Age: 65years old.
*[Memorial subject to changes currently being made.]*
Born: Pembury, (Pembury Maternity Hospital), Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.
Son of Maurice & Therese (Cahill) MacGowan, Shane was born while his parents were visiting his father's sister in England. He said that he had spent 'the first few weeks of life sleeping in a drawer in his auntie's bedroom.'
His birth was registered in January 1958 at Tonbridge, Kent, England with his mum's maiden name recorded as 'Cahill'. His mum was a singer and Irish dancer.
His parents passion for literature and music was passed onto Shane right from the start.
He gave a first performance at 3years old, singing & entertaining on top of the family's kitchen table which 'went down very well'.
Shane's Irish parents returned to Tipperary, Ireland while Shane was still very young & he & his younger sister grew up on a farm in Tipperary, Ireland, whilst their parents worked away most of the time in England.
Shane's Occupation: Poet, Singer & Song Writer.
Frontman of 'The Pogues'.
~
In 2018 Shane MacGowan married Journalist Victoria Mary Clarke at Copenhagen, Denmark.
They had become engaged in 2007.
Famous actor & great friend Johnny Depp played the guitar at their wedding.
On meeting Shane for the first time, he said 'he instantly fell in love' with him after watching him play pool with a pint and guitar in his hand. "There are moments in life when you know this will happen one time and one time only, when you get the opportunity to spend time with greatness."
Victoria met Shane when she was 16years old she said of meeting him that she was "awe-struck.
They started dating 4years later when Victoria was 20 & Shane was 28years old. Writing for The Independent Newspaper, she described their time together as being a 'complicated relationship'. The couple have been together for 32years.
~~~~~~~~
The 2011-2012 Biography & Genealogy Master Index (BGMI) lists Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan.
(Source: Chambers Biographical Dictionary 2011-2012, 9th Edition. London: Chambers Harrap Pub, 2013. (ChamBiD 9).)
In 2015, during Shane's periods of ill-health, after several falls including breaking his pelvis during/leaving a studio in Dublin, Ireland (& later his right knee), was first seen leaving hospital using a wheelchair.
In December 2022 he was hospitalised for viral encephalitis a rare, serious condition of inflammation of the brain.
He spent a few months receiving treatment at St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland after being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the summer of 2023.
Shane returned home on the 22nd November 2023 & spent his last remaining days at home with his wife Victoria & surrounded by his family & close friends.
*
Passed away: 3.30am at home.
Shane is survived by his Journalist wife Victoria, sister Siobhan, an author and songwriter & father Maurice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Life of Shane MacGowan:
c1970 when Shane was 13years old, the gifted avid reader & natural storyteller won a 'Daily Mirror Newspaper Literary Prize'. He was awarded a scholarship in Literature at Westminster School, London, England for his essays.
In 2013 during an interview with 'The Guardian' newspaper, he stated "I didn't last there very long, I got nicked for smoking a joint and was kicked out."
Whilst a young teenager, Shane considered joining the priesthood. His education continued to Art College, but during the 1970's changed his direction as he became heavily influenced by the punk movement in England.
The young musician started his own punk band Nipple Erectors. Shane quite firmly on his rebellious path even at this early stage of his career, rechristened himself Shane O'Hooligan.
In 1976 the band became known as 'The Nips' where they sang as supporting artists to the likes of the MOD groups The Clash and The Jam. He made a demo for Polydor produced by Paul Weller.
He also played guitar with The Millwall Chainsaws 'the prototype for the band that would become Pogue Mahone' (Gaelic póg mo thóin i.e. "Kiss My Arse"). His later [Pogues] band-mate Peter 'Spider' Stacey had formed the band in 1979 with Ollie Watts (drums) and Matt Jacobson (bass). John Hasler, formerly of Madness also joined. In addition to Shane's traditional Irish music background their 'sound' was also inspired by The Dubliners & they renamed themselves The New Republicans, with Shane as the lead singer.
Thereafter In 1982 Shane MacGowan formed & became the lead singer with the London Irish Punk/Folk Band, 'The Pogues' playing Irish and rebel songs. Spider Tracy played the tin-whistle and with Jem Finer on Banjo the band gave a new energy to the anarchy of Punk & their music thrived with a twist of a traditional Celtic-inspired sound.
1985 The Pogues band members consisted of Shane MacGowan (vocals), Jem Finer (banjo & others), Andrew Ranken (drums), Philip Chevron (lead guitarist), Spider Stacy [Peter Richard Stacy] (tin-whistle), Terry Woods (multi instrumentalist), James Fearley (accordion) & Cait O'Riordan (bass).
(Spider Stacy was given the name when he was about 12years old from a girl-friend because of his 'angular body and liquorice legs').
In 1986, Daryll Gatwick Hunt joined as bass player & featured until the last album, Pogue Mahone, in 1996. [Daryll was born on 4.5.1950 in Hampshire, England & passed away 8.8.2022.]
In 1984 The Pogues released their debut album 'Red Roses For Me' & in 1985 there were especially well-known with their newly released album 'Rum, Sodomy and the Lash', produced by Elvis Costello, whilst their commercial peak hit in 1988 'If I Should Fall from Grace with God', which included the 1987's duet "Fairytale of New York" which was written by banjo player Jem Finer & Shane MacGowan. The Irish folk-style ballad was recorded by the London-based band The Pogues at the RAK Studios in Regent's Park, London, England featuring fellow singer & song-writter Kirsty MacColl; Shane & Kirsty never actually recorded the song together in the studio.
The song features a "céilidh bit in the middle in the middle which you can definitely dance to". he said of it. Shane named the song after J. P. Donleavy's 1973 novel A Fairy Tale of New York.
~
It had previously been released on the 23rd November 1987 reaching No.2 in the Charts. "Fairytale of New York" was kept from hitting the No.1 festive spot by the cover version of 'Always On My Mind' by 'The Pet Shop Boys'.
Although throughout the years it is quite clearly the best, most popular song played over the Christmas season making it the biggest earning festive song making £400,000 albeit it has never reached No.1 in the Charts, as yet. By December 2022, the song was certified quintuple platinum in the UK for 3 million combined sales. In an interview in 2020 Shane said of Kirsty, "I was very grateful to Kirsty. I don't think it would have been such a big hit without her contribution."
During the 1980's & 90's the world famous band The Pogues with frontman Shane MacGowan, the punk rebel, also released many well-known singles such as Dirty Old Town, The Irish Rover, A Pair Of Brown Eyes, Dark Streets Of London & Sally MacLennane. The band released five albums between 1984 & 1990, their 1990 & 5th album was namely 'Hell's Ditch' which features songs The Ghost of a Smile, Summer in Siam, Rain Street & popular Sunny Side Of The Street.
Around 1988 Shane was told by medics that he would have to give up drinking or it would kill him.
In 1991 he was sacked by 'The Pogues' due to his constant unreliable & chaotic behaviour, especially influenced by his heavy drinking during the live tours in America & in Japan where he just failed to turn-up.
