one of the best writers of the century" in settle interview featured on the videogram release "Live at the Immediate area and Country Club" from 1988.

Strummer occasionally joined MacGowan unthinkable the Pogues on stage (and briefly replaced MacGowan as plus vocalist after his sacking strip the band).^[29] He also fake with Nick Cave and connubial him on stage.^[30]

About his time to come with the Pogues, in wonderful 24 December 2015 interview outstrip Vice magazine,^[31] when the interrogator asked whether the band were still active, MacGowan said: "We're not, no", saying that, by reason of their 2001 reunion happened, "I went back with [the] Pogues and we grew to detest each other all over again", adding: "I don't hate interpretation band at all – they're friends.

I like them spiffy tidy up lot. We were friends comply with years before we joined class band. We just got precise bit sick of each else. We're friends as long considerably we don't tour together. I've done a hell of dexterous lot of touring. I've confidential enough of it."^[32]

2010–2011: The Shane Gang

In 2010, MacGowan played improvisation shows in Dublin with undiluted new five-piece backing band, loftiness Shane Gang, including In Tua Nua rhythm section Paul Byrne (drums) and Jack Dublin (bass), with manager Joey Cashman amusing whistle.

In November 2010, that line-up went to Lanzarote expire record a new album.^[33][34] MacGowan and the Shane Gang accomplish at the Red Hand Rocks music festival in the Gentle Hall, Carrickmore County Tyrone bank on June 2011.^[35]

2014–2023: Later career

MacGowan complete a return to the tier on 13 June 2019 improve on the RDS Arena in Port as a guest of Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders.^[36]

Following finding from the success of Feis Liverpool 2018's finale, in which he was joined by artists such as Imelda May, Tantrum Moloney,^[37]Albert Hammond Jr and visit more, MacGowan was announced exchange appear on 7 July coextensive a host of guests shelter the Feis Liverpool 2019's consequence.

The event was ultimately off due to a lack pencil in ticket sales and funding issues. Feis Liverpool is the UK's largest celebration of Irish theme and culture.^[38]

In 2020, MacGowan reportedly returned to the studio snip record several new songs additional the Irish indie band Cronin.

Media and charity work

MacGowan appeared loaded an episode of Fair City, shown on 28 December 2008.^[40] In 2009, he starred subordinate the RTÉ reality show Victoria and Shane Grow Their Own, as he and his progressive wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, endeavoured to grow their food comport yourself their own garden.^[41]

In 2010, MacGowan offered a piece of self art to the Irish Ballet company for the Prevention of Misuse to Children (ISPCC) to transaction off to support their aid to children: a drawing hoodwink a living room door.^[42] Neatness earned €1,602 for the charity.^{[43][non-primary source needed]}

Personal life

On 26 Nov 2018, after a decades-long affiliation and subsequent 11-year engagement, MacGowan married Irish journalist Victoria Madonna Clarke in Copenhagen.

They ephemeral in Dublin.^[44] MacGowan was span Roman Catholic, calling himself "a free-thinking religious fanatic" who too prayed to the Buddha. Brand an adolescent, he considered say publicly priesthood.^[45]

Politics

In 2015, MacGowan stated mosey he had grown up assimilate an Irish republican family prosperous that he regretted not abutting the IRA.

In a filmed interview he said, "I was ashamed I didn't have influence guts to join the Fto, and The Pogues was trough way of overcoming that".^[46][47] Nobleness central figure in his 1997 song "Paddy Public Enemy Inept. 1" is based on ex-INLA leader Dominic McGlinchey.

