Shane comeback?

[in_the_morning]

What do you guys think about the rumours about a probable Shane comeback with new band and album? As I've said in the live thread, his voice sounds so tired and shot recently...but the lyrics he has written for the HTTYD 2 ballad are really really good, so there is a bit of hope...was he just not bothered to perform during their latest shows, or might there be something more serious? I hope not, as I'm one of the biggest Shane-fans you can ever meet, love the guy to death...

[Mike from Boston]

Well, based on this weekend's reports, Shane appears to be in rough (for him) shape.

I have read both the Carol Clerk book and James' book, and I always thought it a bit strange that after the Pogues, it was Shane who continued with the touring (with the Popes). Based on the way those tours ended -when I last saw them in May 2002, both Shane and the Popes were awful and I vowed not to see them again.

If Shane does get healthier, he just doesn't have that great of a track record outside of the reformed Pogues. Maybe it is over...

[in_the_morning]

Well, based on this weekend's reports, Shane appears to be in rough (for him) shape.

I have read both the Carol Clerk book and James' book, and I always thought it a bit strange that after the Pogues, it was Shane who continued with the touring (with the Popes). Based on the way those tours ended -when I last saw them in May 2002, both Shane and the Popes were awful and I vowed not to see them again.

If Shane does get healthier, he just doesn't have that great of a track record outside of the reformed Pogues. Maybe it is over...

Good point about the touring...Shane was one of the loudest critics of the excessive touring in the late 80s...kinda strange that he kept touring a lot with the Popes, and from what I've heard and read played many shows in REALLY bad shape.

According to Joey Cashman, Shane is up for writing songs again, but that might be some crap rumours as well...I just wish him the best, losing him would feel like losing a brother to me, although I've never met him.

[firehazard]

What do you guys think about the rumours about a probable Shane comeback with new band and album? As I've said in the live thread, his voice sounds so tired and shot recently...

I find this strange. At the Thetford Forest gig, I thought Shane was in as good voice as I've heard him in years. He seemed really up for it then.

[in_the_morning]

What do you guys think about the rumours about a probable Shane comeback with new band and album? As I've said in the live thread, his voice sounds so tired and shot recently...

I find this strange. At the Thetford Forest gig, I thought Shane was in as good voice as I've heard him in years. He seemed really up for it then.

I should have added, I only watched the recent youtube videos...wasn't at any of those gigs, would have loved to be there. On the other hand, here he sounds really good:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMkz-AfGHaU (Live at Rock in Idro 2014, really good video!)

[firehazard]

What do you guys think about the rumours about a probable Shane comeback with new band and album? As I've said in the live thread, his voice sounds so tired and shot recently...

I find this strange. At the Thetford Forest gig, I thought Shane was in as good voice as I've heard him in years. He seemed really up for it then.

I should have added, I only watched the recent youtube videos...wasn't at any of those gigs, would have loved to be there. On the other hand, here he sounds really good:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMkz-AfGHaU (Live at Rock in Idro 2014, really good video!)

That's a great video.
I haven't found much on youtube from the Thetford Forest gig, and nothing with good sound quality, so it's hard to tell about Shane's voice from there, though it certainly sounded good from where we were. From the few close-up pics I've seen of that gig, he doesn't look that well, but then again I mostly look pretty bad up close too.

[Fr. McGreer]

I haven't found much on youtube from the Thetford Forest gig, and nothing with good sound quality

Here's a good looking video but the audio has a bloody copyright claim muting it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSD-NrpVX1w

[Low D]

Funny thing, I saw him in 2002 and thought he and the popes were great, but in '95 were horrible. But remember he (or somebody) put "the Shane gang" together a few years ago, with a couple guys from In Tua Nua, and played a few gigs then went to record aaaannnd.... Nothing. I'll believe it's real when the album is released, not before!

[in_the_morning]

Funny thing, I saw him in 2002 and thought he and the popes were great, but in '95 were horrible. But remember he (or somebody) put "the Shane gang" together a few years ago, with a couple guys from In Tua Nua, and played a few gigs then went to record aaaannnd.... Nothing. I'll believe it's real when the album is released, not before!

Yeah, I remember getting really excited about it and then...bummer. Are there any news on his current health situation?

[Fr. McGreer]

Funny thing, I saw him in 2002 and thought he and the popes were great, but in '95 were horrible. But remember he (or somebody) put "the Shane gang" together a few years ago, with a couple guys from In Tua Nua, and played a few gigs then went to record aaaannnd.... Nothing. I'll believe it's real when the album is released, not before!

I went to one of those gigs and the word was that Mick Jones (Clash) was going to produce Shane's new album. As it turned out i ended up watching the gig standing right next to Mick Jones and Tony James (Sigue Sigue Sputnik) in a tiny basement club in Dublin. They must have been there to see whether it was going to be a worth while project to get involved in. They thought the same as me....... It was shite. Shane could barely stand and the band were like a poor wedding band trying to guess whether he was going to sing the verse of Cracklin Rosie or the chorus again. In fairness though, they did a great rendition of The Kingsmen's Louie Louie

And that was the end of that album.

I have a great video of both those songs that night which i must upload and share.......sometime

[firehazard]

I haven't found much on youtube from the Thetford Forest gig, and nothing with good sound quality

Here's a good looking video but the audio has a bloody copyright claim muting it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSD-NrpVX1w

Here's a couple from Thetford, a bit closer in, though the focus is variable on the first and the sound poor on the second:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl0x8eMfuYM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asea1sa_s9c

Shane doesn't look that well. Sounded better at the actual gig, I'd say.

[Dunno what that copyright claim on Cousin Bazza's vid is about. ]

...I have a great video of both those songs that night which i must upload and share.......sometime

Yes please.

[Wayne Kerr]

It would be nice to have something new from Shane,i wish him good luck.Its such a pity The Pogues could not have recorded at least one studio album it would have made the reunion complete.Now it looks as though the band will be splitting up and that expectation will fade into memory.

[deisecelt]

Shanes been singing the same songs for 30 or so years and can't remember the lyrics live at all. Doesn't bother me in the slightest but I can't imagine he'd have much hope with new songs. In an interview at Christmas he talked about retirement and I reckon that's how it will go.

[in_the_morning]

Shanes been singing the same songs for 30 or so years and can't remember the lyrics live at all. Doesn't bother me in the slightest but I can't imagine he'd have much hope with new songs. In an interview at Christmas he talked about retirement and I reckon that's how it will go.

I feel the same...I dunno, I do think it's a real shame in a way...but then I don't mean that judgmental in the slightest...Shane has done far more for music and art than most other people on this planet, and his song catalogue of classics will remain in a class of its own forever. He practically created a whole new genre of music, his poetic lyrics and descriptions of (low)-life are unique and BRILLIANT (few are in his class imho, one would be the great Townes Van Zandt for me...) and his singing style was a fucking novelty and his voice was really beautiful in the 80's.

That being said, it is really sad that his last new stuff came out in 1997 (apart from the odd song here and there...). I do believe that it's the price he paid for his severe alcoholism and drug using, and I don't mean that judgemental at all, just telling it like it is. He peaked and blew himself up way before his time, but then again few people can come close to what he did. I'd rather have the great Shane MacGowan song catalogue forever without any new stuff than people like Bob Dylan still releasing new shit which is plain crap as far as I can see.

Rant over.

[James Murphy]

One of my favourite Dylan songs ever comes from the last few years. Ain't Talkin'. It's brilliant, I think you'd like it, in the morning.