Upon Shane leaving, singer of the Clash, Joe Strummer filled in on lead vocals until Spider became the front man in 1992.
Later Shane said of his drinking, that he hadn't been sober a single day in his life since he was 14years old. Shane had the taste for drink as early as 4years old when his family gave him Guinness to help him sleep.
Afterwards he formed his own band naming it 'Shane MacGowan and the Popes', while he was with them, they released two Albums in 1994 & 1997.
Also in 1997, Shane appeared alongside Lou Reed and stars including David Bowie, Elton John, Bono, Heather Small & Tom Jones on Reed's number one song 'Perfect Day' for the Children In Need charity.
In 2001, Shane returned & performing with his old band The Pogues in a sell-out tour. No new music was recorded by them but they continued to tour for several years until 2014.
In 2009, On the channel RTE, he appeared in his own reality TV show with long-time girlfriend & fiancé Victoria Mary Clarke. It showed their attempts to grow their own food.
~
The constant drinking & drug use took a heavy impact on Shane's teeth - leaving him with his infamous 'wreck' of a smile & missing gnashers.
in 2015, a Christmas special documentary called 'Shane MacGowan: A Wreck Reborn' was broadcast filming a 9hour medical procedure in which Shane had 28 new dentures fitted complete with a new gold tooth. His surgeon called the event an "Everest of dentistry" while the "wreck" in the title was apparently the singer's own idea..,
In a Sky Arts documentary, Shane 57 [at the time] said "I am dreading it, but it's got to be done." as he bravely took the decision due to having limited teeth gave him issues with eating & singing. "When I was very small I had teeth taken out by a string round the tooth and then put on the door handle there. They wouldn't tell you what they were going to do, they would just bang the door and out came the tooth."
2018 at his special 60th birthday celebration at the National Concert Hall in Dublin celebrities such as Johnny Depp, Bono, Cerys Matthews, Sinead O'Connor, etc. performed his songs in celebration.
The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins presented him with a Lifetime Achievement award the 'Ivor Novello Inspiration Award' for songwriting.
This was one of the last public performances made by Shane MacGowan.
September 2020 a new documentary titled "Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan", directed by Julien Temple and produced by Johnny Depp, featured unseen archival footage from the band and MacGowan's family, as well as animation from illustrator Ralph Steadman.
"The lyrics are all about fighting, drinking, dying... you know, the things that everybody does." he said of his music.
Director & filmmaker Julien Temple said afterwards that knowing full-well he was dealing with a 'difficult character', he said "it was like David Attenborough tracking down an elusive snow leopard". "Shaun MacGowan is a one-off", Temple said, "I guess that's what makes him great."
In 2021 Mick Cronin of Irish Rock/Indie band 'Cronin' reportedly told the New York Times newspaper that Shane MacGowan had recorded with them in May of the same year. "Once he's in the studio, he's all guns blazing," said the drummer.
[*As a long-time fan myself, I heard years-ago of Shane, that 'no matter how much drink he had consumed, 'once he started singing he was 'word & note' perfect. LMcK.]
In November 2022: He released his first art book called 'The Eternal Buzz and the Crock of Gold'.
It included his personal artwork, handwritten lyrics and school essays which have never been seen before. He described his book as the "spit, snot and tears" of his art which was praised by critic Waldemar Januszczak for his "demented, wild, fascinating, scabrous kind of energy".
The books sold for £1,000 each to raise money for Shane's medical care.
Shane's personality shone through our television screens with interviews always revealing his rebellious side for which he was just as famous for.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tributes Paid.
Shane's wife, Victoria Mary Clarke wrote on Instagram abt 11.30am today:
"I don't know how to say this so I am just going to say it.
Shane who will always be the light that I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love of my life and the most beautiful soul and beautiful angel and the sun and the moon and the start and end of everything that I hold dear has gone to be with Jesus and Mary and his beautiful mother Therese.
I am blessed beyond words to have met him and to have loved him and to have been so endlessly and unconditionally loved by him and to have had so many years of life and love and joy and fun and laughter and so many adventures.
There's no way to describe the loss that I am feeling and the longing for just one more of his smiles that lit up my world. Thank you thank you thank you thank you for your presence in this world you made it so very bright and you gave so much joy to so many people with your heart and soul and your music. You will live in my heart forever.
Rave on in the garden all wet with rain that you loved so much You meant the world to me."
~
The Pogues shared a statement:
"It is with the deepest of sorrow and heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Shane MacGowan. Shane died peacefully at 3am this morning with his wife Victoria and family by his side."
~
While Shane's sister Siobhan lovingly wrote:
'So I walked as day was dawning;
as small birds sang and leaves were falling,
where we once watched the row boats
landing on the Broad Majestic Shannon'.
~
Mr Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland, reported that:
"Shane will be remembered as one of music's greatest lyricists.
So many of his songs would be perfectly crafted poems, if that would not have deprived us of the opportunity to hear him sing them.
The genius of Shane's contribution includes the fact that his songs capture within them, as Shane would put it, the measure of our dreams - of so many worlds, and particularly those of love, of the emigrant experience and of facing the challenges of that experience with authenticity and courage, and of living and seeing the sides of life that so many turn away from."
He continued, "His words have connected Irish people all over the globe to their culture and history, encompassing so many human emotions in the most poetic of ways."
He finished paying tribute by saying: "It was a great honour for me, as President of Ireland, to present Shane with a lifetime achievement award in the National Concert Hall in January 2018 as we marked his 60th birthday. A richly deserved honour!"
~
Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald paid tribute saying that he was "a poet, a dreamer and a champion of Social Justice". She continued saying that Ireland had lost "one of its most beloved icons and the world one of its greatest songwriters".
"Nobody told the Irish story like Shane - stories of emigration, heartache, dislocation, redemption, love and joy... Shane brought his musical unique style to all corners of the world, and his music will continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.
Today we mourn his passing. He was one of the best of us.
Ni bheidh a leitheid aris ann."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[The Sun Newspaper Reports:]
Shane MacGowan funeral celebrates Pogues' icon's 'trailblazer' life as Johnny Depp attends star-studded service
LEGEND'S FAREWELL
Shane MacGowan funeral celebrates Pogues' icon's 'trailblazer' life as Johnny Depp attends star-studded service.
Applause erupted from crowds which formed a guard of honour as the Fairytale of New York singer's hearse made it's way to the church.
SHANE MacGowan's funeral is celebrating the legendary Pogues' frontman's life as a "poet, lyricist, singer and trailblazer".
Hundreds of mourners gathered at the star-studded funeral service to say their final farewell to the Fairytale of New York icon at the Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh, Tipperary.
Many thanks to our National Treasure Shane MacGowan for the legend he has left us with.
♤♡◇♧ ♤♡◇♧ ♤♡◇♧ ♤♡◇♧ ♤♡◇♧ ♤♡◇♧
Bio by Linda McKinney
*[Memorial subject to changes currently being made.]*
Born: Pembury, (Pembury Maternity Hospital), Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.
