A documentary on the Pogues was on tonight, and my wife was stunned. How could a guy with such a great voice look, well, like Shane McGowan. I watched as an image in her mind’s eye was smashed like so many drunken teeth.
I had to laugh.
Let me start by saying that i absolutely love The Pgues. I have all their albums—from McGowan’s days and after—and they’re definitely among my two or three favorite artists.
I also think that Shane McGowan’s voice is perfectly suited to their punk-influenced Irish folk rock.
But i would never describe him as having a “great voice,” at least not in any classical sense. His voice is raw and emotional and loud, but it’s not exactly a great singing voice, in the way those things often often judged.
Personally, i think his voice and his looks are perfectly matched, and i wouldn’t want him any other way.
I’ll have to remember this!
What was the documentary you saw? I’ve seen If I Should Fall from Grace, which was shot pretty recently. He looked like hell. I think he’s drinking himself to death, and he’s getting close to that goal. 
I saw him a couple of years ago and wished I hadn’t. He was so drunk he couldn’t remember his songs. He was having difficulty moving and pretty much just hung on to the microphone mumbling his lyrics. It was heartbreaking.
The Pogues were one of the greatest bands ever, IMO. But Shane now lives in a sadly fallen state.
I saw him, with The Pogues, in Sydney in the 80s. He and they were great. Later I saw an interview with McGowan where he acknowledged that the band’s drinking was effecting their performance. So they stopped drinking spirits and wine before a show and limitted themselves to ten pints of beer each.
That’s restraint.
By the way Johnny Depp plays some of the guitar on The Snake by Shane and The Popes.
Shane is hot only in Cafe Society.
It’s true.
I’ll move him there for you.
I think Depp is also in the video for “Victoria.”
Anyway, I recently watched If I Should Fall From Grace and was pretty horrified watching McGowan slur his way through the interviews. Not that I thought him to be the model of temperance, ever, but I guess it’s always kind of shocking to see someone that low.
I used to have an album that had MacGowan singing a duet with Sinead O’Connor. Talk about a mismatch.
O’Connor had such a pretty little angelic voice, singing about how her boyfriend was a little shy. MacGowan? Shy???
MacGowan sang in his usual drunken bum style, and when they joined together for the chorus, it was like oil and vinegar. “I’m haunted by the ghost, Oh I’m haunted by the ghost…” Sheesh, what publicist thought of THAT idea?
It’s called “Haunted” and it’s on the extended version of The Snake by Shane MacGowan and the Popes. And it’s “I want to be haunted by the ghost…” I love the contrast between their voices/styles!
I saw Shane MacGowan with the Popes at the Fillmore a few years ago, with the esteemable woodstockbirdybird. Shane made it through the entire show without passing out, and he even remembered the words to most songs.
He also did the kick assingest version of “Sally MacLennane” I’ve heard in ages.
Shane ain’t easy on the eye, that’s for sure. He wears his addictions on his… well, face. And teeth. And fingers.
Me too. It’s one of my favorite post-Pogues numbers by Shane.
How is this not hot?
I liked the part in If I Should Fall From Grace where Shane gives all of the money in his pockets, wads of cash, to a homeless guy lying on the sidewalk … and then tries to steal a bicycle locked to a railing.
Me and the Mrs. are seeing the Pogues on St. Patrick’s Day. I hope Shane lives that long.
Me too. Hoping he lives that long, that is.
If I Should Fall From Grace was pretty horrifying, even though I knew what to expect. Watching him struggle to express a thought, then just let out that hissing laugh and give up… Damn.
Love the man, love the music, but both break my heart.