The Medusa Fora

I have been reading through an old "The Word" magazine and came across a section called "Word of Mouth."

Shane appears in it and lists a number of FILMS/DVDS that he likes. He lists:

Once Upon A Time In America
Scarface
Das Boot
The Long Riders

The article quotes Shane as saying:

"I watch "Once Upon A Time In America" all the time. We definitely had cabin fever when touring and watching films now feels a lot different, a lot more relaxed. We used to have the same films on the tour bus all the time (see above)

I wonder whether Phil could tell us what other films were watched on the tour bus and what other films were an influence on the Pogues?

There is the influence of Ennio Morricone soundtracks on Pogues songs.

I remember reading that part of the score of "Once Upon A Time In America" was an influence on "Fairytale Of New York" and that Spider was able to quote every line of the film.

There is of course Morricone's Spagetti Western scores for Sergio Leone's films and the link to Alex Cox's "Straight To Hell" and the Pogues' contribution to the soundtrack with tracks such as "Rake At The Gates Of Hell" and "If I Should Fall From Grace With God." You can also see this influence on tracks like "A Pistol For Paddy Garcia." Obviously the Pogues appeared in "Straight To Hell" and Spider also went on to appear in Cox's "Walker."

There is also Cox's "Sid And Nancy" and the Pogues contribution to the film's soundtrack such as "Hot Dogs With Everything, Glued Up And Speeding" and "Haunted." Personally I think this body of work by the band is excellent and I think it's great in showing both the broad range of different musical styles that the band was able to write and the link to members of the band's punk roots.

Other contributions to film soundtracks include:

Garbo (aka In And Out) - Garbo
Afro-Cuban Be-Bop - I Hired A Contract Killer

Lastly and more randomly I wondered whether any members of the band still owned their "Long Riders" coat as modelled on "Red Roses For Me."

Charlie W wrote:I wonder whether Phil could tell us what other films were watched on the tour bus and what other films were an influence on the Pogues?

Spinal Tap
Eamon Morrissey as Flann O'Brien's The Brother

I think I still have my duster coat somewhere.

Do i detect some definite Star Wars influences in songs like A Pair Of Brown Eyes and Rainy Night?

BelfastsLittlesHobo wrote:Do i detect some definite Star Wars influences in songs like A Pair Of Brown Eyes and Rainy Night?

I couldn't say, as I've only ever watched the first Star Wars movie. It was the week it came out and I've forgotten almost everything about it except that it gave me a headache. I'd be surprised, knowing Shane's taste in movies, if there SW influences in his songs, but I'd be happy to be shown otherwise.

Charlie W wrote: Personally I think this body of work by the band is excellent and I think it's great in showing both the broad range of different musical styles that the band was able to write and the link to members of the band's punk roots.

I hope dsweeney's not reading this

Star Wars?! Stop doing drugs, you fool!

old barney greyheron wrote:Star Wars?! Stop doing drugs, you fool!

My Star Wars comment was posted with my tongue firmly in cheek, my apologies as my attempt at a little humour has obviously went whizzing past your noggin. I will be much more translucent next time.

King regards Old Barney, ya rascal

BelfastsLittlesHobo wrote:

old barney greyheron wrote:Star Wars?! Stop doing drugs, you fool!

My Star Wars comment was posted with my tongue firmly in cheek, my apologies as my attempt at a little humour has obviously went whizzing past your noggin. I will be much more translucent next time.

King regards Old Barney, ya rascal

Well, one can't be too careful, in these post-post-modern times. Star Wars may or may not still be up there with The Manchurian Candidate and The Magnificent Ambersons.

Bit of an odd question but was hoping somebody my shed some light on this. One of my musical guilty pleasures is a song from my young days called Too Good to Be Forgotten by a band called Amazulu (around 1985 I think when I was 13/14) I was listening to it the other day and did some googling on the band. Lo and behold the singer Anne Marie Ruddock (I have to confess a schoolboy crush here) I discovered was in the Straight To Hell film.I wondered if anyone knew if she's done any music recently. Whilst writing this I've also decided it's not a guilty pleasure, I love that song!

Ah! Amazulu's cod ska version of not the best song by the Chi-Lites. Guilty as charged, take 'im away.

In mitigation Soulfinger I didn't know it was a cover! I remember seeing them on the Young Ones! But as I say I was merely a youngster ploughing my own musical furrow!