Photo credit: Andrew Catlin

Remembering Shane MacGowan – one of the world’s most iconic songwriters. 

Emerging from the London punk scene, Shane is best known as the founder and lead singer/songwriter of the Pogues – a stalwart of the scene who mixed the spirit of punk with Irish folk music to create some of the most enduring songs of the 1980s. 

The Pogues achieved their biggest commercial success with the album ‘If I Should Fall From Grace With God’. The album included the single ‘Fairytale of New York’ with Kirsty MacColl, which peaked at No. 2 on the UK singles chart and has gone on to top many polls as the greatest Christmas song of all time.

Through his other works with the Pogues, and later ventures with his band the Popes and beyond, Shane’s poetic songwriting has continued to have an impact on music fans and makers around the world. This influence was acknowledged in 2018 by the Ivor Novello awards when Shane was honoured with The Ivors Inspiration Award – in recognition of the power of his songwriting to inspire the creative talents of others. 

In a statement, UMPG UK Manager Director, Mike McCormack said: 

“The music world has lost one of its true poets today with Shane’s passing. Uncompromising, unconventional and unique as a frontman/lyricist - his songs will live on forever. I’m glad the Ivors recognised his brilliance by awarding him their ‘Inspiration Award’ in 2018 so he knew just how much his music meant to other songwriters and fans.

I’ll always remember him as a man who lived life on his own terms, a true artist and always fun to be in his company. God bless you Shane from all of us at UMPG and love, thoughts, prayers and condolences to Victoria, Gerry, his family and his many, many friends."

Mike McCormack & Shane MacGowan at the Ivor Novello Awards