Shane MacGowan, R.I.P.

It is with deep sadness to read the news first thing this morning about the passing of Irish musician and and The Pogues frontman, Shane MacGowan. With the passing earlier this year of Sinead O'Connor, this has been a sad year for Irish popular music.

As an Asian-Canadian teenager growing up in the late 80's, Celtic music was as far removed from my musical tastes as could be given my affinity for British alternative bands like The Smiths, The Cure, Echo and The Bunnymen, Depeche Mode, and New Order at the time, but The Pogues managed to gain a foothold into my music listening. The Pogues' "Fairytale of New York" (included on their 1987 album "If I Should Fall From Grace With God") ranks as one of my favourite songs of all time, and the fact that Shane has passed away just as the Christmas season has begun, will make listening to this song during the Christmas season, bittersweet for years to come.







Official Website | Shane MacGowan
Official Website | The Pogues
Purchase: The Pogues - "If I Shall Fall From Grace With God"