Splendour: The PoguesFriday, July 17, 2009, 10:00THEY got together in the early eighties under the influence of Irish folk music and punk and under the name Pogue Mahone, the Irish Gaelic for err, 'kiss my a***'.
And yet, having stumbled their way through nearly three decades of rousing and ramshackle party tunes, The Pogues are still best known for that Christmas tune.
"It's become one of those songs, a guaranteed crowd-pleaser," says Spider Stacy, one of the band's founder members of the Kirsty McColl collaboration, Fairytale of New York.
"It's really entered the public domain to the point where it's no longer ours."
That said, they still perform it and with banjoist Jem Finer's daughter Ella taking over from the late McColl.
It wasn't long after the worldwide hit that the band lost their auteur, Shane MacGowan exiting in 1991.
Says Spider: "For Shane, the endless touring had not just become a chore, but a real drag. He really felt like he was dragging himself around the world and didn't want to be doing it. There was never any bad blood or anything like that. We effectively sacked Shane, for want of a better word, but there was never any big confrontation.
"It was done in a very calm and reasonable manor and we all went out for a meal afterwards. Shane was as relieved as anybody because he probably wanted to do it, but didn't know how to tell the rest of us. He felt very responsible."
Refusing to call it quits, the band recruited a punk icon to replace him in order that they could continue to tour.
"A lot of other bands would have thought, 'well, we've lost the main songwriter let's call it a day' but we did feel there was still some life in us. We also had some contractual obligations to fulfil – we were paying peoples' wages and we didn't want to cast them adrift. So we got Joe Strummer in as a replacement, which really gave us all a massive kick up the a*** and a confidence to think, 'yeah we can do this'.
"His whole input was a massive boost for morale and enabled us to keep going."
After five years
[Edit by Alex: ca. 1 year 
) with The Clash frontman, The Pogues called it a day. But in 2001, with Shane MacGowan back in the fold, The Pogues kick-started what would become an annual Christmas tour.
It has visited Nottingham's Arena over the years and they're back in the city this weekend, second on the bill at Splendour.
Life on the road has never been so good, says Spider.
"Touring's much easier now. It's much more toned down than it used to be, because we're all a lot older. We don't do overnight drives; we stay in decent hotels and try to make it as easy on us as we can. We're now doing it for us rather than to fulfil someone else's schedule."
Have the band succumbed to that post-middle-aged cliché of honey and lemon after a gig?
"It depends who you're talking about! Certain members of the band will not be drinking honey and lemon after the gig or indeed before the gig or at least if they do it'll have vodka in it!"
Despite having returned to the live scene eight years ago, the Pogues have yet to release anything resembling new material. But perhaps Shane MacGowan's recent reinvigoration (he's had some new gnashers put in) will transfer into song-writing… Stacy is hesitant. "I can't see that happening in the near future to be honest, but I've never ruled it out entirely. I'd never have thought we'd be back playing together on stage; too much time had elapsed and I didn't know whether anyone would want to turn up to see us if we did."
Considering the strength of the band's back catalogue, this seems like an unnecessary concern. Irish Rover, Sally Maclennane and Fiesta to name but three are all guaranteed crowd-pleasers, while the likes of A Rainy Night in Soho only serve as a reminder of the band's talent.
"That's a favourite of mine (A Rainy Night in Soho) because of the way Shane sings it now. He wrote that when he was 28, and to hear him singing it now when he's over 50 – it's got a real power and resonance.
"The song was written from an older person's view, someone who's kind of seen life, and I think that really comes over as a powerful song."
Splendour: MadnessFriday, July 17, 2009, 07:30Have you worked with any other Splendour bands before?
Daniel 'Woody' Woodgate:
We've come across Kid British. They're a nice bunch of lads. Bless them they do come from Manchester but that's not their fault. Suggs and I met them on Soccer:AM. They did a cover of Our House. It's nice to have such young fans. The Pogues are brilliant. I don't think we've ever been on the same bill. They're old favourites of ours. They have the ability to get a crowd going which is the idea of it all.
Splendour: Fun Lovin' CriminalsFriday, July 17, 2009, 14:05Have you played on the bill with Madness, The Pogues or Ash before?
We haven't played with them but I know the guys in The Pogues, I know the guys in Ash and I know the guys in Madness so I'm sure there's going to be a lot of dressing room hopping. It should be cool.
