One of the last, if not the last project before he died was the sale of a book of his drawings, which his long time squeeze punted at a grand a pop to help pay for his care, which strongly indicated that his finances were not in good shape. On a sidenote, I’ve just seen his webshop also sells scapulars, which I chuckled at. He loved old-timey Ireland, where I suppose the best of his childhood memories were forged, along with his cultural identity. I’ve been thinking over the last 24hrs or so, since the announcement of his passing to the next leg, whilst overcome with a feeling of sadness throughout my physical make-up that at times felt like it threatened to be bigger than me, that Shane and his band of musicians, took parts of Ireland that many natives viewed as uncool, destined for the scrapheap of lost tradition and married it with punk, and elicited a pride through translation to a generation only a man of his abilities could muster. For that today, I am grateful.
Every morning
I know the lad well who had it rented for about 10 years up to just before Covid. Proud Drom man
Tom Kenneally, top man
Listening to Rum, Sodomy and the Lash now. In parts, it’s like a rapid-fire cultural merry go-round, which he did in different albums with brilliance, but also possessed that rare versatility many artists lacks and could deliver slow beauty, in that haunting, inimitable manner of his.
It’s a great record but he didn’t write 6 of the 12 songs on it.
If I should fall is well better in my opinion.
Red roses is their best. Raw and unpolished
red roses for me (for me too)
transmetropolitan is a great opening song
My favorite Pogues song still.
Personally I thought the Poguetry in Motion EP was the high point of the Pogues. Short, sweet and perfect. Had the anarchy of the early Pogues and the more reflective side they’d drift into.
I have Shane’s autograph, written inside a book called creepers that I was reading at the time.
I had just finished my last professional exam in London, and put down a full day drinking. Was just winding down when my bro arrived in with a load of city mates and away we went again. Ended up.in a lockin in filthy mcnastys. About 1am, Shane was carried in by two bouncers, and ordered a pint of vodka. I went over to tell him how brilliant I thought he was.
My bro observed the next day “I don’t know who was drunker, you or Shane McGowan”
Indeed
Brilliant 
He was mad
But good mad.
Ah yes the old 90 pound hammer,the stuff of nightmares.
Paddy’s motorbike.
The infamous recording where Shane fucked Elvis Costello out of the studio for suggesting an oboe rather than a cornet on Rainy Night in Soho. “Get your fat arse out of of this studio and never come back”.