The Medusa Fora

Don't get me wrong, I love most of Shane's work. But admit it, his best years were when he was in the Pogues. Since then, he released two good albums, which are average when compared to what he did when he still was with the Pogues. His last album has been released in 1997. And now we're in 2005. Is he still able to write anything that worth it?

Besides, most of the songs he sings at shows are Pogues songs. He knows that he won't ever be able to top them, that's his best work. He plays maybe 5 songs off his two solo efforts, which is not much.

Have you seen the documentary If I Should Fall from Grace: The Shane Macgowan Story? The man can't hold a thought for more than ten seconds, he finishes only a sentence over two and he mumbles even more than Ozzy Ozbourne. What alcohol and drugs did to him is awful.

Also, even though he says he doesn't take drugs anymore, many people, including his father, say that's not true.

And he arrives late at gigs, or cancel them totally, etc.

I think that is quite sad all this. Is this Irish poet slowly dying?

Aren't we all slowly dying?

Shane might be going a bit faster than the average man-on-the-street though.

Shane is Shane. I admit I would not object against his being more productive in songwriting. On the other hand, if Shane were sober, drug-free, decent guy – would his songs be the same? I guess it is the take-all-or-have-nothing option.

As for his current state: I saw him in Prague last year. He did not look dying at all, and he sang with energy that knocks down most cover versions of his songs by "much healthier" artists. Hopefully, Shane has an extremely high Alcoholic Hill:

"Look, guys: N.T.A.H. – Nohavica’s Theory Of the Alcoholic Hill. It looks like a great fun, guys, but it’s no fun at all. Imagine a hill, yeah? On the foot of the hill, there is a common average person, yeah? He drinks like a fish and goes up. As long as he goes up, everything is okay, absolutely everything is okay, yeah? Now where’s the problem? This point here, the top. It is the breaking point. After that – finito. No doctor can help you, no psychologist, you can’t help yourself either. The total end. What’s the lesson? Somebody can booze all his life without coming to harm. How come? Because that hill of his, the height of the hill is enormous. All life long, he keeps drinking and drinking and keeps going up. But alas, we never know the height of our hill. Nobody ever knows the height of his hill..." (From the Czech movie "Year Of the Devil". You can watch the scene here)

Shane’s hill is obviously Mont Blanc... Or Mount Everest?

Is Shane still great ?! - surely he is!

his best years were when he was in the Pogues...
The man can't hold a thought for more than ten seconds, he finishes only a sentence over two...
he arrives late at gigs, or cancel them totally...

And it doesn't stop him from being great. The greatest !!!

most of the songs he sings at shows are Pogues songs

I would say "most of the songs he sings at shows are Shane's songs"

Is this Irish poet slowly dying

Dante, Goya, Bach... They are completely dead. Are they not genuis anymore?!

And yes, life is delayed drop from cunt to grave. In certain aspect...

Awww another one of the same damn "bets on Shane's death" sort of threads....

Paddy, no not at all, I just wanted to know other's opinion on the subject. According to many articles I read over the Internet, he orders many drinks when he's in a pub/bar, but doesn't drink most of them anyway. I don't hope he dies anytime soon.

But you gotta realize that my initial post shows some facts that even hardcore Shane fans should accept and I wanted to know the opinion of the users of this forum.

When I said "slowly dying" I do not mean physically, but more because he admits himself (I don't invent anything) that he's not a prolific writer anymore. I also mean that he's not really the man he once was. That was what I meant by "slowly dying".

Are you still what you used to be 10 years ago? It's kinda natural for people to change, or isn't Shane a human? Just cause he's not writing at a crazy speed anymore doesn't mean shite. He's still writing good stuff, haven't you heard On The Road To Paradise? Shane was, is and will always be great no matter what some say.

Here's another opinion for ya Sober: viewtopic.php?p=6931

I think you took what I said a little bit too personal. After all, I've got a DVD at home of Shane + The Popes live and I would do anything to see him live... well, not anything, I wouldn't go to Europe... And as we don't know much about his live dates in the past few months/years... Too bad I live in Canada.

Well good luck seeing him then

wash your mouth out with soap and water
OF COURSE HE IS STILL GREAT AND ALWAYS WILL BE
I saw him live on St. Patricks Night in Shepherds Bush this year (two days ago) and last year.
It still is the best gig I have ever been to, the devotion of the fans is unbelievable, this man rocks - he is a true poet.

Well, on the evidence of Friday night's gig, there's no doubt. Yes, he is!

is shane still great ,you bet he is i see most of his concerts. at the b,ham academy last xmas that was shane at his best ,he really seemed to be up for it

Sober wrote:Have you seen the documentary If I Should Fall from Grace: The Shane Macgowan Story? The man can't hold a thought for more than ten seconds, he finishes only a sentence over two and he mumbles even more than Ozzy Ozbourne. What alcohol and drugs did to him is awful.

that film was shot 5 years ago, shanes wised up a lot in the last year, since it was made hes been in hospital, i think he's finally grown up, i believe he's off the heavy drugs. and not drinking as heavily.



I dont exactley now how long ago this is but shows he can play guitar live recently insted of just spitting out random words.

in a nutshell shaneo is god ,he will never die ,but when he does we lot are gonna be a lot worse off .i cannot imagine not looking forward to going to see him at a gig again .i go to most gigs as possible