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The Pogues

Band formed in 1982 in Kings Cross, London, England

The Pogues's Genre:

Celtic Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, British Folk, College Rock, Folk, Alternative Singer/Songwriter

Biography

By demonstrating that the spirit of punk could live in traditional Irish folk music, the Pogues were one of the most radical bands of the mid-'80s. Led by Shane MacGowan, whose slurred, incomprehensible voice often disguised the sheer poetry of his songs, the Pogues were undeniably political -- not only were many of their songs explicitly in favor of working-class liberalism, but the wild, careening sound of their punk-injected folk was implicitly radical. While the band was clearly radical, they also had a wickedly warped sense of humor, which was abundantly clear on their biggest hit, the fractured Christmas carol "Fairy Tale of New York." The group's first three albums -- Red Roses for Me, Rum Sodomy & the Lash, If I Should Fall From Grace With God -- were widely praised in both Britain and America, and by 1988 they had earned substantial cult followings in both countries. Yet MacGowan's darkly romantic, wasted lifestyle, which was so key to their spirit and success, ultimately proved to be their downfall. By the end of the decade, he had fallen deep into alcoholism and drug addiction, forcing the band to fire him if they wanted to survive. The Pogues carried on without him in the early '90s, playing to a slowly shrinking audience, before finally disbanding in 1996.

Shane MacGowan, an Irish punk inspired by the Clash, formed the Pogues in 1982 after playing with the London-based punk band the Nipple Erectors, a group which was later called the Nips. MacGowan met Spider Stacy in a London tube station, where Stacy was playing a tin whistle. The two began working together, drafting former Nip Jim Fearnley to play guitar. Naming themselves Pogue Mahone -- a Gaelic term meaning "kiss my ass" -- the trio began playing traditional Irish tunes in London pubs and streets, eventually adding Jem Finer (banjo, guitar), Andrew David Ranken (drums) and Cait O'Riordan (bass) to make it a full band. As the group developed into a sextet, they added MacGowan's original songs to their repertoire, and began earning a reputation as a wild, drunken and exciting live act. Shortening their name to the Pogues, the group released an independent single, "Dark Streets of London," in early 1984 and supported the Clash on their summer tour. By the fall, they had signed with Stiff Records and had released their acclaimed debut Red Roses for Me.

Red Roses for Me was a critical hit, establishing the Pogues as one of the most vital, and certainly one of the most political, bands in Britain. Early in 1985, they added guitarist Philip Chevron and recorded Rum Sodomy and the Lash with producer Elvis Costello. The album was an underground success and was widely praised, especially for MacGowan's songwriting -- not only in the U.K., but also in the U.S., where they were becoming college radio staples. Instead of following Rum Sodomy and the Lash with a new album, the Pogues took nearly a full year hiatus from recording, releasing the Poguetry in Motion EP in 1986 and appearing in Alex Cox's film Straight to Hell in 1987. By 1988, O'Riordan had left the band to marry Costello, and she was replaced by Darryl Hunt; banjoist Terry Woods was also added to the band. Early in 1988, they signed to Island Records and released the Steve Lillywhite-produced If I Should Fall From Grace With God later that year. The album became the group's biggest hit, generating the number two U.K. single "Fairytale of New York," which featured vocalist Kirsty MacColl.

Although the Pogues were peaking in popularity, Shane MacGowan's relentless drug and alcohol abuse was beginning to cripple the band. Although neither the 1989 hit single "Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah" or Peace and Love (also '89) were noticeably affected by his excesses, MacGowan missed the Pogues' prestigious opening dates in 1988 for Bob Dylan and stalked the stage like a madman during a pivotal Saturday Night Live performance. By 1990s Hell's Ditch, Spider Stacy and Jem Finer began singing the bulk of the Pogues' material. Despite positive reviews, Hell's Ditch was a flop, and the group wasn't able to support the record because of MacGowan's behavior. Consequently, he was asked to leave the band in 1991; three years later, he returned with a new band, the Popes. For subsequent tours, the Clash's Joe Strummer filled in as lead vocalist, but by the time the band recorded their comeback Waiting for Herb in 1993, Stacy had become the permanent vocalist. Waiting for Herb was kindly reviewed, yet was also ignored, as was 1995's Pogue Mahone. In 1996, the Pogues decided to disband after 14 years in the business, though in 2001 the group reunited (with Shane MacGowan in tow) for a short British tour. The band continued to tour sporadically, releasing a box set of rarities (Just Look Them Straight in the Eye and Say....POGUE MAHONE!!) in 2008 and a live album (The Pogues in Paris: 30th Anniversary Concert) in 2012. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

