Shane MacGowan

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Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan (born December 25, 1957) is an Irish musician. He was singer and one-time leader of The Pogues, an Anglo/Irish indie-rock/punk/folk band popular in the 1980s.

Related Topics:
December 25 - 1957 - Irish - The Pogues - Anglo - Indie - Rock - Punk - Folk - 1980s

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Despite his relatively recent promotion to Irish National Treasure, MacGowan was born in Kent, England, has spent most of his life in London, attended Westminster School, and speaks with a strong North London accent.

Related Topics:
Irish National Treasure - Kent, England - London - Westminster School - North London

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He had a keen interest in music as a child and as a fanzine editor and a 'face' in the early London punk scene ? first rising to public prominence after his photograph (taken following an incident at a Clash gig in which his right ear was sliced open with a broken bottle) was published by NME in 1976, was inspired by The Sex Pistols to form his own band, The Nipple Erectors (later renamed The Nips).

Related Topics:
Fanzine - Clash - Ear - NME - 1976 - The Sex Pistols - The Nipple Erectors - The Nips

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MacGowan drew on his Irish heritage to create The Pogues. He has written songs of astonishing beauty, though their lyricism is sometimes obscured by the quick, rough performance and folk-punk sound of the band, as well as his slurred voice. Many of his songs are influenced by Irish republicanism and history. MacGowan has often cited the nineteenth century Irish poet James Clarence Mangan as an influence.

Related Topics:
The Pogues - Republicanism - History - Nineteenth century - James Clarence Mangan

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MacGowan is an avid proponent of alcohol but is strongly critical of heroin, which he says is the only drug he ever had "a problem" with. He occasionally qualifies his endorsement of over-indulgence by claiming that he "has the constitution for it" where others might not. Another Irish singer, Sinéad O'Connor, reported him to the police in London for possession of the drug in an attempt to discourage him from it.

Related Topics:
Alcohol - Heroin - Sinéad O'Connor

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He is widely considered to have a severe alcohol problem, and has suffered physically from his years of excess ; he was notorious for performing while blind drunk, and for years it was impossible to find an interview with him in which he was not impaired. He has very few teeth (his dental situation has been part of his "reputation" for years) and is now bloated and pale, and speaks slowly and indistinctly, though his mind is still sharp and his notoriously quick wit remains intact.

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The vast majority of those who have met him describe MacGowan as an absolute gentleman: friendly, tolerant and good-natured, although in interviews it is plain that he does not suffer fools patiently and is quick to make his views known.

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Since leaving The Pogues, he has formed a new band, Shane MacGowan and The Popes, and still records and tours.

Related Topics:
The Pogues - Shane MacGowan and The Popes

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His sister is Siobhan MacGowan, a songwriter in her own right as well as a painter.

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