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I first encountered Shane MacGowan, whose funeral is taking place today, in the late 1990s, long after his prime with The Pogues. I would often see him at events and performances in town, always accompanied by his partner Victoria Mary Clarke. They always sat alone, seemingly unnoticed by others. Despite exuding a mysterious charm, he seemed weary and melancholic to me. A sense of despondency and isolation seemed to follow him, even when surrounded by admirers and acquaintances.
One evening, I approached and introduced myself to him and we clicked immediately. It was effortless. He turned out to be a kind and reserved individual, contrary to my previous assumptions. I had been a fan of his since his days in The Nips and their song “Gabrielle”. However, his work with The Pogues was on another level. I was always amazed by his gift for songwriting: his lyrics were eloquent tales of marginalized and oppressed individuals in society, showing empathy and understanding for the struggles of everyday people – including those battling addiction.
He, like his role model Lou Reed, wrote songs that blended modern language and traditional poetry. His talent was evident. My top picks are the well-known ones. The stunning love songs A Pair of Brown Eyes, A Rainy Night in Soho, The Old Main Drag, and Fairytale of New York. Each one is like a short film, filled with striking scenes, emotion, and empathy. These are songs that can move you to tears and inspire you to stand strong with a raised fist.
His raucous songs such as Transmetropolitan, The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn, Sally MacLennane, Streams of Whiskey, Boys From the County Hell, are all riotous celebrations of a life well lived, filled with crazed humour and ecstatic joy. Songs that make you want to get drunk and raise hell. Tom Waits once said The Pogues played like “sailors on shore leave” – a perfect observation.
However, he did not handle compliments well. I recall a specific instance at a summer party at my house in 2000, when I declared him the top lyricist in modern music, surpassing even Nick Cave, Morrissey, and Mark E Smith. Shane responded with a snarl, stating “It’s not a competition!” I learned my lesson.
When he was present with my band, Primal Scream, he would sit calmly in the corner of the dressing room, without causing any disturbance; content to just hang out and soak in the backstage atmosphere. I have a vivid memory of him sharing jokes with my father, both of them laughing heartily after a Primal Scream concert in Glasgow where he joined us on stage to sing “Rocks,” “Loaded,” and a cover of The Heartbreakers’ “Born to Lose.” I can still feel the intense power of his vocals driving the band forward as he belted out the verses of the song. His singing was like a force of nature, exuding punk energy and raw emotion. He was a true rock’n’roller – a Celtic soul brother of the highest caliber. “We’re Gaels!” he proudly declared to me once. Every time he sang with us, which happened at various shows in Glasgow, Dublin, and London over the years, we were filled with honor. We had a deep admiration for him. The fact that he enjoyed our band meant everything to us.
The last time I saw him was in September at the hospital. He was in a frail state and I could tell that seeing him like that upset me. He had lost a lot of weight and his skin was tight over his face, making his cheekbones stand out. Despite his appearance, with his thick silver hair swept back, he still looked handsome and oddly striking. His skin was almost see-through and his sharp, piercing eyes showed that his keen intellect was still intact.
On that day, I witnessed the love between Shane and Victoria. Shane appeared anxious and fearful due to a minor issue with a hospital orderly. Victoria comforted him by holding his hand and giving him a kiss on the forehead, reassuring him that everything would be okay. It was clear that he needed this reassurance. Although I initially felt uncomfortable witnessing such an intimate moment between two deeply in love individuals, I soon realized how fortunate I was to have been a part of it. In that moment, I was invisible to them as they were completely absorbed in their love for each other, which was truly beautiful to witness.
Victoria was a source of strength for him, like a guardian angel. Despite his tough and rebellious persona in the music industry, Shane had a poetic and romantic side, similar to Brendan Behan. He had a deep understanding of people’s imperfections and struggles and celebrated them through his music. However, this sensitivity may have been overwhelming, leading him to turn to alcohol and drugs as a coping mechanism. Despite his own struggles, he used his gift as a songwriter to create songs that resonate with others and help them through life. We are grateful for Shane and his music, and may he rest in peace with his beautiful Gaelic soul.
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Bobby Gillespie is a Scottish musician, and the lead singer of Primal Scream
Source: theguardian.com