Son of Maurice & Therese (Cahill) MacGowan, Shane was born while his parents were visiting his father's sister in England. He said that he had spent 'the first few weeks of life sleeping in a drawer in his auntie's bedroom.'
His birth was registered in January 1958 at Tonbridge, Kent, England with his mum's maiden name recorded as 'Cahill'. His mum was a singer and Irish dancer.
His parents passion for literature and music was passed onto Shane right from the start.
He gave a first performance at 3years old, singing & entertaining on top of the family's kitchen table which 'went down very well'.
Shane's Irish parents returned to Tipperary, Ireland while Shane was still very young & he & his younger sister grew up on a farm in Tipperary, Ireland, whilst their parents worked away most of the time in England.
Shane's Occupation: Poet, Singer & Song Writer.
Frontman of 'The Pogues'.
~
In 2018 Shane MacGowan married Journalist Victoria Mary Clarke at Copenhagen, Denmark.
They had become engaged in 2007.
Famous actor & great friend Johnny Depp played the guitar at their wedding.
On meeting Shane for the first time, he said 'he instantly fell in love' with him after watching him play pool with a pint and guitar in his hand. "There are moments in life when you know this will happen one time and one time only, when you get the opportunity to spend time with greatness."
Victoria met Shane when she was 16years old she said of meeting him that she was "awe-struck.
They started dating 4years later when Victoria was 20 & Shane was 28years old. Writing for The Independent Newspaper, she described their time together as being a 'complicated relationship'. The couple have been together for 32years.
~~~~~~~~
The 2011-2012 Biography & Genealogy Master Index (BGMI) lists Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan.
(Source: Chambers Biographical Dictionary 2011-2012, 9th Edition. London: Chambers Harrap Pub, 2013. (ChamBiD 9).)
In 2015, during Shane's periods of ill-health, after several falls including breaking his pelvis during/leaving a studio in Dublin, Ireland (& later his right knee), was first seen leaving hospital using a wheelchair.
In December 2022 he was hospitalised for viral encephalitis a rare, serious condition of inflammation of the brain.
He spent a few months receiving treatment at St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland after being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the summer of 2023.
Shane returned home on the 22nd November 2023 & spent his last remaining days at home with his wife Victoria & surrounded by his family & close friends.
*
Passed away: 3.30am at home.
Shane is survived by his Journalist wife Victoria, sister Siobhan, an author and songwriter & father Maurice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Life of Shane MacGowan:
c1970 when Shane was 13years old, the gifted avid reader & natural storyteller won a 'Daily Mirror Newspaper Literary Prize'. He was awarded a scholarship in Literature at Westminster School, London, England for his essays.
In 2013 during an interview with 'The Guardian' newspaper, he stated "I didn't last there very long, I got nicked for smoking a joint and was kicked out."
Whilst a young teenager, Shane considered joining the priesthood. His education continued to Art College, but during the 1970's changed his direction as he became heavily influenced by the punk movement in England.
The young musician started his own punk band Nipple Erectors. Shane quite firmly on his rebellious path even at this early stage of his career, rechristened himself Shane O'Hooligan.
In 1976 the band became known as 'The Nips' where they sang as supporting artists to the likes of the MOD groups The Clash and The Jam. He made a demo for Polydor produced by Paul Weller.
He also played guitar with The Millwall Chainsaws 'the prototype for the band that would become Pogue Mahone' (Gaelic póg mo thóin i.e. "Kiss My Arse"). His later [Pogues] band-mate Peter 'Spider' Stacey had formed the band in 1979 with Ollie Watts (drums) and Matt Jacobson (bass). John Hasler, formerly of Madness also joined. In addition to Shane's traditional Irish music background their 'sound' was also inspired by The Dubliners & they renamed themselves The New Republicans, with Shane as the lead singer.
Thereafter In 1982 Shane MacGowan formed & became the lead singer with the London Irish Punk/Folk Band, 'The Pogues' playing Irish and rebel songs. Spider Tracy played the tin-whistle and with Jem Finer on Banjo the band gave a new energy to the anarchy of Punk & their music thrived with a twist of a traditional Celtic-inspired sound.
1985 The Pogues band members consisted of Shane MacGowan (vocals), Jem Finer (banjo & others), Andrew Ranken (drums), Philip Chevron (lead guitarist), Spider Stacy [Peter Richard Stacy] (tin-whistle), Terry Woods (multi instrumentalist), James Fearley (accordion) & Cait O'Riordan (bass).
(Spider Stacy was given the name when he was about 12years old from a girl-friend because of his 'angular body and liquorice legs').
In 1986, Daryll Gatwick Hunt joined as bass player & featured until the last album, Pogue Mahone, in 1996. [Daryll was born on 4.5.1950 in Hampshire, England & passed away 8.8.2022.]
In 1984 The Pogues released their debut album 'Red Roses For Me' & in 1985 there were especially well-known with their newly released album 'Rum, Sodomy and the Lash', produced by Elvis Costello, whilst their commercial peak hit in 1988 'If I Should Fall from Grace with God', which included the 1987's duet "Fairytale of New York" which was written by banjo player Jem Finer & Shane MacGowan. The Irish folk-style ballad was recorded by the London-based band The Pogues at the RAK Studios in Regent's Park, London, England featuring fellow singer & song-writter Kirsty MacColl; Shane & Kirsty never actually recorded the song together in the studio.
The song features a "céilidh bit in the middle in the middle which you can definitely dance to". he said of it. Shane named the song after J. P. Donleavy's 1973 novel A Fairy Tale of New York.
~
It had previously been released on the 23rd November 1987 reaching No.2 in the Charts. "Fairytale of New York" was kept from hitting the No.1 festive spot by the cover version of 'Always On My Mind' by 'The Pet Shop Boys'.
Although throughout the years it is quite clearly the best, most popular song played over the Christmas season making it the biggest earning festive song making £400,000 albeit it has never reached No.1 in the Charts, as yet. By December 2022, the song was certified quintuple platinum in the UK for 3 million combined sales. In an interview in 2020 Shane said of Kirsty, "I was very grateful to Kirsty. I don't think it would have been such a big hit without her contribution."
During the 1980's & 90's the world famous band The Pogues with frontman Shane MacGowan, the punk rebel, also released many well-known singles such as Dirty Old Town, The Irish Rover, A Pair Of Brown Eyes, Dark Streets Of London & Sally MacLennane. The band released five albums between 1984 & 1990, their 1990 & 5th album was namely 'Hell's Ditch' which features songs The Ghost of a Smile, Summer in Siam, Rain Street & popular Sunny Side Of The Street.
Around 1988 Shane was told by medics that he would have to give up drinking or it would kill him.
In 1991 he was sacked by 'The Pogues' due to his constant unreliable & chaotic behaviour, especially influenced by his heavy drinking during the live tours in America & in Japan where he just failed to turn-up.
