The Medusa Fora

There was a piece in The Irish Independent about this today.


Hellraiser Shane steals chart show


SHANE MacGowan has managed to make the charts again, but sadly, for his hellraising rather than his musical prowess.

The Pogues frontman featured on Channel 4's 'The Ultimate Hellraiser' on Saturday night alongside fellow bad boys Ozzy Osbourne, Keith Richards and the recently deceased James Brown.

However, this dubious accolade probably hasn't registered with the singing poet (and not for the obvious reasons), as he was mourning the loss of his friend and The Popes bandmate Tom McManamon, who was buried in London last Friday. Hundreds of friends, family and fans gathered to pay their final respects to The Popes banjo player - affectionately known as The Beast - who also worked with Depeche Mode, Joe Strummer, U2 and Sinead O'Connor.

True to his rocker persona, McManamon (45) was buried wearing his jeans and leather jacket with his banjo in his hand.

According to a source, MacGowan didn't attend the funeral in Highgate, fearing his presence might have detracted from the proceedings.

Meanwhile, MacGowan's former Pogues associate, Cait O'Riordan, has formed a band of former divorcees entitled Prenup, with Hothouse Flowers members Fiachna O Braonain and Dave Clarke. O'Riordan (42), who separated from husband Elvis Costello in 2002, is preparing for the band's debut album.

She revealed: "Fiachna and Dave wrote the songs. It's got a kind of slinky rock groove - The Flowers and punk, that's where we're blending. And I think it's quite Rolling Stones - that's the groove we're going for."

Hhmm not sure what I make of that. I personally don't think his presence would have eclipsed Tom's passing.

Shane doesn't really do funerals, does he? It's not as ridiculous as the reason I heard why Danny didn't go to the funeral.

Anonymous wrote:Hhmm not sure what I make of that. I personally don't think his presence would have eclipsed Tom's passing.

I remeber reading Buddy Holly's biography and Waylon Jennings did not attend the formel ceremony when they erected a statue of Holly in Lubbock Texas due to the fact that Waylon was a big star in the 70's when they finally decided to honor Holly. He apparently got a room down the street from the ceremony in a Holiday inn and watched it from his hotel room. So I can understand Shane's thought process. I feel like Shane would have been mobbed on Tom's day and Shane did the right thing by not detracting attention to himself on Tom's day. While you and many others would not be there to see if Shane showed up, many vultures..mostly in the media probably would have taken advandtage of seeing Shane at a fueneral!

Billy Mack wrote:He apparently got a room down the street from the ceremony in a Holiday inn and watched it from his hotel room. So I can understand Shane's thought process. I feel like Shane would have been mobbed on Tom's day and Shane did the right thing by not detracting attention to himself on Tom's day.

I agree.

See: Michael Jackson at James Brown's funeral. The wrong thing to do.

Shane should have gone to Toms funeral, nothing would have kept Tom away from his, he would have gone, he would have paid respect to a friend and brother he would have carried the coffin and Tom would have played the banjo for him with all his heart and soul.
Not happy with him saying the media would have focussed on him! bollocks ! Everyone there (and there was over 400 people) came out of pure love and respect for Tom.

guest wrote:Shane should have gone to Toms funeral, nothing would have kept Tom away from his, he would have gone, he would have paid respect to a friend and brother he would have carried the coffin and Tom would have played the banjo for him with all his heart and soul.
Not happy with him saying the media would have focussed on him! bollocks ! Everyone there (and there was over 400 people) came out of pure love and respect for Tom.

I agree with you on that one. I think it's a bit thick of Shane

Mick Molloy wrote:

guest wrote:Shane should have gone to Toms funeral, nothing would have kept Tom away from his, he would have gone, he would have paid respect to a friend and brother he would have carried the coffin and Tom would have played the banjo for him with all his heart and soul.
Not happy with him saying the media would have focussed on him! bollocks ! Everyone there (and there was over 400 people) came out of pure love and respect for Tom.

I agree with you on that one. I think it's a bit thick of Shane

Before we all lose the run of ourselves, the reasons for Shane's absence remain the pure conjecture of an Irish Independent hack quoting our old friend "a source". In any event, Shane's absence is entirely his own business, as is mine.

philipchevron wrote:

Mick Molloy wrote:

guest wrote:Shane should have gone to Toms funeral, nothing would have kept Tom away from his, he would have gone, he would have paid respect to a friend and brother he would have carried the coffin and Tom would have played the banjo for him with all his heart and soul.
Not happy with him saying the media would have focussed on him! bollocks ! Everyone there (and there was over 400 people) came out of pure love and respect for Tom.

I agree with you on that one. I think it's a bit thick of Shane

Before we all lose the run of ourselves, the reasons for Shane's absence remain the pure conjecture of an Irish Independent hack quoting our old friend "a source". In any event, Shane's absence is entirely his own business, as is mine.

Ow excuse me then didn't see that it was the Independent

I'm sorry I posted that piece now.....

Nah! Do not regret. Or what would we talk here about?!!

So why didn't Danny go?

Some of us have our feelings. In the end, what else is there?

I concur with

"Hhmm not sure what I make of that. I personally don't think his presence would have eclipsed Tom's passing."

AND

"Shane should have gone to Toms funeral, nothing would have kept Tom away from his, he would have gone, he would have paid respect to a friend and brother he would have carried the coffin and Tom would have played the banjo for him with all his heart and soul.
Not happy with him saying the media would have focussed on him! bollocks ! Everyone there (and there was over 400 people) came out of pure love and respect for Tom."


To anyone with a brain: hardly a Buddy Holly/Waylon Jennings or James Brown/Michael Jackson situation.

Rest in peace, Tommy. I'm glad you were sent off well despite all of this.

I was in contact with Danny Heatley on Thursday and Friday last week and he explained that for personal reasons he could not attend Tommy's funeral. He spoke of little else and clearly was grieving for a close friend. I am sure Shane also had personal reasons why he did not attend - I would never trust the opinion of 'A Source'. Shane did not take the view of 'A Source' with regard to Charlie MacLennan's funeral.

Not surprised Danny didn't go, seeing how he slagged off most of the Popes with his various rants on shanemacgowan.com's forum!