The Pogues star Shane MacGowan, best known for Christmas hit Fairytale Of New York, dies at 65

by MrTuxedo1

34 comments
  1. RIP Shane one of our greatest musicians. Guess we know what Christmas No1 will be.

  2. That’s The Pogues getting played for the rest of the day….

    RIP lad!

  3. He lived longer than most people (including himself!) might have expected. RIP.

  4. I’d normally say gone way too soon for a 65 year old talent, but in this case it’s more a case of gone way too late, how he ever made it this far is beyond me.

    I saw him live about 25 years ago in the Olympia and he had to be helped onstage to the mic. I remember when he was off stage for a while one of his band members said he had gone to assemble his crack pipe.

    His wife was posting photos of him from hospital online, looking barely alive, why the fuck would anyone do that…

    Anyway RIP Shane, you had some great songs, hope you’re at peace now.

  5. Christy Dignam, Sinead O’Connor and now Shane MacGowan. They were all in their 50’s and 60’s as well. This year has been a huge loss for Irish music. Rest in Peace

  6. Ní bheidh a leithead arís ann. What a legend this man was. May he rest in peace.

  7. You either got the Pogues and Shane or you didn’t.
    A great singer in the sense of an old style Irish folk singer. A story telling voice full of character.

    I love Shane and so glad I was alive to enjoy his music. Had the pleasure of being part of the sound crew for an Irish tour and got to meet him.

    Fare thee well, going away, there’s nothing left to say

  8. His performance of the Irish Rover with Ronnie Drew is the greatest live performance of that song of all time. Nothing can touch the Dubliners with the Pogues. A legendary figure of the genre lost today.

  9. RIP Shane

    “You’re the measure of my dreams” is probably my favourite single line lyric of all time

    The Pogues/pope’s gigs in the Olympia around Christmas for years were insane. Before I went to my first one, a friend described it like being at a game when a goal is scored… All the time. He wasn’t wrong.

  10. Shane was an absolute legend of Irish music, this is a huge loss even if it isn’t an unexpected one.

    RIP Shane, the world will mourn for you this Christmas.

  11. Devastated. The guy was a genius. His work will live on and his legacy is immense.

    He will be regarded in the same light as Shelley, Thomas De Quincy, William Burroughs. I think he could have had a far bigger legacy only for the drink and drugs but not the time or place to say that.

    He had a real poetic sensibility to his work. RIP.

    “If I should fall from grace with God,

    Where no doctor can relieve me,

    If I’m buried ‘neath the sod,

    But the angels won’t receive me,

    Let me go, boys,

    Let me go, boys,

    Let me go down in the mud,

    Where the rivers all run dry”

  12. He’s in the same vein as Luke Kelly, The Dubliners, the Clancy Brothers, Rory Gallagher, Van Morrison, Christy Moore, etc.

    Just an utter legend of Irish music.

    Not only were The Pogues a fantastic outfit, but they created an entire genre of music that bands like The Mary Wallopers and The Scratch (in Ireland) and that whole genre of Irish-American bands have created a life on.

    And on top of that he wrote some of the most gorgeous songs ever produced from this island.

    Just a titan. Rest in Peace. Hopefully he isn’t troubled any more.

  13. Ah jaysus, feckin tears on a work call here lads. Lord rest him.

  14. Rum, Sodomy & The Lash turned up to 11 as we speak. One of the greatest song writers we’ve produced. RIP to a legend.

  15. **May the wind that blows from haunted graves**
    **Never bring you misery**
    **May the angels bright watch you tonight**
    **And keep you while you sleep**

    -RIP Mister MacGowan

  16. “May the angels bright watch you tonight and keep you while you sleep”
    ~Shane MacGowan

    RIP

  17. One of the all time greats – thanks for everything Shane

  18. Big fan and I got to go on the piss with him once. A gentleman and funny cunt.

  19. Ah, man. That hits me. None of us can say we didn’t see it coming but still and all. A loss. Thanks for the music, Shane, it will always have a place in my heart.

  20. Was down in Tipp once at my mates house and he came back from the pub for a few drinks. Who could say no to Shane MacGowan.

    He drank the place dry, didn’t leave for three days.

    Told stories the whole time, had some fairly choice words about Louis Walsh, Twink and Gerry Ryan. Mad stories. RIP Shane

  21. RIP Shane, what a wordsmith.

    It’s funny how everyone’s been expecting this one doesn’t hit 1/4 as hard as Sinead.

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