Upon Shane leaving, singer of the Clash, Joe Strummer filled in on lead vocals until Spider became the front man in 1992.
Later Shane said of his drinking, that he hadn't been sober a single day in his life since he was 14years old. Shane had the taste for drink as early as 4years old when his family gave him Guinness to help him sleep.
Afterwards he formed his own band naming it 'Shane MacGowan and the Popes', while he was with them, they released two Albums in 1994 & 1997.
Also in 1997, Shane appeared alongside Lou Reed and stars including David Bowie, Elton John, Bono, Heather Small & Tom Jones on Reed's number one song 'Perfect Day' for the Children In Need charity.
In 2001, Shane returned & performing with his old band The Pogues in a sell-out tour. No new music was recorded by them but they continued to tour for several years until 2014.
In 2009, On the channel RTE, he appeared in his own reality TV show with long-time girlfriend & fiancé Victoria Mary Clarke. It showed their attempts to grow their own food.
~
The constant drinking & drug use took a heavy impact on Shane's teeth - leaving him with his infamous 'wreck' of a smile & missing gnashers.
in 2015, a Christmas special documentary called 'Shane MacGowan: A Wreck Reborn' was broadcast filming a 9hour medical procedure in which Shane had 28 new dentures fitted complete with a new gold tooth. His surgeon called the event an "Everest of dentistry" while the "wreck" in the title was apparently the singer's own idea..,
In a Sky Arts documentary, Shane 57 [at the time] said "I am dreading it, but it's got to be done." as he bravely took the decision due to having limited teeth gave him issues with eating & singing. "When I was very small I had teeth taken out by a string round the tooth and then put on the door handle there. They wouldn't tell you what they were going to do, they would just bang the door and out came the tooth."
2018 at his special 60th birthday celebration at the National Concert Hall in Dublin celebrities such as Johnny Depp, Bono, Cerys Matthews, Sinead O'Connor, etc. performed his songs in celebration.
The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins presented him with a Lifetime Achievement award the 'Ivor Novello Inspiration Award' for songwriting.
This was one of the last public performances made by Shane MacGowan.
September 2020 a new documentary titled "Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan", directed by Julien Temple and produced by Johnny Depp, featured unseen archival footage from the band and MacGowan's family, as well as animation from illustrator Ralph Steadman.
"The lyrics are all about fighting, drinking, dying... you know, the things that everybody does." he said of his music.
Director & filmmaker Julien Temple said afterwards that knowing full-well he was dealing with a 'difficult character', he said "it was like David Attenborough tracking down an elusive snow leopard". "Shaun MacGowan is a one-off", Temple said, "I guess that's what makes him great."
In 2021 Mick Cronin of Irish Rock/Indie band 'Cronin' reportedly told the New York Times newspaper that Shane MacGowan had recorded with them in May of the same year. "Once he's in the studio, he's all guns blazing," said the drummer.
[*As a long-time fan myself, I heard years-ago of Shane, that 'no matter how much drink he had consumed, 'once he started singing he was 'word & note' perfect. LMcK.]
In November 2022: He released his first art book called 'The Eternal Buzz and the Crock of Gold'.
It included his personal artwork, handwritten lyrics and school essays which have never been seen before. He described his book as the "spit, snot and tears" of his art which was praised by critic Waldemar Januszczak for his "demented, wild, fascinating, scabrous kind of energy".
The books sold for £1,000 each to raise money for Shane's medical care.
Shane's personality shone through our television screens with interviews always revealing his rebellious side for which he was just as famous for.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tributes Paid.
Shane's wife, Victoria Mary Clarke wrote on Instagram abt 11.30am today:
"I don't know how to say this so I am just going to say it.
Shane who will always be the light that I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love of my life and the most beautiful soul and beautiful angel and the sun and the moon and the start and end of everything that I hold dear has gone to be with Jesus and Mary and his beautiful mother Therese.
I am blessed beyond words to have met him and to have loved him and to have been so endlessly and unconditionally loved by him and to have had so many years of life and love and joy and fun and laughter and so many adventures.
There's no way to describe the loss that I am feeling and the longing for just one more of his smiles that lit up my world. Thank you thank you thank you thank you for your presence in this world you made it so very bright and you gave so much joy to so many people with your heart and soul and your music. You will live in my heart forever.
Rave on in the garden all wet with rain that you loved so much You meant the world to me."
~
The Pogues shared a statement:
"It is with the deepest of sorrow and heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Shane MacGowan. Shane died peacefully at 3am this morning with his wife Victoria and family by his side."
~
While Shane's sister Siobhan lovingly wrote:
'So I walked as day was dawning;
as small birds sang and leaves were falling,
where we once watched the row boats
landing on the Broad Majestic Shannon'.
~
Mr Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland, reported that:
"Shane will be remembered as one of music's greatest lyricists.
So many of his songs would be perfectly crafted poems, if that would not have deprived us of the opportunity to hear him sing them.
The genius of Shane's contribution includes the fact that his songs capture within them, as Shane would put it, the measure of our dreams - of so many worlds, and particularly those of love, of the emigrant experience and of facing the challenges of that experience with authenticity and courage, and of living and seeing the sides of life that so many turn away from."
He continued, "His words have connected Irish people all over the globe to their culture and history, encompassing so many human emotions in the most poetic of ways."
He finished paying tribute by saying: "It was a great honour for me, as President of Ireland, to present Shane with a lifetime achievement award in the National Concert Hall in January 2018 as we marked his 60th birthday. A richly deserved honour!"
~
Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald paid tribute saying that he was "a poet, a dreamer and a champion of Social Justice". She continued saying that Ireland had lost "one of its most beloved icons and the world one of its greatest songwriters".
"Nobody told the Irish story like Shane - stories of emigration, heartache, dislocation, redemption, love and joy... Shane brought his musical unique style to all corners of the world, and his music will continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.
Today we mourn his passing. He was one of the best of us.
Ni bheidh a leitheid aris ann."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[The Sun Newspaper Reports:]
Shane MacGowan funeral celebrates Pogues' icon's 'trailblazer' life as Johnny Depp attends star-studded service
LEGEND'S FAREWELL
Shane MacGowan funeral celebrates Pogues' icon's 'trailblazer' life as Johnny Depp attends star-studded service.
Applause erupted from crowds which formed a guard of honour as the Fairytale of New York singer's hearse made it's way to the church.
SHANE MacGowan's funeral is celebrating the legendary Pogues' frontman's life as a "poet, lyricist, singer and trailblazer".
Hundreds of mourners gathered at the star-studded funeral service to say their final farewell to the Fairytale of New York icon at the Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh, Tipperary.
Many thanks to our National Treasure Shane MacGowan for the legend he has left us with.
♤♡◇♧ ♤♡◇♧ ♤♡◇♧ ♤♡◇♧ ♤♡◇♧ ♤♡◇♧
Bio by Linda McKinney
Age: 65years old.
*[Memorial subject to changes currently being made.]*
Born: Pembury, (Pembury Maternity Hospital), Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.