AOL Radio Stations The Pogues is Featured on (11)

St. Patricks Day

Hosted by members of the legendary celtic rock band Flogging Molly, this station is Slacker’s perfect soundtrack for your St. Paddy’s Day celebrations. Hundreds of hand-selected tracks are accompanied by exclusive commentary from the band. You’ll hear tracks from artists like Sharon Shannon, Christy Moore, The Dubliners and Dropkick Murphys.

The White Buffalo Showcase

This is The White Buffalo Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune in to hear a station built entirely by The White Buffalo including music that he hand-picked as well as commentary about the songs that influenced his music and his life.

Twin Shadow Showcase

This is the Twin Shadow Artist Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune in to hear a station built entirely by the band including music that is hand-picked by George Lewis Jr. as well as commentary by him about the songs that influenced his music and his life.

Matt Nathanson Showcase

This is the Matt Nathanson Artist Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune in to hear a station built entirely by Matt including music that he hand-picked as well as commentary about the songs that influenced his music and his life.

Hot Water Music Showcase

This is the Hot Water Music Artist Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune in to hear a station built entirely by the band including music hand-picked by Chuck, Chris, Jason and George as well as commentary about the songs that influenced their music and their lives.

Eclectic Holiday

Sometimes the holidays aren't all chestnuts and tinsel. That's why Eclectic Holiday on Slacker Radio showcases the best in non-traditional, left-of-center and unheard songs that celebrate the most wonderful time of the year!

New Holiday Hits

New Holiday Hits on Slacker Radio keeps it recent with your favorite holiday music from modern day artists. Enjoy holiday tunes from Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera, U2, Faith Hill, Harry Connick Jr. and many more.

Alt. Country

Alt. Country on Slacker Radio walks the crossroads where country and rock meet. Country fans looking for great music off the mainstream path and rock fans who can handle some twang and the cry of a steel guitar should feel at home. You'll hear everything from the original outlaws like Hank Williams and Johnny Cash through the 70's revival of the Flying Burrito Brothers and John Prine, right up to the current torchbearers including Lucero and the Drive-By Truckers."

Rock The Halls

Get the edgier side of holiday music with a great mix of holiday favorites from Rock, Alternative and Indie artists. Hear a wide range of holiday tunes from Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Presley, U2, Coldplay, Sarah McLachlan, Death Cab for Cutie, Sufjan Stevens and many more.

The Current

The Current brings you the best authentic new music alongside the music that inspired it, from unique to universal, indie to influential, new to nostalgic. Broadcasting from the musical hotbed that is Minnesota, listen to The Current and you’ll see why we say, “Great Music Lives Here.” Find playlist, interviews and more at thecurrent.org.

The Pogues

This station plays the best music from and music from related artists like Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, The Dubliners, The Young Dubliners, The Tossers, The Irish Rovers, The Real McKenzies, Gaelic Storm, The Chieftains, The Clancy Brothers and more.

All Stations

The Pogues's Selected Discography (41)

Hell's Ditch: Expanded & Remastered Album Cover

Artists Related to The Pogues (50)

