Shane McGowan Has Died

[Slim]

I hope you like Fairytale Of New York, because you'll be hearing it quite often over the next few weeks.

Fortunately, I do.

Sad news, but I'm amazed he made it to 65.

[The Picnic Wasp]

It's a wonderful song and a real tearjerker. Even more so now. He truly was a fascinating character and very talented songsmith.

RIP

[Thenop]

I like the earlier Pogues when going out, but it's not something I'd play at home.

He left his mark, that's for sure.

RIP

[captainkurtz]

Not a fan of the song or the pogues, but the older I get the sadder I am when a respected artist - even one I'm not a fan of - passes.

Must have been very difficult for his loved ones over the last few years - he looked in pretty awful shape.

RIP, I'll raise a cup of tea to him tonight.

[pdw1]

There's your Xmas number 1

[David L]

Not a fan of the song or the pogues, but the older I get the sadder I am when a respected artist - even one I'm not a fan of - passes.

Must have been very difficult for his loved ones over the last few years - he looked in pretty awful shape.

I think they were used to him looking in pretty awful shape, tbf

[David L]

A fan of the pork and herb delicacy made famous by Brains, I recall

[Matt2112]

In 2014 I was on "chaperone duty" at a gig in Hyde Park where The Pogues were second on the bill.

For every other song, McGowan simply disappeared from the stage, presumably to get more pissed.  For the songs for which he was on stage, he sounded unintelligible and out of breath.  I remember thinking he was surely short-changing his audience but of course the crowd absolutely lapped it up.  Fair play to the guy.

Yes, Fairytale is wonderfully evergreen; I hope the "original" version prevails for its countless radio plays over the next few weeks.