Son of Maurice & Therese (Cahill) MacGowan, Shane was born while his parents were visiting his father's sister in England. He said that he had spent 'the first few weeks of life sleeping in a drawer in his auntie's bedroom.'
His birth was registered in January 1958 at Tonbridge, Kent, England with his mum's maiden name recorded as 'Cahill'. His mum was a singer and Irish dancer.
His parents passion for literature and music was passed onto Shane right from the start.
He gave a first performance at 3years old, singing & entertaining on top of the family's kitchen table which 'went down very well'.
Shane's Irish parents returned to Tipperary, Ireland while Shane was still very young & he & his younger sister grew up on a farm in Tipperary, Ireland, whilst their parents worked away most of the time in England.
Shane's Occupation: Poet, Singer & Song Writer.
Frontman of 'The Pogues'.
~
In 2018 Shane MacGowan married Journalist Victoria Mary Clarke at Copenhagen, Denmark.
They had become engaged in 2007.
Famous actor & great friend Johnny Depp played the guitar at their wedding.
On meeting Shane for the first time, he said 'he instantly fell in love' with him after watching him play pool with a pint and guitar in his hand. "There are moments in life when you know this will happen one time and one time only, when you get the opportunity to spend time with greatness."
Victoria met Shane when she was 16years old she said of meeting him that she was "awe-struck.
They started dating 4years later when Victoria was 20 & Shane was 28years old. Writing for The Independent Newspaper, she described their time together as being a 'complicated relationship'. The couple have been together for 32years.
~~~~~~~~
The 2011-2012 Biography & Genealogy Master Index (BGMI) lists Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan.
(Source: Chambers Biographical Dictionary 2011-2012, 9th Edition. London: Chambers Harrap Pub, 2013. (ChamBiD 9).)
In 2015, during Shane's periods of ill-health, after several falls including breaking his pelvis during/leaving a studio in Dublin, Ireland (& later his right knee), was first seen leaving hospital using a wheelchair.
In December 2022 he was hospitalised for viral encephalitis a rare, serious condition of inflammation of the brain.
He spent a few months receiving treatment at St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland after being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the summer of 2023.
Shane returned home on the 22nd November 2023 & spent his last remaining days at home with his wife Victoria & surrounded by his family & close friends.
*
Passed away: 3.30am at home.
Shane is survived by his Journalist wife Victoria, sister Siobhan, an author and songwriter & father Maurice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Life of Shane MacGowan:
c1970 when Shane was 13years old, the gifted avid reader & natural storyteller won a 'Daily Mirror Newspaper Literary Prize'. He was awarded a scholarship in Literature at Westminster School, London, England for his essays.
In 2013 during an interview with 'The Guardian' newspaper, he stated "I didn't last there very long, I got nicked for smoking a joint and was kicked out."
Whilst a young teenager, Shane considered joining the priesthood. His education continued to Art College, but during the 1970's changed his direction as he became heavily influenced by the punk movement in England.
The young musician started his own punk band Nipple Erectors. Shane quite firmly on his rebellious path even at this early stage of his career, rechristened himself Shane O'Hooligan.
In 1976 the band became known as 'The Nips' where they sang as supporting artists to the likes of the MOD groups The Clash and The Jam. He made a demo for Polydor produced by Paul Weller.
He also played guitar with The Millwall Chainsaws 'the prototype for the band that would become Pogue Mahone' (Gaelic póg mo thóin i.e. "Kiss My Arse"). His later [Pogues] band-mate Peter 'Spider' Stacey had formed the band in 1979 with Ollie Watts (drums) and Matt Jacobson (bass). John Hasler, formerly of Madness also joined. In addition to Shane's traditional Irish music background their 'sound' was also inspired by The Dubliners & they renamed themselves The New Republicans, with Shane as the lead singer.
Thereafter In 1982 Shane MacGowan formed & became the lead singer with the London Irish Punk/Folk Band, 'The Pogues' playing Irish and rebel songs. Spider Tracy played the tin-whistle and with Jem Finer on Banjo the band gave a new energy to the anarchy of Punk & their music thrived with a twist of a traditional Celtic-inspired sound.
1985 The Pogues band members consisted of Shane MacGowan (vocals), Jem Finer (banjo & others), Andrew Ranken (drums), Philip Chevron (lead guitarist), Spider Stacy [Peter Richard Stacy] (tin-whistle), Terry Woods (multi instrumentalist), James Fearley (accordion) & Cait O'Riordan (bass).
(Spider Stacy was given the name when he was about 12years old from a girl-friend because of his 'angular body and liquorice legs').
In 1986, Daryll Gatwick Hunt joined as bass player & featured until the last album, Pogue Mahone, in 1996. [Daryll was born on 4.5.1950 in Hampshire, England & passed away 8.8.2022.]
In 1984 The Pogues released their debut album 'Red Roses For Me' & in 1985 there were especially well-known with their newly released album 'Rum, Sodomy and the Lash', produced by Elvis Costello, whilst their commercial peak hit in 1988 'If I Should Fall from Grace with God', which included the 1987's duet "Fairytale of New York" which was written by banjo player Jem Finer & Shane MacGowan. The Irish folk-style ballad was recorded by the London-based band The Pogues at the RAK Studios in Regent's Park, London, England featuring fellow singer & song-writter Kirsty MacColl; Shane & Kirsty never actually recorded the song together in the studio.
The song features a "céilidh bit in the middle in the middle which you can definitely dance to". he said of it. Shane named the song after J. P. Donleavy's 1973 novel A Fairy Tale of New York.
~
It had previously been released on the 23rd November 1987 reaching No.2 in the Charts. "Fairytale of New York" was kept from hitting the No.1 festive spot by the cover version of 'Always On My Mind' by 'The Pet Shop Boys'.
Although throughout the years it is quite clearly the best, most popular song played over the Christmas season making it the biggest earning festive song making £400,000 albeit it has never reached No.1 in the Charts, as yet. By December 2022, the song was certified quintuple platinum in the UK for 3 million combined sales. In an interview in 2020 Shane said of Kirsty, "I was very grateful to Kirsty. I don't think it would have been such a big hit without her contribution."
During the 1980's & 90's the world famous band The Pogues with frontman Shane MacGowan, the punk rebel, also released many well-known singles such as Dirty Old Town, The Irish Rover, A Pair Of Brown Eyes, Dark Streets Of London & Sally MacLennane. The band released five albums between 1984 & 1990, their 1990 & 5th album was namely 'Hell's Ditch' which features songs The Ghost of a Smile, Summer in Siam, Rain Street & popular Sunny Side Of The Street.
Around 1988 Shane was told by medics that he would have to give up drinking or it would kill him.
In 1991 he was sacked by 'The Pogues' due to his constant unreliable & chaotic behaviour, especially influenced by his heavy drinking during the live tours in America & in Japan where he just failed to turn-up.
Upon Shane leaving, singer of the Clash, Joe Strummer filled in on lead vocals until Spider became the front man in 1992.
