The Pogues were arguably one of, if not the, first band that confirmed punk rock’s anti-establishment, socio-political ethics could be applied to other forms of music. By injecting traditional Irish music with sardonic humour and punk spirit, they established themselves as one of the most radical bands of the 80s.
Formed in 1982 in London, England – initially as Pogue Mahone, an anglicisation of the Irish phrase póg mo thóin meaning “kiss my arse” – The Pogues’ members convened several years before they founded the band, in a toilet at a Ramones gig. Shane MacGowan (who would become The Pogues eventual frontman and poet), Peter “Spider” Stacy, Jem Finger and James Fearnley played their first show as Pogue Mahone at London’s 100 Club in 1982.
It wasn’t until two years later however, having supported The Clash – MacGowan’s favourite and most influential band – that they got noticed for their raucous, raw on-stage presence. Complaints about their offensive name encouraged them to adopt the moniker The Pogues officially after they released their debut album Red Roses For Me in 1984, before Elvis Costello came on board to co-produce their lauded follow-up Rum Sodomy & the Lash in 1985.
Songs like ‘Dirty Old Town’, ‘A Rainy Night In Soho’ and ‘Sally MacLeanne’ established The Pogues as a true one-off and Shane MacGowan as a vital new voice, though they characteristically refused to capitalise on their newfound success by recording any new music in the immediacy. MacGowan’s behaviour and alcohol usage became far more erratic, with several line-up changes and label Stiff Records going bankrupt also looming over the band.
They managed to persevere as a unit to record their third album, If I Should Fall from the Grace of God in 1988, which would spawn The Pogues’ signature hit, a Christmas song no less. ‘Fairytale of New York’ featuring Kirsty MacColl was an enormous hit for the band, topping the charts in Ireland and peaking at No.2 in the UK. It is frequently voted as the greatest Christmas song ever.
Creative momentum continued into 1989 with jazz-indebted album Love and Peace, but after being unable to promote Hell’s Ditch in 1990 due to MacGowan’s unreliability, and after a disastrous performance at WOMAD Festival in 1991, the singer was fired. The Pogues continued with The Clash’s Joe Strummer as a stand-in before Spider Stacy took over, though they later broke up after the release of their seventh and final album, Pogue Mahone, in 1996.
Hatchet’s were buried between MacGowan and his former bandmates when they reformed for a Christmas tour in 2001, and again for a more extensive run of dates in 2004. They continued to tour frequently from then onwards, despite vowing to release no more new material, until bassist Philip Chevron’s death in 2013 which all-but marked the end of the band with the exception of a few more shows.
On 30 November 2023, Shane MacGowan died of pneumonia after years of declining health, with the band reuniting to perform ‘The Parting Glass’ at his funeral. ‘Fairytale of New York’ once again reached the top of the charts in Ireland that Christmas.
In 2024, The Pogues – led by original members James Fearnley, Jem Finer and Spider Stacy – announced a tour to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Rum Sodomy & the Lash, their first headline tour in 13 years in which they’ll play in full at concerts across the UK including Glasgow’s Barrowland Ballroom, the O2 Apollo in Manchester, and London’s O2 Academy Brixton.
The Pogues said: "After the uproarious bash which was the 40th anniversary of our first record, Red Roses for Me, in 2024, we wanted to do it again, but with Rum Sodomy & the Lash."
