The Pogues

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Active:: 1982 - 1996, for 14 years.
Snapshot:: A Group with 44 releases, and credited once on others' music. 9 members.

The Pogues are an English punk/folk band founded in 1982 by Shane MacGowan (vocals, songwriter), James Fearnley (accordion) and Spider Stacy (tin whistle), in London. Their name comes from the Anglicisation of the Irish saying for "kiss my arse", póg mo thóin or pogue mahone. Although the band have put out seven studio albums it is their 1987 album If I Should Fall from Grace with God which saw the bands' greatest success producing the stirring, frank Christmas song "Fairytale of New York". The track which is considered one of the best Christmas songs of all time, in the UK and Ireland, is about two Irish immigrant lovers whose lives and young love were crushed by drugs and alcohol. The Pogues are also famous for their notoriously drunken and toothless frontman Shane MacGowan and his intoxicated antics on and off stage. He is also considered one of the greatest Irish song writers and poets of the last 30 years.

Pictures

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The Pogues in Concert at The Nokia Theater in New York City - March 15, 2006

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The Pogues in Concert at NIA - December 13, 2006

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Meteor Ireland Music Awards

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The Pogues Play Brixton Academy

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The Pogues Play Brixton Academy

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Photo of Pogues

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Music

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Genres

Celtic, Folk, Punk,

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Peace and Love 2005

Pogue Mahone 1996

Waiting for Herb 1993

Hell's Ditch 1990

If I Should Fall From Grace With God 1988

Rum Sodomy & The Lash 1985 (Play) Buy mp3

Rum Sodomy & the Lash 1985

Red Roses for Me 1984

View full timeline

Andrew Ranken

founder member

drums

James Fearnley

founder member

accordion, piano

Jem Finer

founder member

banjo

Philip Chevron

founder member

guitars

Shane MacGowan

founder member

lead vocals, guitar

Spider Stacy

founder member

tin whistle, backing & lead vocals

Terry Woods

mandolin, mandola:
- 1985-

Darryl Hunt

bass:
- 1988-

Cait O'Riordan

bass, vocals:
- 1983-1986

The Pogues

Dec, 21 2008

Christmas: jolly Santas, over-excited kids, the smell of pine and mulled wine, and a prevailing mood of peace and goodwill? Maybe. For some, it’s the season of overindulgence, money worries, stores full of elbows and grim faces, and appalling stress. Lyricists often take their inspiration from life so it’s no wonder that some Christmas songs reflect decidedly unseasonal sentiments. A perennial Christmas favorite among the disenchanted is "Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl, whose bitter lament of Christmas in the drunk tank graces the playlist of many a festive cynic. Last year seemed to inspire more anxiety: Billy Joel’s “Christmas in Fallujah” was a timely, if depressing reminder of the plight of US soldiers stationed in Iraq; and Scottish singer-songwriter Malcolm Middleton released an unhappy ditty entitled “We’re All Going To Die”. We haven't noticed such dismay among this year's releases, so let's take that as a positive sign for the future.