Shane Macgowan: Last News

Shane MacGowan’s wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, has revealed that she is in grief counselling following the death of her husband.The Irish musician and iconic frontman of The Pogues died “peacefully” in hospital from pneumonia on November 30. He was 65 years old.

The Pogues have revealed the guest vocalists for their 2025 ‘Rum Sodomy & The Lash’ UK tour.The band will be heading on a UK tour in May, making stops in cities including Leeds, Glasgow, Newcastle, Birmingham and Manchester. Last Friday (January 31) they announced the guest vocalists who will join them for their 2025 ‘Rum Sodomy & The Lash’ tour, marking the 40th anniversary of their 1985 album of the same name.The tour will feature original members James Fearnley, Jem Finer and Spider Stacy along with guest musicians Holly Mullineaux (bass), Jordan O’Leary (banjo), Fiachra Meek (pipes/whistles – Alfi), John Dermody (drums – Lankum) plus brass section Pete Fraser, Daniel Hayes and Ian Williamson.The roster of vocalists includes Nadine Shah, Iona Zajac, John Francis Flynn, Lisa O’Neill and Lankum‘s Daragh Lynch.A post shared by The Pogues (@thepoguesofficial)The band are set to play their 1985 LP ‘Rum Sodomy & the Lash’ in its entirety along with B-sides, extended version tracks and a special selection of their most beloved material.

Pat Saperstein Deputy Editor Hozier was the musical guest on “Saturday Night Live‘s” Christmas edition Saturday night, and for his second song, the Irish artist paid tribute to the Pogues’ classic “Fairytale of New York.” On social media, viewers praised Hozier’s emotional cover of the song that has become a Christmas standard since it was released in 1987, finding it a fitting tribute to the Pogues’ singer Shane MacGowan, who died in 2013, as well as to the late Kristy MacColl, who dueted with MacGowan on the song. “Hozier performing ‘Fairytale of New York’ has to be the most Irish thing ever and I’m here for it,” wrote one fan on X.

Hozier performed ‘Too Sweet’ and a cover of The Pogues’ ‘Fairytale of New York’ on Saturday Night Live – watch footage of the performance below.Last night (December 21), the singer-songwriter appeared on the show for the first time since he debuted on the series in 2014. Introduced by Martin Short, he performed his runaway hit ‘Too Sweet’, taken from this year’s surprise release ‘Unheard EP’.The March record featured four previously unreleased songs, all of which were recorded during the sessions for ‘Unreal Unearth’.

Fontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten joined The Pogues on stage to perform ‘Streams Of Whiskey’ in Dublin last night (December 17).

Kirsty MacColl tragically lost her life while heroically trying to save her son from danger on a family holiday.

The Pogues have addressed the culture wars surrounding their song ‘Fairytale Of New York’ in a new interview with NME.The 1987 Christmas track, which is performed by Kirsty MacColl and The Pogues frontman Shane McGowan, has been at the centre of debate in recent years due to its use of a homophobic slur f****t in its lyrics.In 2018 McGowan defended the word, saying that it was never intended to be homophobic, though two years later BBC Radio 1 announced they would be playing a censored version in the run-up to Christmas – a move followed by BBC Radio 2 in 2022.The decision prompted criticism from some, including Nick Cave who said that removing the word “destroys the song by deflating it right at its essential and most reckless moment, stripping it of its value.”In 2019, actress and screenwriter Ruth Jones also faced backlash after Gavin & Stacey included the lyric in that year’s Christmas TV special.

The Pogues have spoken to NME about their 2025 tour in celebration of the 40th anniversary of ‘Rum Sodomy & The Lash’, playing without Shane MacGowan, and how Fontaines D.C. helped pave the way for the run of dates.The Irish icons recently announced their first headline tour in 13 years – and first since the passing of Shane MacGowan – which will feature the original members James Fearnley, Jem Finer and Spider Stacy, alongside a cast of guests standing in for the late frontman.It will come off the back of two shows that commemorate 40 years of The Pogues’ debut album ‘Red Roses For Me’ this year.