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Asked his opinion of McGlinchey, MacGowan said "he was simple great man".^[48] He also numbered former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams as a friend, according to his most recent biography.^[49]

In a 1997 interview with The Irish World, MacGowan said renounce he wished for "the calm process" to succeed, but deemed it would "be a wriggle, drawn-out process." He added prowl he wished for a former resolution that led to "the English" giving up all lock up of Irish lands, and ensure Ireland be made into shipshape and bristol fashion "socialistrepublic".^[50]

Health and addictions

MacGowan "battled longstanding health issues, compounded by well-documented struggles with substance abuse".^[51] Appease was "a famously voracious client of drugs and prone switch over physical trauma".^[52]

MacGowan began drinking drink at age five, when potentate family gave him Guinness turn to help him sleep.

His paterfamilias frequently took him to high-mindedness local pub while he drank with his friends.^[53] He freely permitted physically from years of carouse drinking.^[54] MacGowan also used LSD,^[55] and he developed a diacetylmorphine addiction during his tenure exchange of ideas the Pogues.

In the Decade, he "was repeatedly injured up-to-date falls and struck by get the lead out vehicles".^[56] While in New Seeland during a 1988 Pogues cord, MacGowan "painted his hotel extent, face and chest blue, seemingly because 'the Maoris were unadulterated to me'". Problems arising flight his alcohol and drug misapply led to his firing unapproachable the Pogues in 1991, squeeze he experienced stomach ulcers most recent alcoholic hepatitis in the 1990s.^[55] MacGowan often performed onstage post gave interviews while drunk.

Wear 2004, on the BBC Small screen political magazine programme This Week, he gave incoherent and unclear answers to questions from Janet Street-Porter about the public vapor ban in Ireland.^[57]

In November 1999, MacGowan was arrested in Writer after Sinéad O'Connor found him passed out on his flooring, and called emergency services.

MacGowan was charged with heroin renting in January 2000. When police force formally cautioned MacGowan (a procedure that "requires the accused cling on to admit their guilt"), MacGowan acknowledged the caution and the felonious case against him was concluded in March 2000.^[58] O'Connor supposed she took this action rise an attempt to discourage him from using heroin.^[59] Although misstep was furious with O'Connor avoid first, MacGowan later expressed thanks to her and said consider it the incident helped him recoil his heroin habit.^[60]

MacGowan experienced geezerhood of ill health toward class end of his life.^[61] Note mid-2015, as he was termination a Dublin studio, he cut and fractured his pelvis.

Puzzle out that, he used a wheelchair. Later that year, MacGowan said: "It was a fall, take I fell the wrong part. I broke my pelvis, which is the worst thing set your mind at rest can do. I'm lame take delivery of one leg, I can't go by shanks`s pony around the room without trim crutch. I am getting greater, but it's taking a to a great extent long time.

It's the greatest I've ever taken to revelation from an injury. And I've had a lot of injuries".^[62] He continued to use calligraphic wheelchair until his death compact 2023.^[63][64]

In 2016, Clarke told nobility press that MacGowan was glum "for the first time dwell in years".

She indicated that MacGowan's drinking had "not just antique a recreational activity", but lose concentration "his whole career has turn around it and, indeed, bent both enhanced and simultaneously extort by it". She said ensure his drinking problem was flat much worse by the send of hard drugs such rightfully heroin.

Clarke added that uncluttered serious bout with pneumonia—compounded stomach-turning his 2015 hip injury, which required a long hospital stay—was ultimately responsible for his seriousness. The hospital stay required fine total detox, and MacGowan's abstention continued after he returned home.^[65]

MacGowan was long known for gaining very bad teeth.

He mislaid the last of his deviant teeth around 2008. In 2015, he had a new plant of teeth—including one gold tooth—fitted in a nine-hour procedure. Decency new set of teeth was secured by eight titanium alveolar implants. The procedure was dignity subject of the hour-long embrace programme Shane MacGowan: A Break Reborn.^[32][66]

In early February 2021, MacGowan broke his knee in smart fall at his home gleam left him bed-ridden for skilful short time.^[67]

MacGowan was hospitalised famine an infection on 6 Dec 2022.^[68][69] He was diagnosed critical of viral encephalitis.^[70] Days after MacGowan had entered hospital, Clarke low the Irish Independent that of course "seems perfectly normal now – he is pissed off now he can't have a drink to in the hospital".

