The Pogues

Well to be fair a lot of them are Irish or of Irish descent.

But are they now really The Pogues? We have sadly lost so many of the original band that they are like so many touring versions of the great bands of our youth, a shadow of heir former selves.

Don't get me wrong I was there back in the heady days of the early gigs at places like the Cricketers at the Oval or the Swan at Stockwell.

I saw the slow but inevitable self destruction of Shane and was lucky enough to see them so many times.

But now with guest singers not The Pogues any more.
I used to go to the Swan and Cricketers as well and saw The Pogues at both venues. Great places to see bands. Also saw them when Joe Strummer took over vocal duties which gave the band a new dynamic as Clash songs were always in the repertoire! Saw a few of the "Last time we'll play" gigs , mostly at Brixton and even then Shane was well n truly on his way out. Ollie's Dad,Ash.
 
I used to go to the Swan and Cricketers as well and saw The Pogues at both venues. Great places to see bands. Also saw them when Joe Strummer took over vocal duties which gave the band a new dynamic as Clash songs were always in the repertoire! Saw a few of the "Last time we'll play" gigs , mostly at Brixton and even then Shane was well n truly on his way out. Ollie's Dad,Ash.
We must have been at the same gigs!
 
We must have been at the same gigs!
No doubt our paths would've crossed! There was a few of us from Catford that used to go gigging very regularly and the Pogues early gigs in London were always on our radar.Also saw them in Kings Cross but can't remember pub name and Tuffnel Park tho' probs wouldn't make the effort to see them in their latest incarnation! Ollie's Dad,Ash.
 
No doubt our paths would've crossed! There was a few of us from Catford that used to go gigging very regularly and the Pogues early gigs in London were always on our radar.Also saw them in Kings Cross but can't remember pub name and Tuffnel Park tho' probs wouldn't make the effort to see them in their latest incarnation! Ollie's Dad,Ash.
I remember first meeting Shane when he worked in a record shop in Hanway St and then when he briefly worked at a boozer in Villiers St.

He used to often be found in a dodgy strippers pub on the Caledonian Road as they did not really care how drunk he was and as everyone came for the 'entertainment,' he was left alone......
 
I remember first meeting Shane when he worked in a record shop in Hanway St and then when he briefly worked at a boozer in Villiers St.

He used to often be found in a dodgy strippers pub on the Caledonian Road as they did not really care how drunk he was and as everyone came for the 'entertainment,' he was left alone......
I did have a piss next to him at a pub gig seeing a band called 'Serious Drinking'......not sure if Shane thought it was an advert for alcoholic shenanigans,a competition or he liked the band!!!! Ollie's Dad,Ash.
 
I love the band.
Seen them twice. Firstly, with Joe Strummer as lead singer in Bristol, which was a great gig.
Secondly, with Shane as frontman in Dublin which was probably the biggest anticlimax of a gig I ever saw. The crowd was tame as f***, Shane was too intoxicated to perform, and their support band (the Proclaimers) blew them away.
I'd love to see them again. Based on past experiences, they will do the business without Shane (even though he was a legend).
 
I love the band.
Seen them twice. Firstly, with Joe Strummer as lead singer in Bristol, which was a great gig.
Secondly, with Shane as frontman in Dublin which was probably the biggest anticlimax of a gig I ever saw. The crowd was tame as f***, Shane was too intoxicated to perform, and their support band (the Proclaimers) blew them away.
I'd love to see them again. Based on past experiences, they will do the business without Shane (even though he was a legend).
Well that was always the issue with not just Shane but many an addict rock and roller.

It was actually very sad. I remember way back seeing the lovely Kirsty MacColl at the Borderline in London and as an encore they literally carried Shane out clasped his hands around the mic and propped him up. He sort of growled the lyrics and was carried off the stage.

In the early days ok he was mostly drunk but also witty and charming and a really good guy to know. Later he was just selfishly consumed by addiction.
 
Well that was always the issue with not just Shane but many an addict rock and roller.

It was actually very sad. I remember way back seeing the lovely Kirsty MacColl at the Borderline in London and as an encore they literally carried Shane out clasped his hands around the mic and propped him up. He sort of growled the lyrics and was carried off the stage.

In the early days ok he was mostly drunk but also witty and charming and a really good guy to know. Later he was just selfishly consumed by addiction.

To be fair, the underwhelming Dublin gig wasn't primarily down to Shane.
It was more due to the apathetic crowd. They confounded every stereotype by being strangely sober and rigid.
Not the first time I have seen Irish crowds bomb. I remember Liam Gallagher ripping the piss out of the crowd at an Irish festival.
I think a euphoric London crowd night have carried and lifted Shane through the gig like you experienced.
 
Top 5 Pogues tunes anyone?

1. Rainy Night in Soho
2. Misty Morning Albert Bridge
3. Tuesday Morning.
4. Fairytale of New York
5. The Old Main Drag
 
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I used to go to the Swan and Cricketers as well and saw The Pogues at both venues. Great places to see bands. Also saw them when Joe Strummer took over vocal duties which gave the band a new dynamic as Clash songs were always in the repertoire! Saw a few of the "Last time we'll play" gigs , mostly at Brixton and even then Shane was well n truly on his way out. Ollie's Dad,Ash.
Sting would of been a good stand in ODA 😉
 

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