The Pogues have announced a 2025 UK and Ireland tour in celebration of the 40th anniversary of ‘Rum Sodomy & The Lash’.The run of dates will commence at the O2 Academy in Leeds on May 1, 2025 and will see the Irish icons make stops in Birmingham, London, Glasgow and Manchester before wrapping up the tour at the O2 City Hall in Newcastle on May 8.The tour will feature original members James Fearnley, Jem Finer and Spider Stacy along with special guests in their first UK appearance since 2014, when they performed at London’s Hyde Park with The Libertines. The tour also marks their first UK headline tour in 13 years.A ticket pre-sale will be available on Wednesday (November 20) for fans who sign up here by 5pm tomorrow (November 19).

The widow of late Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan is coming to Scotland for a special tribute to the Fairytale of New York star.

Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd has opened up about how Shane MacGowan and The Pogues have influenced his work.Gadd’s recent Netflix series claims to tell the “true story” of his real-life stalking experience and reached the top of the streaming charts after going viral online.In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Gadd opened up about his inspirations and in particular, the music of The Pogues and the late Shane MacGowan.The Irish musician and iconic frontman died “peacefully” in hospital from pneumonia on November 30. He was 65 years old.

Bruce Springsteen has paid tribute to the late Shane MacGowan with a rousing cover of a Pogues classic while performing in Ireland – watch fan-shot footage of the performance below.On Sunday night (May 12), Springsteen performed at the Nowlan Park in Kilkenny, Ireland. To kick off the show in a special way, Springsteen and The E Street Band began their setlist with a cover of The Pogues’ ‘A Rainy Night In Soho’.Watch fan-shot footage of ‘A Rainy Night In Soho’ below.@springsteen OPENING UP KILKENNY WITH @poguesofficial RAINY NIGHT IN SOHO!! @springsteen #SpringsteenTour2024 #Springsteen #estreetband pic.twitter.com/3vfabQ4WGa— Spring-Nuts (@SpringNuts_) May 12, 2024While ‘A Rainy Night In Soho’ was the first song to be performed during the concert, it wasn’t the first song that Springsteen played on Sunday.

Shane MacGowan‘s widow, has shared that she is searching for her late husband’s missing Easter Rising rifle which “meant so much to him”.Clarke announced on social media that the late Pogues frontman’s rifle from the 1916 Easter Rising has gone missing and is suspected to have been stolen. The firearm, which was used during the Irish rebellion against the British government, was a Lee–Enfield 303.It was a 60th birthday gift to MacGowan from singer-songwriter Glen Hansard and was used in the takeover of the General Post Office (GPO) in Dublin during the Easter Rising.Taking to her official X/Twitter account, Clarke tweeted: “Shane’s 1916 rifle has gone missing, most likely been stolen.

Mötley Crüe and Guns N’ Roses has said that he thought Johnny Depp was “the worst guitarist I’d ever seen”.Tom Zutaut is a celebrated A&R executive, and in a recent interview on the X5 Podcast he disclosed that after seeing an early audition of a band that Depp was playing in before rising to Hollywood fame, he dismissed his musical talents offhand.“I thought that Johnny Depp wasn’t going to be a rock star,” he said. “You know, Johnny Depp auditioned for me twice.

Pat Saperstein Deputy EditorMovie, TV and music fans are already remembering notable figures who have died since the start of 2024. “An Officer and a Gentleman” Oscar winner Louis Gossett Jr., “Curb Your Enthusiasm” actor Richard Lewis, “Starsky and Hutch” star David Soul and “Honeymooners” star Joyce Randolph, who played Trixie, are among celebrities from the world of television who have died. In film, cinephiles are remembering “Moonstruck” director Norman Jewison and “Mary Poppins” actress Glynis Johns.Last year, the entertainment community said goodbye to celebrities including musicians Jimmy Buffett, Shane McGowan, Robbie Robertson and David Crosby, actors Andre Braugher and Matthew Perry, writer-producer Norman Lear and director William Friedkin.David Soul, who starred as Sergeant Kenneth Richard “Hutch” Hutchinson in the TV series “Starsky & Hutch,” died Jan.

