Musicians from around the world have paid tribute to legendary Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan, who died peacefully on Thursday morning, November 30, following a long battle with illness.
"When the band finished playing They howled out for more," The Pogues poignantly posted on X on Friday, a quote from their hit song "Fairytale of New York."
‘When the band finished playing
They howled out for more’Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan
— The Pogues (@poguesofficial) December 1, 2023
25 December 1957 - 30 November 2023 https://t.co/SjakaKRAOX
Peter Richard 'Spider' Stacy, who played tin whistle for The Pogues, said on X on Thursday: "'O Captain! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done..’"
‘O Captain! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done..’ pic.twitter.com/YnkreXRmYB
— Spider Stacy (@spiderstacy) November 30, 2023
Stacy told RTÉ's Ray Kennedy on Friday that he was still coming to terms with his loss.
He said MacGowan's songwriting displayed intelligence and an "empathy for people" and recalled how the Pogues were formed following an evening at a friend's house.
"It’s a funny thing, the way that the band started," Stacy told Kennedy on Thursday.
"We were around a friend’s house one day and Shane started playing 'Poor Paddy on the Railway' on acoustic guitar, banging it out in a really mad, fast, punk rock version…it was like this light bulb went off over our heads."
"I am filled with a sense of an enormous loss… God bless you and keep you Shane. I'll see you in Elysium."
Spider Stacy pays tribute to his former Pogues bandmate Shane MacGowan | Read more: https://t.co/5NedDeoTar pic.twitter.com/z3xsgcISpZ
— Entertainment on RTÉ (@RTE_Ents) November 30, 2023
Cáit O'Riordan, the bassist for The Pogues, shared a clip of MacGowan singing the Pogues hit "The Broad Majestic Shannon," asking fans to sing a song for the late, great singer.
“There’s no pain, there’s no more sorrow” 🕊️ How are you all doing? Love and thanks for the kind messages. Please sing a song for Shane today and send Victoria Siobhan and Maurice your love, Spider Jem Terry and James too. I’m off to St Patrick’s to light a candle✨🕊️💚 pic.twitter.com/28mElFWzTh
— Cáit O'Riordan (@rockyoriordan) November 30, 2023
Meanwhile, U2 shared a sketch of MacGowan on X on Thursday with a caption that said MacGowan's songs were "perfect so he or we his fans didn't have to be."
The sketch included the opening lyrics from the Pogues' song "A Rainy Night in Soho."
Shane MacGowan’s songs were perfect so he or we his fans didn't have to be… pic.twitter.com/DZAHqOcAER
— U2 (@U2) November 30, 2023
"Farewell to a titan," the Irish folk group Lankum said on X.
Farewell to a Titan.
— LANKUM (@LankumDublin) November 30, 2023
❤️#ShaneMacGowan pic.twitter.com/G5Z0SKJrcJ
Kneecap, the Irish-language rap trio, shared lyrics from the Pogues' song "Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six."
“There were six men in Birmingham
In Guildford there's four
That were picked up and tortured
And framed by the law
And the filth got promotion
But they're still doing time
For being Irish in the wrong place
And at the wrong time”💚🤍🧡 pic.twitter.com/4lXclTXTo4
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) November 30, 2023
The Mary Wallopers said on Instagram how they frequently played songs by The Pogues at their gigs and shared a picture of the band meeting MacGowan a few years back.
"We certainly would t be doing what we’re doing without him or The Pogues," the band said in another post.
View this post on Instagram
Elsewhere, tributes were paid by fellow musicians Paul Weller, Paul Simon, Debbie Harry, Massive Attack, and The Libertines.
MacGowan's death was announced by his wife Victoria Mary Clarke on Thursday, November 30. Clarke had shared regular updates about MacGowan during his lengthy hospital stay, and has paid tribute to her adored husband on social media following his death.
I am going to miss him so much! His smile, his eyes his laugh his sense of humour and his voice, every little part of him ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/kGnnU3sBeD
— @victoriamary (@Victoriamary) November 30, 2023
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