Shane McGowan (The Pogues) by Cathal Dawson

The Former lead singer with the punk  also-rans The Nipple Erectors - his surname back then was 'O'Hooligan' - Shane struck musical gold in 1984 when him and a group of his London drinking buddies formed The Pogues. The Extreme makeover they gave traditional music outraged purists, but delighted a whole new generation of fans who identified with their dissection of the Irish condition. While the contribution of his band mates is considerable, it's MacGowan's poetic lyrics and rowdy singing style which makes the likes of 'Darl Streets of London', 'A Pair Of Brown Eyes' and Fairytale Of New York' 20th century classics. This picture was taken just a few months before Shane, health deteriorating, quit The Pogues and embarked on a stop-start solo career.

 

Cathal Dawson - "The Pogues were playing a benefit gig with some other bands, though I have no memory of who they were. Shane was his usual self. Fag in one hand, bottle of beer in the other, and an attitude of 'eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die-and even if we don't eat drink and be merry anyway!' The audience of course loved him."