Later Shane said of his drinking, that he hadn't been sober a single day in his life since he was 14years old. Shane had the taste for drink as early as 4years old when his family gave him Guinness to help him sleep.
Afterwards he formed his own band naming it 'Shane MacGowan and the Popes', while he was with them, they released two Albums in 1994 & 1997.
Also in 1997, Shane appeared alongside Lou Reed and stars including David Bowie, Elton John, Bono, Heather Small & Tom Jones on Reed's number one song 'Perfect Day' for the Children In Need charity.
In 2001, Shane returned & performing with his old band The Pogues in a sell-out tour. No new music was recorded by them but they continued to tour for several years until 2014.
In 2009, On the channel RTE, he appeared in his own reality TV show with long-time girlfriend & fiancé Victoria Mary Clarke. It showed their attempts to grow their own food.
~
The constant drinking & drug use took a heavy impact on Shane's teeth - leaving him with his infamous 'wreck' of a smile & missing gnashers.
in 2015, a Christmas special documentary called 'Shane MacGowan: A Wreck Reborn' was broadcast filming a 9hour medical procedure in which Shane had 28 new dentures fitted complete with a new gold tooth. His surgeon called the event an "Everest of dentistry" while the "wreck" in the title was apparently the singer's own idea..,
In a Sky Arts documentary, Shane 57 [at the time] said "I am dreading it, but it's got to be done." as he bravely took the decision due to having limited teeth gave him issues with eating & singing. "When I was very small I had teeth taken out by a string round the tooth and then put on the door handle there. They wouldn't tell you what they were going to do, they would just bang the door and out came the tooth."
2018 at his special 60th birthday celebration at the National Concert Hall in Dublin celebrities such as Johnny Depp, Bono, Cerys Matthews, Sinead O'Connor, etc. performed his songs in celebration.
The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins presented him with a Lifetime Achievement award the 'Ivor Novello Inspiration Award' for songwriting.
This was one of the last public performances made by Shane MacGowan.
September 2020 a new documentary titled "Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan", directed by Julien Temple and produced by Johnny Depp, featured unseen archival footage from the band and MacGowan's family, as well as animation from illustrator Ralph Steadman.
"The lyrics are all about fighting, drinking, dying... you know, the things that everybody does." he said of his music.
Director & filmmaker Julien Temple said afterwards that knowing full-well he was dealing with a 'difficult character', he said "it was like David Attenborough tracking down an elusive snow leopard". "Shaun MacGowan is a one-off", Temple said, "I guess that's what makes him great."
In 2021 Mick Cronin of Irish Rock/Indie band 'Cronin' reportedly told the New York Times newspaper that Shane MacGowan had recorded with them in May of the same year. "Once he's in the studio, he's all guns blazing," said the drummer.
[*As a long-time fan myself, I heard years-ago of Shane, that 'no matter how much drink he had consumed, 'once he started singing he was 'word & note' perfect. LMcK.]
In November 2022: He released his first art book called 'The Eternal Buzz and the Crock of Gold'.
It included his personal artwork, handwritten lyrics and school essays which have never been seen before. He described his book as the "spit, snot and tears" of his art which was praised by critic Waldemar Januszczak for his "demented, wild, fascinating, scabrous kind of energy".
The books sold for £1,000 each to raise money for Shane's medical care.
Shane's personality shone through our television screens with interviews always revealing his rebellious side for which he was just as famous for.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tributes Paid.
Shane's wife, Victoria Mary Clarke wrote on Instagram abt 11.30am today:
"I don't know how to say this so I am just going to say it.
Shane who will always be the light that I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love of my life and the most beautiful soul and beautiful angel and the sun and the moon and the start and end of everything that I hold dear has gone to be with Jesus and Mary and his beautiful mother Therese.
I am blessed beyond words to have met him and to have loved him and to have been so endlessly and unconditionally loved by him and to have had so many years of life and love and joy and fun and laughter and so many adventures.
There's no way to describe the loss that I am feeling and the longing for just one more of his smiles that lit up my world. Thank you thank you thank you thank you for your presence in this world you made it so very bright and you gave so much joy to so many people with your heart and soul and your music. You will live in my heart forever.
Rave on in the garden all wet with rain that you loved so much You meant the world to me."
~
The Pogues shared a statement:
"It is with the deepest of sorrow and heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Shane MacGowan. Shane died peacefully at 3am this morning with his wife Victoria and family by his side."
~
While Shane's sister Siobhan lovingly wrote:
'So I walked as day was dawning;
as small birds sang and leaves were falling,
where we once watched the row boats
landing on the Broad Majestic Shannon'.
~
Mr Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland, reported that:
"Shane will be remembered as one of music's greatest lyricists.
So many of his songs would be perfectly crafted poems, if that would not have deprived us of the opportunity to hear him sing them.
The genius of Shane's contribution includes the fact that his songs capture within them, as Shane would put it, the measure of our dreams - of so many worlds, and particularly those of love, of the emigrant experience and of facing the challenges of that experience with authenticity and courage, and of living and seeing the sides of life that so many turn away from."
He continued, "His words have connected Irish people all over the globe to their culture and history, encompassing so many human emotions in the most poetic of ways."
He finished paying tribute by saying: "It was a great honour for me, as President of Ireland, to present Shane with a lifetime achievement award in the National Concert Hall in January 2018 as we marked his 60th birthday. A richly deserved honour!"
~
Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald paid tribute saying that he was "a poet, a dreamer and a champion of Social Justice". She continued saying that Ireland had lost "one of its most beloved icons and the world one of its greatest songwriters".
"Nobody told the Irish story like Shane - stories of emigration, heartache, dislocation, redemption, love and joy... Shane brought his musical unique style to all corners of the world, and his music will continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.
Today we mourn his passing. He was one of the best of us.
Ni bheidh a leitheid aris ann."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[The Sun Newspaper Reports:]
Shane MacGowan funeral celebrates Pogues' icon's 'trailblazer' life as Johnny Depp attends star-studded service
LEGEND'S FAREWELL
Shane MacGowan funeral celebrates Pogues' icon's 'trailblazer' life as Johnny Depp attends star-studded service.
Applause erupted from crowds which formed a guard of honour as the Fairytale of New York singer's hearse made it's way to the church.
SHANE MacGowan's funeral is celebrating the legendary Pogues' frontman's life as a "poet, lyricist, singer and trailblazer".
Hundreds of mourners gathered at the star-studded funeral service to say their final farewell to the Fairytale of New York icon at the Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh, Tipperary.
Many thanks to our National Treasure Shane MacGowan for the legend he has left us with.
♤♡◇♧ ♤♡◇♧ ♤♡◇♧ ♤♡◇♧ ♤♡◇♧ ♤♡◇♧
Bio by Linda McKinney
*[Memorial subject to changes currently being made.]*
Born: Pembury, (Pembury Maternity Hospital), Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.
