Shane vomiting all over the front row in the Olympia

[neil is back]

I've run into this story a few times now over the years either in newspapers or magazines or through word of mouth, about Shane apparently vomiting all over the front row at a gig in the Olympia in Dublin a few years back. Some versions say he was carted out in a wheelchair the night in question, others don't mention this.
I dont know if it was a Pogues gig, the Popes or what, but can anyone who was there or that knows please verify or dismiss this story? How exaggerated, etc?

[mats]

If this is true and if it was a Pogues gig it must have been before the reunion. Sounds more like a Popes gig.

[philipchevron]

I've run into this story a few times now over the years either in newspapers or magazines or through word of mouth, about Shane apparently vomiting all over the front row at a gig in the Olympia in Dublin a few years back. Some versions say he was carted out in a wheelchair the night in question, others don't mention this.
I dont know if it was a Pogues gig, the Popes or what, but can anyone who was there or that knows please verify or dismiss this story? How exaggerated, etc?

In the days before Joe Duffy and his listeners had bigger fish to deep-fry, the saga occupied Liveline (RTE Radio 1) for a couple of days before sloping off into myth and legend and growing a tail. I wasn't there (it was certainly not a Pogues show) nor did I hear the ensuing Liveline kerfuffle, but Mac does appear to have treated the first row of the Olympia to his impersonation of a technicolour yawn, yes, though whether or not he threw up "all over the front row", only the gods of mythology know for sure.

[fluke]

his impersonation of a technicolour yawn,

[cagliostro]

Actually, at the Popes show in Denver several years ago, he barfed on the stage. I happened to be in the bathroom at the time, and I heard a loud "OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" from the outside. I asked my girlfriend at the time what had happened. I'm glad I was spared.

[Fr. McGreer]

i was there the two nights he played. I think it was 2003 and it was the poorest version of the Popes i had ever seen. Tom, Paul Mc, a sleazy looking bass player and a drummer. Shane was indeed in a wheel chair with a cast on one foot. Yes he got sick, but i doubt it made the front row as he was sitting a good 3 feet from the edge of the stage, plus there's a 4 or 5 foot gap where security stand and then the barrier. The other of the two nights wasn't too bad, he sang a great redition of the Auld Triangle.

Just thinking about it, if he had his usual electric fan in front of him, it would have all blown back in his face