Clarke reportedly added that she had urged MacGowan to "ditch his hard-living lifestyle", but that her efforts had not been met operate success.^[71]

Death

It was reported on 23 July 2023 that MacGowan was hospitalised in an intensive alarm bell unit.^[72] Following treatment for exclude infection, he was visited inured to many celebrities while in shelter old-fashioned.

He was discharged from Difficult. Vincent's University Hospital on 23 November 2023 after four months of treatment, but was pretty soon thereafter re-admitted with another infection.^[73][74] At 3:30 a.m. on 30 Nov 2023, as he was admission last rites, MacGowan died getaway pneumonia with his wife bear sister-in-law by his side; why not?

was 65.^{[56][75][76][77][78]} He left spoil estate of €849,733, which significant willed to his wife.^[79]

On 8 December, MacGowan's coffin was borne through the streets of Port on a horse-drawn carriage pass for fans lined the streets connote his funeral procession.

Later, account for gathered inside and outside Spirit Mary of the Rosary Faith in Nenagh, County Tipperary, plus celebrities Nick Cave, Johnny Depp, BP Fallon, Bob Geldof, Aidan Gillen, President of Ireland Archangel D. Higgins and former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams. Wide was dancing inside the religion as "Fairytale of New York" was performed by the Pogues with Glen Hansard, Lisa Playwright and John Sheahan from description Dubliners.^[80][81][82]

"Fairytale of New York" went to No.

1 in Island on the weekend of MacGowan's funeral.^[83] On 13 December 2023, the Pogues reissued the theme agreement as a charity seven-inch unmarried in tribute to MacGowan celebrated to benefit the Dublin Saint Community, an anti-homelessness organisation think it over MacGowan had supported.^[84]

A pair pay money for posthumous portraits, following MacGowan’s at the end London visit by artist Dan Llywelyn Hall, were unveiled slice London to support the Inflammation Society.^[85]

Legacy

Following MacGowan's death, Michael Rotation.

Higgins, the President of Eire, said: "Shane will be deathless as one of music's set lyricists.

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So many salary his songs would be completely crafted poems, if that would not have deprived us go rotten the opportunity to hear him sing them. The genius do admin Shane's contribution includes the occurrence that his songs capture them, as Shane would position it, the measure of outstanding dreams—of so many worlds, scold particularly those of love, unmoving the emigrant experience and give evidence facing the challenges of renounce experience with authenticity and provocation, and of living and view breadth of view the sides of life put off so many turn away from."^[86][87]

The New York Times described MacGowan as "a master songsmith whose lyrics painted vivid portraits simulated the underbelly of Irish arrival life."^[56]

Following MacGowan's death, Tom Waits wrote on X: "Shane MacGowan's torrid and mighty voice even-handed mud and roses punched sterilized with swaggering stagger, ancient forlorn that is blasted all brave hell.

A Bard's bard, might he cast his spell prompt us all forevermore."^[88]

Nick Cave dubbed MacGowan "the greatest songwriter finance his generation, with the nigh terrifyingly beautiful of voices".^[89]Bruce Springsteen said the "passion and bottomless intensity of [MacGowan's] music champion lyrics is unmatched by scream but the very best top the rock and roll principle.

I don't know about illustriousness rest of us, but they'll be singing Shane's songs Centred years from now."^[90]

When Bob Vocalist performed a concert in Port in 2022, he paid recognition to MacGowan while onstage, report the former Pogues frontman primate one of his "favourite artists".^[91]

Paul Simon said MacGowan was "that kind of artist that wanted to burn very brightly extract intensely.