Son of Maurice & Therese (Cahill) MacGowan, Shane was born while his parents were visiting his father's sister in England. He said that he had spent 'the first few weeks of life sleeping in a drawer in his auntie's bedroom.'
His birth was registered in January 1958 at Tonbridge, Kent, England with his mum's maiden name recorded as 'Cahill'. His mum was a singer and Irish dancer.
His parents passion for literature and music was passed onto Shane right from the start.
He gave a first performance at 3years old, singing & entertaining on top of the family's kitchen table which 'went down very well'.
Shane's Irish parents returned to Tipperary, Ireland while Shane was still very young & he & his younger sister grew up on a farm in Tipperary, Ireland, whilst their parents worked away most of the time in England.
Shane's Occupation: Poet, Singer & Song Writer.
Frontman of 'The Pogues'.
~
In 2018 Shane MacGowan married Journalist Victoria Mary Clarke at Copenhagen, Denmark.
They had become engaged in 2007.
Famous actor & great friend Johnny Depp played the guitar at their wedding.
On meeting Shane for the first time, he said 'he instantly fell in love' with him after watching him play pool with a pint and guitar in his hand. "There are moments in life when you know this will happen one time and one time only, when you get the opportunity to spend time with greatness."
Victoria met Shane when she was 16years old she said of meeting him that she was "awe-struck.
They started dating 4years later when Victoria was 20 & Shane was 28years old. Writing for The Independent Newspaper, she described their time together as being a 'complicated relationship'. The couple have been together for 32years.
~~~~~~~~
The 2011-2012 Biography & Genealogy Master Index (BGMI) lists Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan.
(Source: Chambers Biographical Dictionary 2011-2012, 9th Edition. London: Chambers Harrap Pub, 2013. (ChamBiD 9).)
In 2015, during Shane's periods of ill-health, after several falls including breaking his pelvis during/leaving a studio in Dublin, Ireland (& later his right knee), was first seen leaving hospital using a wheelchair.
In December 2022 he was hospitalised for viral encephalitis a rare, serious condition of inflammation of the brain.
He spent a few months receiving treatment at St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland after being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the summer of 2023.
Shane returned home on the 22nd November 2023 & spent his last remaining days at home with his wife Victoria & surrounded by his family & close friends.
*
Passed away: 3.30am at home.
Shane is survived by his Journalist wife Victoria, sister Siobhan, an author and songwriter & father Maurice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Life of Shane MacGowan:
c1970 when Shane was 13years old, the gifted avid reader & natural storyteller won a 'Daily Mirror Newspaper Literary Prize'. He was awarded a scholarship in Literature at Westminster School, London, England for his essays.
In 2013 during an interview with 'The Guardian' newspaper, he stated "I didn't last there very long, I got nicked for smoking a joint and was kicked out."
Whilst a young teenager, Shane considered joining the priesthood. His education continued to Art College, but during the 1970's changed his direction as he became heavily influenced by the punk movement in England.
The young musician started his own punk band Nipple Erectors. Shane quite firmly on his rebellious path even at this early stage of his career, rechristened himself Shane O'Hooligan.
In 1976 the band became known as 'The Nips' where they sang as supporting artists to the likes of the MOD groups The Clash and The Jam. He made a demo for Polydor produced by Paul Weller.
He also played guitar with The Millwall Chainsaws 'the prototype for the band that would become Pogue Mahone' (Gaelic póg mo thóin i.e. "Kiss My Arse"). His later [Pogues] band-mate Peter 'Spider' Stacey had formed the band in 1979 with Ollie Watts (drums) and Matt Jacobson (bass). John Hasler, formerly of Madness also joined. In addition to Shane's traditional Irish music background their 'sound' was also inspired by The Dubliners & they renamed themselves The New Republicans, with Shane as the lead singer.
Thereafter In 1982 Shane MacGowan formed & became the lead singer with the London Irish Punk/Folk Band, 'The Pogues' playing Irish and rebel songs. Spider Tracy played the tin-whistle and with Jem Finer on Banjo the band gave a new energy to the anarchy of Punk & their music thrived with a twist of a traditional Celtic-inspired sound.
1985 The Pogues band members consisted of Shane MacGowan (vocals), Jem Finer (banjo & others), Andrew Ranken (drums), Philip Chevron (lead guitarist), Spider Stacy [Peter Richard Stacy] (tin-whistle), Terry Woods (multi instrumentalist), James Fearley (accordion) & Cait O'Riordan (bass).
(Spider Stacy was given the name when he was about 12years old from a girl-friend because of his 'angular body and liquorice legs').
In 1986, Daryll Gatwick Hunt joined as bass player & featured until the last album, Pogue Mahone, in 1996. [Daryll was born on 4.5.1950 in Hampshire, England & passed away 8.8.2022.]
In 1984 The Pogues released their debut album 'Red Roses For Me' & in 1985 there were especially well-known with their newly released album 'Rum, Sodomy and the Lash', produced by Elvis Costello, whilst their commercial peak hit in 1988 'If I Should Fall from Grace with God', which included the 1987's duet "Fairytale of New York" which was written by banjo player Jem Finer & Shane MacGowan. The Irish folk-style ballad was recorded by the London-based band The Pogues at the RAK Studios in Regent's Park, London, England featuring fellow singer & song-writter Kirsty MacColl; Shane & Kirsty never actually recorded the song together in the studio.
The song features a "céilidh bit in the middle in the middle which you can definitely dance to". he said of it. Shane named the song after J. P. Donleavy's 1973 novel A Fairy Tale of New York.
~
It had previously been released on the 23rd November 1987 reaching No.2 in the Charts. "Fairytale of New York" was kept from hitting the No.1 festive spot by the cover version of 'Always On My Mind' by 'The Pet Shop Boys'.
Although throughout the years it is quite clearly the best, most popular song played over the Christmas season making it the biggest earning festive song making £400,000 albeit it has never reached No.1 in the Charts, as yet. By December 2022, the song was certified quintuple platinum in the UK for 3 million combined sales. In an interview in 2020 Shane said of Kirsty, "I was very grateful to Kirsty. I don't think it would have been such a big hit without her contribution."
During the 1980's & 90's the world famous band The Pogues with frontman Shane MacGowan, the punk rebel, also released many well-known singles such as Dirty Old Town, The Irish Rover, A Pair Of Brown Eyes, Dark Streets Of London & Sally MacLennane. The band released five albums between 1984 & 1990, their 1990 & 5th album was namely 'Hell's Ditch' which features songs The Ghost of a Smile, Summer in Siam, Rain Street & popular Sunny Side Of The Street.
Around 1988 Shane was told by medics that he would have to give up drinking or it would kill him.
In 1991 he was sacked by 'The Pogues' due to his constant unreliable & chaotic behaviour, especially influenced by his heavy drinking during the live tours in America & in Japan where he just failed to turn-up.
Upon Shane leaving, singer of the Clash, Joe Strummer filled in on lead vocals until Spider became the front man in 1992.
