Years ago, I worked in an irish theme bar to fund my return to education, there was plenty of craic, live music, dancing girls and the black stuff.  although this takes me back to a fantastic time, I really dont get the Shane thing.  the music is phenominominal but why spoil it with someone who seems to have no redeming features.  RIP Kirsty McCall.

Yea I know the guy is a trainwreck, but man when he could stand up, he seemed to harness all of the emotions of Ireland in his voice. Powerful stuff!

Not "were" and "was" — "are" and "is." I saw them a few months ago. Original lineup—all the guys pictured here. Great fun!

I know it's early ~ but hearing the Pogues always makes me wanna have a drink ~ love it

I'm tired of hearing about liquor every time the Pogues come up. They were a big band, and Shane MacGowan was only one part of it. His personal issues are his alone, but their beautiful music is for us and the ages.

Calling anything by the Pogues a drinking song is redundant.

Wow! Is this a drinking song? 'Cause he sounds pretty drunk.

Blimey....makes me yearn for the Emerald Isle, even though the songs about London.
A proper pint of the black stuff and a walk along the Cliffs of Moher..perfect

I once served Shane in an HMV in Dublin. It was before 10 am, he stank of booze (either suffering from a REALLY bad hangover, or working on the next!), was clutching a Red Bull as if his life depended on it, was wearing a FILTHY auld suit, and was fumbling around for loose change and crumpled notes in order to pay for... POGUES albums! He was playing some live dates that week, perhaps he'd forgotten the lyrics, ha ha ha! Perhaps the very epitome of the great Irish literary and musical traditions, and of its roguish charm! Pity he's so comprehensively wrecked himself, physically, though. Still, talent is talent... Just try to listen to "And the band played Waltzing Matilda" without getting at least a lump in your throat, his voice is SO bleakly sad. Still one of my heroes, he's thrown away more poetry over a bottle of whiskey than most people manage in a lifetime. LONG LIVE SHANE! An acquaintance once reported interviewing him in his kitchen, surrounded by mountains of crumpled sheets, some containing the most amazing lyrics and writing... Makes you think...

Utter nonsense. Perhaps the greatest American poets, Wallace Stevens and TS Eliot were not fugly, nor did they drink particularly much. It is a great tragedy to romanticize Shane's drinking which is what caused that "mug" in the first place.

I like my artists ugly. Dylan, McGowan, Waits, Bukowski, Henry Miller. Unforgiving creativity comes from years behind a not so pretty mug.

Shane would look good on the front cover of Mad magazine - the new Alfred E.

Blimey....makes me yearn for the Emerald Isle, even though the songs about London.
A proper pint of the black stuff and a walk along the Cliffs of Moher..perfect

I can't believe this is being compared to riverdance.

Essbee wrote:
Oh you totally need to find "HiTM How Are You Today?" by Ashley MacIsaac. My friends and I call it "Celtic Thrash;" it's fiddle, guitar and skin drum played at about 1000 miles per hour. There's a track called "Devil in the Kitchen" that's particularly caffeinated, and everytime I hear it I think "Hey Michael Flatley, Riverdance to THIS, ya schmuck!!"

I like my artists ugly. Dylan, McGowan, Waits, Bukowski, Henry Miller. Unforgiving creativity comes from years behind a not so pretty mug.

The Irish thing has grown tiring for me. Probably ever since I saw Riverdance. Now all I think about is, "just move your ARMS, dammit! You can DO it!"

We've all (most of us) been there...

I like my artists ugly. Dylan, McGowan, Waits, Bukowski, Henry Miller. Unforgiving creativity comes from years behind a not so pretty mug.

Here he is, Shane McGowan
Let that be a lesson to all the young folk