The Medusa Fora

redadeg wrote:Cool. Do you know when and where it was shot?

Spring 1985. I don't recall the exact spot. I was depping for Jem on banjo/mandolin, which is why he's not in the shot. I think the pictures were for a NME or Melody Maker feature.

Thanks Philip.
The free space to the houses in the east could be "Potsdamer Platz".

Where you going to east Berlin, too for a visit?

redadeg wrote:Thanks Philip.
The free space to the houses in the east could be "Potsdamer Platz".

Where you going to east Berlin, too for a visit?

No, though some of us did do that on another day.

Hm, has to be impressing to visit DDR.
For me it was not possible. Got 18 and my driving Licence in 1990

What! Yes, that book was balanced in it's discussion of events and band members. It's easy and enjoyable to read. However,
am I the only one who thought the pogues went on after the departure of Shane? I would love to read an account of what being
a pogue was like without it's most... (________) member. I bet everyone on this site already owns the book, so I'll not preach
to the choir. Just wanted to share the love.

Just wondering aloud about a link between a prop on the Xmas 1988 tour and the mention in the book about an open fridge in Steve Lillywhite's studio that had a fan wafting out a cool breeze. I remember at the Brighton gig ('88), Kirsty MacColl's entrance onstage was coming out of a random tall fridge that was on the stage. Any connection?
Enjoying the book...it came across that Darryl had quite a big influence on the the musical slant of Rum,Sodomy......via the mix tapes.

Read it over the weekend, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Must say it seems like every member of the band has or had some element of madness. Was this caused by being a member of the Pogues or was it there before? I don't know and i'll leave it to others to decide. Great read though, and an interesting insight into how difficult life on the road can be.
Nice one James.
Cheers
Welshie aka Aled

I just finished it and I had no idea. Sure, I had heard the stories, seen the videos, read the bits and pieces online. But none of it could fully prepare me for the intensely personal memories that JF shared in this memoir. Through the first half of the book I kept asking myself "how did they even stay alive?" And through the second half it was "why didn't they just quit?"

I hope that JF does tell the "second part" of the story, because it feels like there is a great deal more to tell. I would like to hear about what went into Pogue Mahone and the subsequent tour. Did they just feel that they were going through the motions? The death of Kirsty. The reunion as a band. While I admit to having the same morbid fascination with Shane as many others do, I am equally if not more interested in what the others have accomplished.

At any rate, thank you JF for an interesting and compelling look into your life and your music.

Ross wrote:I just finished it and I had no idea. Sure, I had heard the stories, seen the videos, read the bits and pieces online. But none of it could fully prepare me for the intensely personal memories that JF shared in this memoir. Through the first half of the book I kept asking myself "how did they even stay alive?" And through the second half it was "why didn't they just quit?"

I hope that JF does tell the "second part" of the story, because it feels like there is a great deal more to tell. I would like to hear about what went into Pogue Mahone and the subsequent tour. Did they just feel that they were going through the motions? The death of Kirsty. The reunion as a band. While I admit to having the same morbid fascination with Shane as many others do, I am equally if not more interested in what the others have accomplished.

At any rate, thank you JF for an interesting and compelling look into your life and your music.

James, like myself and Terry, would be an unreliable witness of the Pogue Mahone era on account of us having left.

philipchevron wrote:
James, like myself and Terry, would be an unreliable witness of the Pogue Mahone era on account of us having left.

That occurred to me after I wrote it. Still, I would be interested in JFs thoughts about not returning to the band.

Do you mind me asking what was the final blow for you, what caused you to drop out when you did? (And if you have discussed this elsewhere, please point the way and I will wander off in that direction.)

Ross wrote:

philipchevron wrote:
James, like myself and Terry, would be an unreliable witness of the Pogue Mahone era on account of us having left.

That occurred to me after I wrote it. Still, I would be interested in JFs thoughts about not returning to the band.

Do you mind me asking what was the final blow for you, what caused you to drop out when you did? (And if you have discussed this elsewhere, please point the way and I will wander off in that direction.)

The final blow, for me anyway, was the BBC hospitality dept's overlooking of my simple request that all the brown Smarties be isolated from my dressing room deli-tray and, in a meaningful gesture of sustainability, redistributed to the critters in the Blue Peter garden. These are the details that matter and indicate whether or not the licence fee is being put to good use.

philipchevron wrote:

Ross wrote:

philipchevron wrote:
James, like myself and Terry, would be an unreliable witness of the Pogue Mahone era on account of us having left.

That occurred to me after I wrote it. Still, I would be interested in JFs thoughts about not returning to the band.

Do you mind me asking what was the final blow for you, what caused you to drop out when you did? (And if you have discussed this elsewhere, please point the way and I will wander off in that direction.)

The final blow, for me anyway, was the BBC hospitality dept's overlooking of my simple request that all the brown Smarties be isolated from my dressing room deli-tray and, in a meaningful gesture of sustainability, redistributed to the critters in the Blue Peter garden. These are the details that matter and indicate whether or not the licence fee is being put to good use.

It's good to know, Philip, that you never let fame get the best of you.

Ross, if you've not yet read Carole Clerk's book "The Story of the Pogues", i suggest you find a copy. If this sort of question interests you, you will find lots to devour in those pages.

I do have it, thought it has been a while since I read it. I just unearthed it last night and read a few pages...

I also noticed that the photo on the back cover of Clerk's book seems to have been taken at the same photo shoot as the photo on the front cover of JF's book. All the clothes seem to be the same.

Phillip, got to hand to you, you can't half write a good un. LOL
Read Carole Clerks book, a good few years ago, maybe time to dust it down.
Cheers
Aled

Excellent read, just finished reading it 2 weeks ago, absolutely brilliant and a real insight to the internals of the band.

Just starting into Carol Clerks book now, read The Lost Decade by Ann Scanlon over Christmas after buying on ebay for a £1.