The Pogues: Classic or Dud

And I think he will be touring with the Pogues in America in March 2008

"ferried around america with the pogues" might be a better construction. but he made 50, that's an achievement. the man's liver gives hope to us all. really all his organs deserve respect.

Will someone please, please, please tell me who the woman is singing on this. I don't believe it's Kirsty MacColl. Please. Is this on a Pogues album? It's a b-side isn't it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN-8JpgmA0s

Sounds like Belinda Carlisle but it's probably Cait O'Riordan.

that's Cait O'Riordan, who used to play bass for the Pogues until Daryl Hunt took over from "If I Should Fall..." Unfortunately, she married Elvis Costello after he produced "Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash."

That song was written by Shane MacGowan but it's on the Sid and Nancy soundtrack. It's also on the excellent Pogues box set that just came out.

incidentally, MONUMENTAL CLASSIC. That box set kicks fucking ass.

also a great version of that song with sinead o'connor on shane's first solo album.

It was a single in its own right as well. As tipsy says, there's a version on "The Snake" as well featuring Sinead O'Connor.

Sinead O'Connor version is not as good, IMHO. And his solo version of "Rake at the Gates of Hell" is fucking terrible compared to the original. But, shockingly, he made another amazing Christmas song after he went solo. It's called "Christmas Lullaby" and unbelievably, it's nearly as good as "Fairytale of New York." That song was on a limited edition single only, alas.

i sort of prefer the sinead version, it's more wistful and draws out the melody more. both are great though. "you looked so cool you could have put out vietnam" is one of my favorite shane lines.

here's the video to the album version of shane/sinead. (produced by trevor horn!)

Thanks ILM!!!!!!!!!

obligatory st paddy's day pogues video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TejJDFt6Tkk&feature=related

and now I am lying here and I've had too much booze

xmas eve in the drunk tank

TOO EARLY

(<3)

i'm sad to say, i must be on me way
So buy me beer and whiskey cos I'm goin far away

Still one of the best live shows I've attended was the Pogues along with Joe Strummer back in 1988 or so. Listen to 'em less than I used to, but still got a place in my heart for RUM, and even for HELL'S DITCH.

James Fearnley has written an AMAZING memoir about his time with the Pogues. I pretty much read it start to finish nonstop today. He's a phenomenally good writer, and boy does it tell a good story.

http://www.amazon.com/Here-Comes-Everybody-Pogues-ebook/dp/B007Q25LBI/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345612229&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=here+comes+everyone+fearnley

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/06_01/poguesMS0206_468x370.jpg

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/06_01/poguesMS0206_468x370.jpg

That picture is, sadly, both classic and dud.

Nice homburg, tho

That, my friends, is the face of a man who has lived life on his own terms.

http://i.imgur.com/8FLJn.jpg

it's amazing what a set of dentures can do.

With the teeth in he looks like Steve Coogan on a bender.

Anyone read this?
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BByiRCCvL._SS500_.jpg

My book here says it's Shane McGowan's birthday today. He's 50 years old.

― Bimble, Wednesday, December 26, 2007 12:11 AM (4 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I like to think Bimble had a book with every musician's birthday in it and he'd finish off each day by looking through it and choosing to whom he'd wish a happy birthday.

I was going to get that book, but haven't yet. You can read sections of it on Amazon. What I read of it, it seemed somewhat academic to me. The author also wrote a positive review on Amazon for James Fearnley's (Pogues accordion player) book.

Sad news:

http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2013/1008/479139-pogues-member-phil-chevron-has-died/

At least it was peaceful...

:(

RIP. As Joe Strummer noted, he was great at that insanely fast Irish triple-time strumming thing.

He wrote "Lorelei" and "Thousands are Sailing," two of the best Pogues tracks (power ballads?). Sad,

Yeah, I love both of those. R.I.P.

RIP

It's rare that "Thousands are Sailing" doesn't make me cry. I cannot sing along with it without my voice shaking.

oh wow, RIP.

aren't they doing some gigs coming up?

yeap: http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2013/09/24/pogues-tour-dates-rum-sodomy-lash/

Dec. 15: O2 Apollo, Manchester, UK
Dec. 17: O2 Academy, Glasgow, UK
Dec. 19: O2 Academy Brixton, London, UK
Dec. 20: O2 Academy Brixton, London, UK

Anyone pick up the new 30 Years box set? I really want to hear the remixes of Red Roses For Me and especially Lilywhite's new Peace and Love. The inclusion of a Strummer set from December '91 is a nice bonus.