Sinead O’Connor’s daughter performed an emotional cover of ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ during a tribute show in the US last night (March 20) – watch the footage below.The special concert, which was announced in January, took place at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Dubbed ‘Sinéad & Shane At Carnegie Hall’, the event was held in memory of O’Connor and the late Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan – both of whom died last year.As the Independent reports, “the closing suite of songs” included a moving rendition of O’Connor’s classic 1990 single ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ by her 28-year-old daughter Roisin Waters.She appeared barefoot on stage and was backed by a live band.

Ricky Wilson has recounted the time that Shane MacGowan once asked for an apple from Kaiser Chiefs‘ rider, which he later used to smoke crack.Wilson was speaking to The Guardian for their ‘Flashback series’, in which they recreate a photo of their younger self and reflect on how their lives have changed since the photo was taken. The shot Wilson recreated was from New Years Eve 2001, in which he was covered in the streamers from a party popper.While he was recalling how “starstruck” the young Kaiser Chiefs would get around other artists as they were breaking through, Wilson mentioned the amusing incident with the late frontman of The Pogues which took place at a festival.“I was always starstruck, too – we’d get to a festival, lock ourselves in our dressing room, and point and stare at all the other artists as they arrived. Shane MacGowan once came into our dressing room.

Green Day side-project The Coverups have announced two intimate London shows – find all the details below.Formed in 2018, the group features Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt along with Green Day touring member Jason White, their audio engineer Chris Dugan, tour manager Bill Schneider (also of Pinhead Gunpowder), and musician Greg Schneider.Today (February 22), The Coverups confirmed that they’ll take to the stage at The Garage in Highbury, North London next Tuesday (February 27) before returning for a second set the following Friday (March 1).The band will be joined at the 600-capacity venue by support act Lovebreakers on both dates.Tickets went on sale earlier today (February 22) – you can buy yours here (subject to availability).Captioning an official poster for the upcoming shows, The Coverups wrote: “Hello London! Come have fun with us!” They had previously teased the performances by sharing a photo of the Union Jack, writing: “I’m so bored.” See both posts below.A post shared by Thecoverups (@the__coverups)A post shared by Thecoverups (@the__coverups)The Coverups brought 2023 to a close by staging a New Year’s Eve show at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Per Setlist.FM, the 31-track set saw the outfit take on hits by The Strokes and The Clash, and cover The Pogues in honour of Shane MacGowan.On New Years Eve 2022, The Coverups played songs by the likes of Nirvana and Ramones during a special set at the legendary Viper Room in Hollywood.

Sinead O’Connor‘s death has been confirmed.The Irish music legend died at the age of 56 last July. At the time, police confirmed that she was found unresponsive at her home in London and was pronounced dead at the scene.No medical cause for her death was given at the time, with London Inner South Coroner’s Court saying a post-mortem would be conducted and the results could take several weeks.Now, the coroner has confirmed she died of natural causes and said it was no longer investigating her death, reports Sky News.She was laid to rest at a ceremony in the Irish town of Bray last August, with Bob Geldof and Bono among those paying tribute at her funeral.It was also reported that a heartwarming tribute had been installed on cliffs overlooking the coast town – designed by Dublin-based creative agency The Tenth Man.The message showed the words ‘Eire’, the Irish name for Ireland, and ‘Sinéad’ joined by a heart.

Sinéad O’Connor died of natural cases, the coroner in London has said.

Shane MacGowan and Sinéad O’Connor this March.The tribute concert, dubbed ‘Sinéad & Shane at Carnegie Hall’, will take place on March 20, with limited VIP packages already on sale via its website – general admission passes go on sale January 22. The Carnegie Hall concert will see some of MacGowan’s and O’Connor’s musical friends pay homage to their legacy with covers of their songs.A post shared by DROPKICK MURPHYS (@dropkickmurphys)Billed to perform so far are Dropkick Murphys, Cat Power, David Gray, Amanda Palmer, Glen Hansard, Eugene Hütz, Gordon Gano, The Mountain Goats, Bettye Lavette, Julia Cumming, Kat Edmonson and the Resistance Revival Chorus.