Later Shane said of his drinking, that he hadn't been sober a single day in his life since he was 14years old. Shane had the taste for drink as early as 4years old when his family gave him Guinness to help him sleep.
Afterwards he formed his own band naming it 'Shane MacGowan and the Popes', while he was with them, they released two Albums in 1994 & 1997.
Also in 1997, Shane appeared alongside Lou Reed and stars including David Bowie, Elton John, Bono, Heather Small & Tom Jones on Reed's number one song 'Perfect Day' for the Children In Need charity.
In 2001, Shane returned & performing with his old band The Pogues in a sell-out tour. No new music was recorded by them but they continued to tour for several years until 2014.
In 2009, On the channel RTE, he appeared in his own reality TV show with long-time girlfriend & fiancé Victoria Mary Clarke. It showed their attempts to grow their own food.
~
The constant drinking & drug use took a heavy impact on Shane's teeth - leaving him with his infamous 'wreck' of a smile & missing gnashers.
in 2015, a Christmas special documentary called 'Shane MacGowan: A Wreck Reborn' was broadcast filming a 9hour medical procedure in which Shane had 28 new dentures fitted complete with a new gold tooth. His surgeon called the event an "Everest of dentistry" while the "wreck" in the title was apparently the singer's own idea..,
In a Sky Arts documentary, Shane 57 [at the time] said "I am dreading it, but it's got to be done." as he bravely took the decision due to having limited teeth gave him issues with eating & singing. "When I was very small I had teeth taken out by a string round the tooth and then put on the door handle there. They wouldn't tell you what they were going to do, they would just bang the door and out came the tooth."
2018 at his special 60th birthday celebration at the National Concert Hall in Dublin celebrities such as Johnny Depp, Bono, Cerys Matthews, Sinead O'Connor, etc. performed his songs in celebration.
The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins presented him with a Lifetime Achievement award the 'Ivor Novello Inspiration Award' for songwriting.
This was one of the last public performances made by Shane MacGowan.
September 2020 a new documentary titled "Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan", directed by Julien Temple and produced by Johnny Depp, featured unseen archival footage from the band and MacGowan's family, as well as animation from illustrator Ralph Steadman.
"The lyrics are all about fighting, drinking, dying... you know, the things that everybody does." he said of his music.
Director & filmmaker Julien Temple said afterwards that knowing full-well he was dealing with a 'difficult character', he said "it was like David Attenborough tracking down an elusive snow leopard". "Shaun MacGowan is a one-off", Temple said, "I guess that's what makes him great."
In 2021 Mick Cronin of Irish Rock/Indie band 'Cronin' reportedly told the New York Times newspaper that Shane MacGowan had recorded with them in May of the same year. "Once he's in the studio, he's all guns blazing," said the drummer.
[*As a long-time fan myself, I heard years-ago of Shane, that 'no matter how much drink he had consumed, 'once he started singing he was 'word & note' perfect. LMcK.]
In November 2022: He released his first art book called 'The Eternal Buzz and the Crock of Gold'.
It included his personal artwork, handwritten lyrics and school essays which have never been seen before. He described his book as the "spit, snot and tears" of his art which was praised by critic Waldemar Januszczak for his "demented, wild, fascinating, scabrous kind of energy".
The books sold for £1,000 each to raise money for Shane's medical care.
Shane's personality shone through our television screens with interviews always revealing his rebellious side for which he was just as famous for.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tributes Paid.
Shane's wife, Victoria Mary Clarke wrote on Instagram abt 11.30am today:
"I don't know how to say this so I am just going to say it.
Shane who will always be the light that I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love of my life and the most beautiful soul and beautiful angel and the sun and the moon and the start and end of everything that I hold dear has gone to be with Jesus and Mary and his beautiful mother Therese.
I am blessed beyond words to have met him and to have loved him and to have been so endlessly and unconditionally loved by him and to have had so many years of life and love and joy and fun and laughter and so many adventures.
There's no way to describe the loss that I am feeling and the longing for just one more of his smiles that lit up my world. Thank you thank you thank you thank you for your presence in this world you made it so very bright and you gave so much joy to so many people with your heart and soul and your music. You will live in my heart forever.
Rave on in the garden all wet with rain that you loved so much You meant the world to me."
~
The Pogues shared a statement:
"It is with the deepest of sorrow and heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Shane MacGowan. Shane died peacefully at 3am this morning with his wife Victoria and family by his side."
~
While Shane's sister Siobhan lovingly wrote:
'So I walked as day was dawning;
as small birds sang and leaves were falling,
where we once watched the row boats
landing on the Broad Majestic Shannon'.
~
Mr Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland, reported that:
"Shane will be remembered as one of music's greatest lyricists.
So many of his songs would be perfectly crafted poems, if that would not have deprived us of the opportunity to hear him sing them.
The genius of Shane's contribution includes the fact that his songs capture within them, as Shane would put it, the measure of our dreams - of so many worlds, and particularly those of love, of the emigrant experience and of facing the challenges of that experience with authenticity and courage, and of living and seeing the sides of life that so many turn away from."
He continued, "His words have connected Irish people all over the globe to their culture and history, encompassing so many human emotions in the most poetic of ways."
He finished paying tribute by saying: "It was a great honour for me, as President of Ireland, to present Shane with a lifetime achievement award in the National Concert Hall in January 2018 as we marked his 60th birthday. A richly deserved honour!"
~
Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald paid tribute saying that he was "a poet, a dreamer and a champion of Social Justice". She continued saying that Ireland had lost "one of its most beloved icons and the world one of its greatest songwriters".
"Nobody told the Irish story like Shane - stories of emigration, heartache, dislocation, redemption, love and joy... Shane brought his musical unique style to all corners of the world, and his music will continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.
Today we mourn his passing. He was one of the best of us.
Ni bheidh a leitheid aris ann."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[The Sun Newspaper Reports:]
Shane MacGowan funeral celebrates Pogues' icon's 'trailblazer' life as Johnny Depp attends star-studded service
LEGEND'S FAREWELL
Shane MacGowan funeral celebrates Pogues' icon's 'trailblazer' life as Johnny Depp attends star-studded service.
Applause erupted from crowds which formed a guard of honour as the Fairytale of New York singer's hearse made it's way to the church.
SHANE MacGowan's funeral is celebrating the legendary Pogues' frontman's life as a "poet, lyricist, singer and trailblazer".
Hundreds of mourners gathered at the star-studded funeral service to say their final farewell to the Fairytale of New York icon at the Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh, Tipperary.
Many thanks to our National Treasure Shane MacGowan for the legend he has left us with.
♤♡◇♧ ♤♡◇♧ ♤♡◇♧ ♤♡◇♧ ♤♡◇♧ ♤♡◇♧
Bio by Linda McKinney
Gravesite Details
Funeral at Saint Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh. MacGowan will be cremated in a private ceremony.
- Update -
It had been reported MacGowan's ashes were to be spread in the river Shannon, however sources state no decision has been made.
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