Huh. Didn't know about that. So it's just the albums, no bonus tracks, plus that live set and two remixed albums?

yup. I don't want to buy all the records - I have last decade's expanded reissues - but I'd love to pick up the remixes. Heck, I'd be okay with streaming them legally but can't find a place to do so.

Ha:

Step 1: take 7 albums; sell
Step 2: make compilation; sell again
Step 3: add bonus tracks; sell again
Step 4: make another compilation; sell again
Step 5: remove bonus tracks; sell again
Step 6: make another compilation; sell again
Step 7: repackage in boxset; sell again
Step 8: make another compilation; sell again
Step 9: remix two, add live album, repackage in different boxset; sell again
Step 10: go to 1

sad but true. I can't see myself springing for a third time on pogues cds. Though I've never owned the two post-Hell's Ditch records.

I've only ever owned "The Best Of" and "The Rest Of", which I love. I'm going to pick up the Rhino editions of the first 3 and possibly the "Just Look Them Straight In The Eye And Say Pogue Mahone" odds and ends box set. There's not much discussion about that box - thoughts?

I love the "Pogue Mahone" box set, but it's obviously only for the most rabid fans. The highlight for me is the stark version of "The Auld Triangle" from the John Peel show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RousyTQB6iY

The new "30 Years" box set seems pretty pointless to me, since it doesn't include any bonus tracks and leaves out entirely the great "Poguetry in Motion" EP. The remastered CDs have all the extras, including that EP.

New mixes and a live disc. Not enough for me. Need to pick up the Pogue Mohone box though.

leaves out entirely the great "Poguetry in Motion" EP

!!! that is crazy

One last Pogues mention for today. For my bachelor party, a bunch of my friends rented an orange van (we looked like escapees from a mental hospital), put a keg in the back and started driving from Rhode Island to Boston. The whole way up they were threatening to take me to strip joints in the Combat Zone, which is the last thing I wanted to do. We parked, walked around a bit and then turned a corner to see a giant sign all lit up: "Tonight Only: The Pogues." What a relief! This was the 1991 tour, when Joe Strummer was fronting the band, so we heard "London Calling" and "I Fought the Law" among the usual fare. Then we headed over to Tower Records (long since gone), where I dropped over a hundred bucks. What a great night.

Roots geek here. Just wanted to rep for the boxset. It's tempting to dismiss it because they've been doing useless annual best-ofs for so long, but it's pretty great. Notes:

Red Roses For Me sounds much better. Vocals have a lot more clarity, and the low end has been cranked way up. You notice immediately.

Peace and Love is a new album. It's totally different now. Instrumental parts you didn't know existed, vocals mixed so differently they don't sound like the same take. Harmonies that weren't there. Really made me reevaluate it. Still hit or miss obviously, but I like it a lot more now.

The Strummer live album should have been sold by itself. It's one of the coolest things in their catalogue, and they've been talking about putting it out for a decade. I don't know why it's buried in something that looks like a greatest hits. Strummer brings huge energy to the proceedings, and outsings MacGowan on the Hell's Ditch stuff. It's great hearing him sing If I Should Fall From Grace, a song that he clearly loves. And his electric rhythm is all over the place, which I dig.

i felt a bit of a kinship with his Dad being the only one not clapping, something about applause at a funeral in a church that feels slightly craven/sacriligious

always feel a bit overcome for parents who outlive their children
he’s quite up there iirc, isnt he in his mid 90’s?

but the funeral also felt v mcgowan & the highspiritedness was of course appropriate for him & his vibe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQFLz0WHhSA

Highly, highly recommend the late Carol Clerk's "Kiss My Arse: The Story of the Pogues." I think it's out of print, but I was able to find an e copy*, and wow, is it not just a great story in its own right, it's one of the best rock and roll books I've ever read to delve into the nuts and bolts business stuff of being in a big band. Everyone is amazingly transparent and honest, and of course the stories are incredible.

*(if anyone wants a copy, hmu ...)

What about that other book, Here Comes Everybody?

That was written by Fearnley, right? I think I may have only one Pogues book in me, but I bet that's good, too. The interviews with everyone in the one I read were really intelligent and funny and honest.

a year ago today

playing Rum Sodomy & The Lash up to the heavens <3

This is good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUSNzqqLFT0

For the second year in a row, we'll be at the Pogues live tribute at the London Irish Centre next Friday; hopefully a yearly xmas tradition we can continue for a while. A good time.

that sounds pretty great

What about that other book, Here Comes Everybody?