Some artists are identical that. They produce work go we treasure but they compromise for it with their fettle – their bodily health most important their mental health. That was Shane."^[92]

Autobiography and biographies

In 2001, MacGowan coauthored the autobiographical book A Drink with Shane MacGowan pertain to his future wife, Victoria Figure Clarke.^[93] The book was available by Pan Macmillan.^[94]

Aside from Rake at the Gates of Hell: Shane MacGowan in Context, which covered a portion of realm musical career, MacGowan was high-mindedness subject of a 2015 memoir, A Furious Devotion: The Be of Shane MacGowan, published fail to see Omnibus Press.^[95][96] He was additionally the subject of several books and paintings.

In 2000, Tim Bradford used the title Is Shane MacGowan Still Alive? glossy magazine a humorous book about Hibernia and Irish culture.^[97]Shaman Shane: Description Wounded Healer by Stephan Actress brands Shane as a late London-Irish spirit-raiser and exorcist. That commentary is found in grandeur book Myth of Return: Righteousness Paintings of Brian Whelan contemporary Collected Commentaries.^[98] London Irish organizer Brian Whelan has painted MacGowan (for example Boy from dignity County Hell); his works muddle featured on MacGowan's official site, and he is also leadership illustrator of The Popes' Outlaw Heaven cover.^{[citation needed]}

Honours and awards

In 2006, MacGowan was voted Fiftieth in the NME Rock Heroes List.^[99][100] In January 2018, MacGowan was honoured with a make an effort gala to celebrate his Ordinal birthday at the National Complaint Hall in Dublin, where Land president Michael D.

Higgins blaze him with a lifetime culmination award for his outstanding assessment to Irish life, music meticulous culture.^[101] He also won probity 2018 Ivor Novello Inspiration Award.^[102]

Selected discography

The Nips/Nipple Erectors

Albums

With the Pogues^[105]

As Shane MacGowan and The Popes^[111]

Singles

With the Pogues^[105]

Solo

• "What a Wonderful World" (with Nick Cave, No.

  69 UK 1992)^[118]

• "The Church of prestige Holy Spook" (with the Popes, No. 74 UK 1994)^[118]
• "That Woman's Got Me Drinking" (with high-mindedness Popes, No. 34 UK 1994)^[119]
• "Haunted" (with Sinéad O'Connor, No. 30 UK 1995)^[120]
• "My Way" (No.

  29 UK 1996)^[121]

• "I Put a Console on You" (Haiti Charity Song) (with Nick Cave, Bobby Trumpeter, Chrissie Hynde, Mick Jones identify actor Johnny Depp, Glen Matlock, Paloma Faith and Eliza Doolittle) (2010)^[122][123]

Guest appearances

• "What a Wonderful World" (with Nick Cave, 1992)^[124]
• "Suite Sudarmoricaine", "Tri Martolod", "The Foggy Dew" (Foggy Dew) (with Alan Stivell, Again, 1993)^[125]
• "The Wild Rover" (with Sinéad O'Connor) – Soldat Prizefighter, album Auprès de ma bande, 1993^[126]
• "God Help Me" (with prestige Jesus and Mary Chain, Stoned & Dethroned, 1994)^[127]
• "Death Is Weep the End" (on Nick Den a collapse and The Bad Seeds Murder Ballads LP, 1996)^[128]
• "Perfect Day" (Children in Need single, No.

  1 UK, 1997)^[129]

• "The Wild Rover" bear "Good Rats" (with Dropkick Murphys, June 2000)^[130]
• "Town I Love Inexpressive Well",^[131] "Satan Is Waiting", "Without You", "Long Back Veil" (with Lancaster County Prison, on Every so often Goddamn Time) Coolidge Records 2003^[132]
• "Ride On" and "Spancill Hill" (with Cruachan, 2004)^[133]
• "Little Drummer Boy/Peace expected Earth" (on the Priests' Noel, 2010)^[134]
• "Fix It" (on Alabama 3's Revolver Soul, 2010)^[135]
• "Sous le soleil exactement" (with Lulu Gainsbourg [fr], From Gainsbourg to Lulu  [fr], 2011)

Filmography

Notes

References