	Flogging Molly	The Los Angeles-based post-grunge seven-piece Flogging Molly are an interesting mix of traditional Irish music and spunky punk rock.
	Dropkick Murphys	The hardcore punk/Celtic folk outfit Dropkick Murphys formed in South Boston in 1995; vocalist Mike McColgan, guitarist Rick Barton, and bassist Ken Casey comprised the original nucleus of the group, with a series of drummers passing through the lineup before the addition of Matt Kelly in 1997.
	The Dubliners	Nearly three decades since they first came together during informal sessions at O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin, the Dubliners remain one of the most influential of Ireland's traditional folk bands.
	The Young Dubliners	Dublin natives Keith Roberts (vocals, guitar) and Paul O'Toole (vocals, guitar, mandolin, harmonica) formed the Young Dubliners in the early 1990s after meeting one another in a Los Angeles pub.
	The Tossers	The Tossers formed on Chicago's South Side in the early '90s, predating such popular Irish punk bands as the Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly.
	The Irish Rovers	The Irish Rovers were one of the more popular folk-based singing groups to come out of Ireland in the mid-'60s, although they had to do it by way of Canada.
	The Real McKenzies	The Real McKenzies have been bringing out their hybrid of aggressive punk and traditional Scottish folk songs since their formation in 1992.
	Gaelic Storm	Even before releasing an LP, the Santa Monica, California-based Celtic group Gaelic Storm -- vocalist/accordionist Patrick Murphy, bodhran player Stephen Wehmeyer, guitarist/mandolinist Steve Twigger, fiddler Samantha Hunt, and djembe player Shep Lonsdale -- left an impression on audiences worldwide through their appearance as the "steerage band" entertaining immigrant third-class passengers in James Cameron's blockbuster film epic Titanic.
	The Chieftains	The original traditional Irish folk band, as far as anyone who came of age in the 1970s or '80s is concerned, is the Chieftains.
	The Clancy Brothers	The Clancy Brothers are a family of singing Irish expatriates who have been important figures in re-popularizing their native music in North America and are still among the most internationally renowned Irish folk bands.
	Shane MacGowan	A transcendent singer/songwriter and two-fisted gutter poet whose notorious drunken behavior, rotten teeth, and drug-fueled excesses often threatened to eclipse his reputation as a performer, Shane MacGowan was born on Christmas Day, 1957, in Kent, England.
	The Clash	The Sex Pistols may have been the first British punk rock band, but the Clash were the definitive British punk rockers.
	Great Big Sea	The sea shanty tradition of Newfoundland is fused with the spirit and energy of contemporary rock and popular music by Great Big Sea.
	Street Dogs	Boston, Massachusetts is a uniquely divided city, consisting not of amorphously defined neighborhoods like the ones that make up Manhattan, but small, semi-autonomous villages with names like Allston, Dorchester, Roxbury, and Jamaica Plain.
	Black 47	Black 47 (a name deriving from the year 1847, the blackest year of the Irish potato famine) is a New York-based band made up of Irish expatriates and led by songwriter/playwright Larry Kirwan.
	Social Distortion	The enduring L.A. punk band Social Distortion has overcome numerous personnel shifts, the demise of the Los Angeles hardcore scene that spawned them, and the heroin addiction of singer/guitarist/bandleader Mike Ness to achieve a measure mainstream acceptance for their rootsy, hard-hitting punk without compromise.
	The Saw Doctors	The hook-laden sounds of 1960s rock bands like the Beatles and the Byrds and the working-class imagery of Bruce Springsteen are combined with the musical traditions of Ireland and the intensity of punk rock by the Saw Doctors.
	The Irish Descendants	Formed in 1990 in Northeastern Canada, the Irish Descendants' signature blend of boot-stomping reels, wistful balladry, and off-the-cuff humor has won them a loyal following at home, as well as outside the Great White North.
	The Waterboys	Led by the literate singer/songwriter Mike Scott, the group's sole constant member, the mercurial Waterboys formed in London in 1981.
	The Ramones	The Ramones are the first punk rock band. Other bands, such as the Stooges and the New York Dolls, came before them and set the stage and aesthetic for punk, and bands that immediately followed, such as the Sex Pistols, made the latent violence of the music more explicit, but the Ramones crystallized the musical ideals of the genre.
	Blood or Whiskey
	Rancid	One of the cornerstone bands of the '90s punk revival, Rancid's unabashedly classicist sound drew heavily from the Clash's early records, echoing their left-leaning politics and fascination with ska, while adding a bit of post-hardcore crunch.
	Sex Pistols	The Sex Pistols may have only been together for two years in the late '70s, but they changed the face of popular music.
	The Mighty Mighty Bosstones	A great deal of the groundwork for the mid- to late-'90s explosion of ska and ska-metal was laid by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, who were one of the first bands to cross high-energy ska with hardcore punk and heavy metal and who also helped shift its tone toward testosterone-filled party music.
