Summer 2008 – fest time!

The Pogues have confirmed these festival dates in the UK and Ireland:

• July 5: Festival 'Bobital-Terre Neuvas', Brittany
• July 12: T in the Park festival, Scotland
• July 13: Oxegen festival, Ireland
• August 16: The V Festival, Chelmsford, England
• August 17: The V Festival, Stafford, England

Discussion is happening here.

— Zuzana

Just Look Them Straight In The Eye ...
It’s Box Set Time!

Just Look Them Straight In The Eye and Say... POGUEMAHONE!!

The Pogues have opened the top secret hidden vaults holding the substantial archive of their recordings which have not been previously released. The result? A five-disc box set titled "Just Look Them Straight in the Eye And Say... POGUEMAHONE!!" due for European release in May 2008. The compilation includes rarities, radio sessions, demos, movie music and live recordings. Included are the legendary Murder, Donegal Express, Danny Boy, Travelling People, Fairytale of New York demos, collaborations with Joe Strummer, Kirsty MacColl, Steve Earle and much more.

Start salivating now and beat the rush!

The complete track list with all 109 tracks, all five discs is here.

NW3

Amazon: UK USA Japan Germany

Discussion is happening here.

— Zuzana & DzM

Philip Chevron returns to The Pogues

Philip Chevron has been declared "cancer-free" by his doctors. Philip has returned to live performances with The Pogues' 2008 Spring tour of the United States' east coast. During his convalesence in 2007 he oversaw the production and of The Pogues' box set, Just Look Them In The Eye And Say Poguemahone! as well as the international release of The Radiators From Space's acclaimed CD Trouble Pilgrim.

"As 2008 kicks off," says Philip, "I am determined to work again with [The Pogues and The Radiators]. [...] In addition, I have had at least two serious theatrical/musical commissions which I am very much looking forward to."

Philip's entire message to his fans and supporters is here.

Congratulations Philip!

Discussion is happening here.

— DzM

25 years a-rocking

It was Christmas Eve, babe, in the drunk tank...

Actually, it was in the evening of October 4, 1982 at The Pindar Of Wakefield pub in London, England. A band, curiously named Pogue Mahone (a Gaelic term meaning Kiss My Arse), came on stage to play their first gig. Nobody could have expected that this would be the beginning of an odyssey which would change the music scene, rejuvenate a nation’s musical heritage, and and bring joy to generations of fans.

Their blending of inspired original writing, Irish music tradition and punk attitude, ethos & speed (“playing at 900 miles an hour”) made an exciting new sound with a global appeal. Their popularity grew and with it demands for their music on the radio. Once the meaning of their name became known to the BBC, the Guardians of Morality demanded that the name be changed. It was shortened to The Pogues, and their fame (and infamy) grew. Their wild gigs became legendary. Their raw energy combined with evocative lyrics struck the right chord with audiences and earned The Pogues a loyal following.

After a rapid rise to stardom in the 1980s, five critically acclaimed albums, and a nearly constant touring schedule, the band began to suffer from the stress and pressure. Founding member and main writer of The Pogues, Shane MacGowan, parted with them in 1991. The band continued on, releasing two additional albums and adjusting to continued changes in lineup. The band finally split in 1996, and it looked like the end of Pogue Mahone. However, the new millenium saw a reunited Pogues performing to sold-out venues, a band enjoying working together again and thrilling fans (old & new) worldwide.

Still rocking after all these years! Here’s to the 25th anniversary of The Pogues, and to many more years of Poguetry!

— Zuzana

Finding things to buy

The Pogues have lots of things on the market to satisfy your Celtic Punk desires. Seven full-kength CDs, remixed with extra tracks. Collections. A box-set with rarities. Books! Videos! T-Shirts, pint glasses, posters and much more.

But where to buy these things? There are many places, but if you buy from the Amazon links on this page then a portion of your purchase will go toward keeping this site running. That's gotta be a good thing, right?

— DzM

Non-Pogues Projects

Radiators From Space, Trouble Pilgrim

The Radiators From Space, with Philip Chevron, have released their first CD in over 20 years. Trouble Pilgrim is available in the UK and North America. Designated by Shite'n'Onions as sharing the top stop in the Celtic Punk CDs of 2007.

Modena City Ramblers featuring Terry Woods

The recent Modena City Ramblers release features Terry Woods.

Marseille Figs

Marseille Figs' first release, The Dirty Canon, produced by Jem Finer goes on sale on November 19, 2007. Discussion is here.

Cranky George

Cranky George, James Fearnley's band with Msrs Mulroony and Wood, now has a web site.

The Yuyu

Spider Stacy and James Walbourne music set with animation by Adam Phillips. Discussion is here.

— DzM

Bloguemahone -
Dispatches from the road

James “The Maestro” Fearnley has been kind enough to document life on the road during the 2005 and 2006 shows. All installments starting with London, 2005 are available beginning with:

Sunday, July 17
Shane came into rehearsal ‘professionally late’, as he wittily put it, with that gnashing laugh he has, the first day of rehearsal. I think he’d had to be woken up, in his flat. He wasn’t as sartorial as I’ ve seen him of late, though he still has his brothel-creepers that I became familiar with coming across on the dressing room floor when we were on tour at Christmas, as he felt the need to air his rather curious-looking feet (and to air, with Joey, the top half of his body, at least one evening, where were we? Newcastle I think). He staggered in at four in the afternoon wearing a tophat that looked as though someone had attempted to contain a firework inside it. Continued...

News...

May-Jul-Aug 2008	Shane MacGowan will join Sharon Shannon and her guests at Dolans 10th Birthday Celebration, Limerick, Republic of Ireland (May 2); Killarney Summerfest, Killarney, Co. Kerry, Republic of Ireland (Jul 20); WOMAD festival, Charlton Park, Wiltshire, UK (Jul 25); and The World Fleadh, Portlaoise, County Laois, Republic Of Ireland (Aug 1).
Dec 28, 28 and 31, 2007 Dec 27, 28, 29 and 31, 2007 and Jan 5, 2008	Shane MacGowan joins Sharon Shannon and Dessie O'Halloran at Royal Hotel, Castlebar; The Grill, Letterkenny; Skyplus Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise; INEC, Kilarney; and Leisureland, Salthill.
Dec 11 through Dec 23, 2007	The Pogues perform in Newcastle, Glasgow, Nottingham, Manchester, Birmingham, Brixton, Belfast, and Dublin in England, Scottland and Ireland.
Dec 23, 2007	Spider Stacy DJs at The Voodoo Lounge in Dublin, Ireland after The Pogues' performance at RDS.
Oct 30, 2007	James Fearnley performs a part of Cranky George at Molley Mallone's in Los Angeles.
Oct 17 through Nov 2, 2007	The Pogues perform in Seattle, San Francisco, Anaheim, San Deigo, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, USA.
Aug 18, 2007	Andrew and Spider perform with The Dead Rabbits at Randall Rootz festival
October, 2006	"Pogue Mahone: The Story of The Pogues" by Carol Clerk is released in the UK.
September, 2006	Rhino reissues first five Pogues albums in North America.
November 15, 2004	All seven albums by The Pogues reissued in Europe with re-mastered and bonus tracks.

iCal