Lead singer for the Irish band The Pogues – Shane MacGowan – died November 30, 2023 after a long battle with an infection – encephalitis – at the age of 65. A statement issued by the family noted that Shane died peacefully surrounded by family.
MacGowan was the lead singer and main songwriter for the band.
An icon in contemporary Irish culture, MacGowan and The Pogues are best known for the Christmas ballad “Fairytale of New York”.
He was born Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan on December 25, 1957 in Kent, England. He lived in Ireland until he was six years old when the family moved back to England in London. Prior to being expelled from school at age 14 for drugs, a young Shane had won a number of poetry contests.
After attending a Sex Pistols concert in 1976, MacGown formed his own band he called The Nipple Erectors which was later shortened to The Nips. The band split up in 1980 never having much success.
He spent some time with a band called the Millwall Chainsaws before he and Spider Stacy of the Millwall Chainsaws formed the band The Pogues – originally named Pogue Mahone (Gaelic for “kiss my ass”). When the meaning of the name was discovered, some radio stations refused to play their music and the name was shortened to just The Pogues (sometimes known as the Irish KISS).
MacGowan had developed a voracious need for drugs and alcohol which eventually led to his being fired from the band in 1991.
He formed a new band – The Popes – in 1994 -; which produced some minor success.
He rejoined The Pogues in 2001 and toured with them until 2014.
Along with the various music videos MacGowan did a wee bit of acting; appearing in an episode of “Rab C Nesbit”, an uncredited role in “The Libertine”, the made for television movie “The Ghosts of Oxford Street”, “Eat the Rich”, and “Straight to Hell”.
A devout Irish Republican, MacGowan once said, “I always felt guilty because I didn’t lay down my life for Ireland. I felt ashamed that I didn’t have the guts to join the IRA, so the Pogues was my way of overcoming that guilt.”
His accomplishments include an Ivor Novella Inspiration Award, a Q Merit Award, and a Lifetime Achievement Award that was presented by Irish President Michael D. Higgins.
He is survived by his wife Victoria, sister Siobhan, and father Maurice.
Shane MacGowan discography:
“The Snake”
“The Crock of Gold”
“The Rare Oul’ Stuff”
“Across the Broad Atlantic: Live on Paddy’s Day”
“Rakes Rats Pricks & Kicks: Anthology”
Feature photo credit: Shane MacGowan, Milk club, Moskau, 29.08.2010 mit den Pogues