Shane's Guitar

[Andy P. Davies]

Mick,
Your suggestion is not entirely fascetious. Remember 'The Long Ryders' overcoats the band wore on the back cover of RRFM. Well, the first time I saw them Shane came on stage with cans of VERY cheap Jaeger Lager tied onto his coat and a fag stuck on the end of his guitar. So, whilst not strumming - he was smoking and swigging the rat's piss. Not bullshitting am I, Mr. C?

[Mick Molloy]

Hehe, I want one of them coats for on stage then

[Andy P. Davies]

He could even do a bit of singing, too! No - in all seriousness his voice live in the early days was f***ing brilliant. He was a supreme ballad singer - there would be the odd note or word out here or there but his voice had real soul. As the writer Iain Banks put it at the time - like a rusty bayonet.

[philipchevron]

It always amused me how the Guitarist job in the Pogues was the subject of so much resentment, confusion, controversy and bickering. I never joined a band yet where I was voluntarily the guitarist. In both instances, it was the only job vacancy at the time. The only guitarist in the Pogues who actually considered himself A Guitarist was James Fearnley, which is why he was somehow the least suited for the job in my opinion, though this appears to be an issue James has worked through to a large extent in the Carol Clerk book.

Lest there be any doubt - many of the Pogues (and Joe Strummer, Michael Brook, Ron Kavana, Jamie Clarke) have played the guitar with the Pogues, but there has only ever been ONE Pogues guitarist.

[IrishRover]

He could even do a bit of singing, too! No - in all seriousness his voice live in the early days was f***ing brilliant. He was a supreme ballad singer - there would be the odd note or word out here or there but his voice had real soul. As the writer Iain Banks put it at the time - like a rusty bayonet.

Oim more fond of Shaneo's voice in 90s, with The Popes, majority wouldn't agree with me on this but oi think that rusty dimension if we can call it so is the unique, great expression, goives a sense of experience, influence of loife, pain, booze and everything else. Oi vote for that!

[Mick Molloy]

No Oirish, compare bootlegs of Shane and Popes and early Pogues and you see it was really bad between 95-01

The reunions are rather good actually

[IrishRover]

Oi loike Pogues, especially the earlier work. Oi support reunions with all me heart!
But oi could never say 95-01 is bad, well crock of gold came in that period, snake came in 94' and thats top of shaneo's work and singing - it can compete with best work of the pogues from me point of view!
Oi loike both of shaneo's work-both with pogues and popes, tis not gud to compare 2 stories that are connected anyway Oi loike and do songs from both periods, there are golds in both stories, some of us may be more or less fond of specific stuff(Pogues or Popes period) but tis both amazing, world amazing music!

[Simon]

I agree with Irish Rover that Shanes singing on the snake are amazing. I love his voice on almost every Pogues/popes song even it can be quite different from album to album it seems to fit the "theme" on the album. Have to say i think his voice was weakest on cog. Maybe Phillip can answear this. When you listen to Shane's voice on the snake then 3 years later cog or Iisffgwg and peace and love it is quite different, howe mutch of this is the producer responsibly for. And howe mutch of these chages are natural. On live recordings i thinks Shanes voice mostly been fantastic and has not change that mutch compare to some of the albums.

[philipchevron]

I agree with Irish Rover that Shanes singing on the snake are amazing. I love his voice on almost every Pogues/popes song even it can be quite different from album to album it seems to fit the "theme" on the album. Have to say i think his voice was weakest on cog. Maybe Phillip can answear this. When you listen to Shane's voice on the snake then 3 years later cog or Iisffgwg and peace and love it is quite different, howe mutch of this is the producer responsibly for. And howe mutch of these chages are natural. On live recordings i thinks Shanes voice mostly been fantastic and has not change that mutch compare to some of the albums.

All good singers find their voice alters as they get older. This can be a plus or a minus depending on how the singer copes with the changes. Few would argue that Johnny Cash's elderly croak was less effective than the youthful alpha-male bass-baritone with which he began his career. But really, in reviewing the mistakes he considers he made in recording Shane on Peace And Love, Steve Lillywhite is more eloquent on the vocalist/producer relationship than I could hope to be. You'll find his musings in Carol Clerk's book.

[darrencp22]

I understand that a long time ago Shane was was also the guitar player for The Pogues. Anyone ever have a chance to see him play? I'm curious if he was any good. Perhaps maybe Philip can weigh in?

[philipchevron]

I understand that a long time ago Shane was was also the guitar player for The Pogues. Anyone ever have a chance to see him play? I'm curious if he was any good. Wonder if maybe Philip can weigh in.

Yes, excellent '- not really the same style as me but effective. Ultimately though , he is heard at his best on his more avant garde contributions, like the electric guitar parts in Birmingham Six or Glued Up and Speeding.

[darrencp22]

Great insight Phil. Thank you. I did not realize he played as "recently" as IISFFGWG.

[dawson]

[darrencp22]

This is gold. Thanks for the link dawson.

[Low D]

I think James (who played the guitar parts on RRFM) said something about Shane playing a 6-strung 12-string guitar, which added to his unique strumming style.