	Planxty	Along with groups like the Bothy Band, Planxty helped to usher in a new era for modern Celtic music.
	Wolfe Tones	Very few bands manage to stay together for several decades. Even fewer are able to do it when their prime focus is politics.
	The Tannahill Weavers	The Tannahill Weavers, who started as a band in the late '60s, occupy a unique position among the groups on the Scottish folk scene.
	Dead Kennedys	The Dead Kennedys merged revolutionary politics with hardcore punk music and, in the process, became one of the defining hardcore bands.
	Enter the Haggis
	Ashley MacIsaac	Ashley MacIsaac is, in a sense, the musical representative of the pre-millennial generation of Atlantic Canada.
	Misfits	Genuinely shocking or tasteless, campy fun? It was sometimes hard to tell which way the Misfits wanted to be taken, and the immense cult following that has grown up in the years after their actual existence (1977-1983) seems divided in its own assessment.
	Christy Moore	The older brother of Irish folk-pop singer-songwriter Luka Bloom (Barry Moore), Christy Moore is one of contemporary Irish music's best singer-songwriters.
	The Dead Milkmen	During their heyday in the late '80s, the Dead Milkmen led a crop of college-radio jokesters that also included Mojo Nixon, King Missile, and Too Much Joy, among others.
	The Boomtown Rats	The Boomtown Rats were an Irish rock band that scored a series of British hits between 1977 and 1980, and were led by singer Bob Geldof, who organized the Ethiopian relief efforts Band Aid and Live Aid.
	Here Be Dragons	Welsh Celtic rock quintet Here Be Dragons were formed in 2001 around the talents of lead vocalist, banjo, guitar, and mandolin player Mike Brooks, accordion player Rob Morris, drummer/vocalist Will Morrison, bass player/vocalist Kyle Jones, and fiddler/vocalist Catrin Ashton.
	Altan	With their Northern Ireland-style twin fiddling and accordion melodies accented by acoustic guitar and bouzouki, Altan has grown into one of the top traditional bands in Ireland.
	Tommy Makem	Folk singer Tommy Makem is one part storyteller, one part musician, one part singer, and one part actor, so his live shows are usually quite lively and engaging, especially since he has spent more than five decades in folk music.
	NOFX	Formed in Berkeley, California, in 1983 and relocating to Los Angeles not long afterwards, NOFX steered clear of major labels and commercial exposure over the course of their career, recording an impressive number of full-length albums plus an assortment of EPs and singles.
	Black Flag	In many ways, Black Flag was the definitive Los Angeles hardcore punk band. Although their music flirted with heavy metal and experimental noise and jazz more than that of most hardcore bands, they defined the image and the aesthetic.
	Me First and the Gimme Gimmes	Punk's premier cover artists, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are a conglomerate of some of the most recognizable faces in new-school punk.
	Iggy Pop	There's a reason why many consider Iggy Pop the godfather of punk: every single punk band of the past and present has either knowingly or unknowingly borrowed a thing or two from Pop and his late-'60s/early-'70s band, the Stooges.
	The Bouncing Souls	The Bouncing Souls started out in 1987 with the intention of playing loud fast three-chord party music around their native New Jersey; besides, it gave them something to do while they were in high school.
	Bad Religion	Out of all of the Southern Californian hardcore punk bands of the early '80s, Bad Religion stayed around the longest.
	Elvis Costello	When Elvis Costello's first record was released in 1977, his bristling cynicism and anger linked him with the punk and new wave explosion.
	Patrick Street	Patrick Street is comprised of some of Ireland's most accomplished musicians. Formed in Dublin in 1986, the current group includes fiddler Kevin Burke (the Bothy Band), bouzouki player and vocalist Andy Irvine (Sweeney's Men, Planxty), button accordionist Jackie Daly (DeDanaan) and guitarist Ged Foley (the Battlefield Band, The House Band).
	Flanagan Brothers
	The Corrs	A photogenic family band comprising three sisters and one brother, the Corrs -- vocalist Andrea, drummer Caroline, violinist Sharon and guitarist/keyboard player Jim -- blend the music of their Irish background with contemporary pop/rock elements.
	The Boys of the Lough	A fun-loving approach to Celtic music has made the Boys of the Lough one of folk music's most influential groups.
	Operation Ivy	One of the first bands to fuse revivalist ska with the energy and aggression of post-hardcore punk rock (after the Mighty Mighty Bosstones), Operation Ivy were also one of the few ska-punk bands to earn critical acclaim.
	Violent Femmes	The textbook American cult band of the 1980s, the Violent Femmes captured the essence of teen angst with remarkable precision; raw and jittery, the trio's music found little commercial success but nonetheless emerged as the soundtrack for the lives of troubled adolescents the world over.

All Related Artists

Top Songs by The Pogues (50)

from: The Very Best of the Pogues

2004 Warner Music UK Ltd.