― Sir Lester Leaps In (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, October 29, 2024 7:16 PM (one month ago) bookmarkflaglin

I enjoyed it when I read it a few years ago.
Was thinking on seeing expanded 40th anniversary editions that I stupidly passed up chances to see the early band despite being aware of them and being acquainted with Shane as record shop staff in the shop behind the Virgin Megastore. Was trying to think if I ever saw them at one of various festivals a little later. Do have the single cds now.

i

Bob Dylan covered A Rainy Night in Soho as the final song of his set in Phoenix last night.

From the great "Kiss My Arse" Pogues book:

In September, they flew out to America for the most prestigious dates of their career, supporting Bob Dylan at six concerts in southern California before heading off to other states for their own headlining tour. It seems that Dylan had personally asked for the band, having heard about them from his son Jesse, a confirmed fan. And the word was that he was really looking forward to seeing them play.

Unfortunately for everybody, Shane MacGowan didn’t get on the plane. Frantic transatlantic phone calls ensued, with Shane complaining that airline staff kept banning him from boarding because he was drunk.

Dylan met his support band

only once, venturing out from behind his wall of security on the first night to shake their hands as they came offstage and exchange a few words. He’d watched the set but passed no comment about it. After that, they didn’t see him again, except on stage. They did, however, see Bruce Springsteen, who visited their dressing room at the Greek Theatre, an outdoor venue set among trees in Los Angeles.

Andrew Ranken gives Shane’s story the benefit of the doubt. He says: “I’ve always been a huge Bob Dylan fan and I thought it was a major coup to get on that tour. I’ve never understood what Shane’s problem was except that I think he’d been on one of his holidays in Thailand. I think he was certainly doing opium when he went there, but God knows what else as well. He did that a couple of times, went off to Thailand and thoroughly indulged himself and came back in a state where he wasn’t fit for anything. He was stopped from boarding a plane. That’s fact. Two or three times he wasn’t allowed to get on the plane cos he was too out of it. I thought, ‘What a twat.’

“I think he may have realised that he wasn’t in a fit state to perform properly. Maybe he was doing us all a big favour by not turning up. Dear old Shane – thank God he didn’t come! It could’ve been a disaster! Who knows?”

Spider also sees a certain humour in the situation: “I do remember backstage at one of the Dylan gigs, all the Californian (Hell’s) Angels were there. I was just thinking, ‘It’s a good thing that Shane isn’t actually here.’ I could just see an unpleasant situation developing if he took exception to them.”

Stacy agrees with Jem that the most probable explanation for Shane’s missing the flights – either by accident or design – was that he “wasn’t that bothered about going”.

Darryl suggests, thoughtfully, that the airport staff in London “could’ve handled it better – they didn’t have to give him so much trouble”. And he says of Shane’s no-show, “There might have been a psychosomatic thing going on. Maybe he wanted to stay on the sunny side of the street. Maybe there was a Bob Dylan thing going on – he was very keen to see us and I think he recognised in Shane a fellow story-teller, a poet. Shane could’ve been quite freaky about even working with him. Shane’s quite shy sometimes. Bob Dylan was pretty disappointed.”

Philip Chevron agrees: “Shane’s always been a bit angsty, reserved or stand-offish, with people who would be his peers. There are very few people in his class who he actually knows, partly because he’s shy and partly because he hates the implied competition. Bob Dylan – if you want to get on an airplane, you can get on an airplane. Shane didn’t want to be judged alongside Bob Dylan. He loved Tom Waits but he had no interest in hanging out with Tom as the rest of the band did. What he has is so precious and personal to him that he hates to feel it’s under challenge or under question. Even if there’s a possibility of that, he backs off.”

MacGowan shoots back, perfectly: “After doing a single with The Dubliners and having Terry Woods join the group, you know what I mean – I’m not going to get fazed by Bob Dylan.”

He casually adds: “Dylan is all right. He’s a nice guy. He’s always been courteous to me. Jesse Dylan was a good mate, with Los Lobos and stuff in California. That was a fun part of California, but that was basically Mexico. I mean, Jesse, he used to hang around the studio. He liked his old man’s stuff, but he liked The Pogues’ music. He was younger than us – but not much younger.”

James Fearnley drew a direct comparison between MacGowan and Dylan when he recently watched the acclaimed Dylan documentary, No Direction Home. He adds: “In the same way as Dylan, Shane – whether or not he would agree with me – is just like a vessel through which traditional music is coming. He’s part of a tradition that pre-dates him by hundreds and hundreds of years, and all he’s doing is stepping into it and wading up to his neck in it. To some degree he might feel a bit loath to take credit for music that’s been going on for hundreds of years.”