Philip Chevron takes medical leave from The Pogues

[Fidel Castro]

If I can do it, you can. Good luck Philip!

[celticjunk]

Truly sorry to hear this about Phil, the only thing you can do in this situation is to keep up the spirit and keep on fighting.
Life is a wonderful thing so it's worth the fight.
Take care

[Smoz]

I did consider keeping some sort of blog or diary of my treatment but I worried, correctly, as it turns out, that my moods would be too changeable to commit anything reliable or unalarming to print. There are days when it all seems improbable or even impossible. There are days when the treatment is too unbearable to face. And then there are days when I more or less take it in my stride. Worst are the days when I know I'm putting myself through all this without any guarantees at the other end.

On another forum that I frequent one of the regular posters started a thread on his condition and treatment over the past few months. The thread makes for interesting reading and I get the impression that writing about what he is going through has helped him get through it.

[philipchevron]

I did consider keeping some sort of blog or diary of my treatment but I worried, correctly, as it turns out, that my moods would be too changeable to commit anything reliable or unalarming to print. There are days when it all seems improbable or even impossible. There are days when the treatment is too unbearable to face. And then there are days when I more or less take it in my stride. Worst are the days when I know I'm putting myself through all this without any guarantees at the other end.

On another forum that I frequent one of the regular posters started a thread on his condition and treatment over the past few months. The thread makes for interesting reading and I get the impression that writing about what he is going through has helped him get through it.

Well, yes. But there so many ways of expressing oneself in writing. I find a tune can let you know whether the text underneath may be withholding information or not.

But I will not be resorting to what we in trade call "slipping the audience a Willie Finn". William Finn has devoted much of his life to the off-Broadway musical stage, sometimes, in the shape of "gay boyf dies from AIDS, author realises true love and support is often found in the most strange and unexpected shapes and forms, not all of them at ease with author's Judaic background [the genuinely touching Falsettoland] but sometimes too in the shape of "author develops brain tumour and, in his battle with the big beast, realises that love and support is often found in the most strange and unexpected forms, not all of them - wouldn't you just know it?! - at ease with author's new found status as off-Broadway composer of repute [the screechingly terrible hey-get-me-out-of-here, what is THIS, Little Shock Of Horrors The Revenge? I swear I saw that soft palette just make a pass at that eardrum-but I don't care anymore keep the money, GIVE this seat away PLEASE, I realise the box office line is snaking around Lincoln Center begging for returns - Give them MY seat, I'll leave at intermission - whaddyaMEAN there IS no intermission? You wanna die now or LATER??? Where was I I?..................... Oh yes, that was A New Brain].

Anyway, no. I fancy a bit of an opera, me, three acts max. Directed by Peter Sellars' barber, natch. Full of the foreboding and pagan beauty of Dialogues des Carmelites, with just a wisp of the ethereal, just enough to guarantee that Ian Bostridge will feel quite unable to turn it down.

Cat Got Your Tongue? that will be its name.

[Joe Citizen]

Dear Mr. Chevron: I've only just found these fora. Jaysus, I thought I was a Pogues fan. Some of this lot must be chronic insomniacs or independentlly wealthy or who knows what. I'll look forward to participating as best I can in the months to come. My real reason for signing-on, though, is to join the others in sending you the best hoodoo I can as you look forward to a strong and speedy recovery. Now that I have signed-on, I'm not sure what I can say that others haven't said already. In short, I'm grateful for the years and years of songs and songs, years and songs without which I can't imagine my life. "Thousands are Sailing" is one for the ages, I'd say, and it speaks to all of us immigrants and descendants of immigrants, Irish or not. And it's not like you stopped there. With real gratitude, I say thank you and offer my best wishes.

I also want to tell you about a friend of mine who got a diagnosis at least a bit like yours. They treated his throat cancer aggressively--and, truth be told, he had a shitty time for a while. But he's now long cancer free and enjoying a tremendously rich life again. I wish the same and even better for you.

It's been a long time since I've seen you lot. I saw the Pogues in London twice winter 93/94, once in Brixton (the wrong night of a two night-stand, I gather, since MacGowan and Strummer showed up the next night) and once in Tower Records. I also saw Shane's first gig with the Popes around the same time and a Popes gig much later in Santa Cruz. Going back further, I saw the Shane-less Bob Dylan gig in San Diego. But before that there was a life-changing drunken gig in San Francisco about 1986... Ah, I wish I could remember it better. I'm looking forward to seeing all 8 of you together again.

Take care!

[Dropofpoison]

I did consider keeping some sort of blog or diary of my treatment but I worried, correctly, as it turns out, that my moods would be too changeable to commit anything reliable or unalarming to print. There are days when it all seems improbable or even impossible. There are days when the treatment is too unbearable to face. And then there are days when I more or less take it in my stride. Worst are the days when I know I'm putting myself through all this without any guarantees at the other end.

On another forum that I frequent one of the regular posters started a thread on his condition and treatment over the past few months. The thread makes for interesting reading and I get the impression that writing about what he is going through has helped him get through it.

You could always write a song about it. For a new Pogues album?
Well, it was worth a try.

[ShaneyMac]

I'd also like to second the posts above, my thoughts are with you Philip! I reckon you'll beat this crap with that good spirit of yours!
Who will be your stand-in for the upcoming gigs? I've played the guitar for over 10 years and mainly with the "Pogue-sound" as reference. I've tried to copy your style and, due to your speed, by God it isn't easy! I know almost every Pogues tune there is and I've gone through stacks of videos to see how you play the songs, where you put the capo, etc.
Anyhow... The stand-in is in for one hell of a job, I hope he/she pulls it off.

Get well soon, ok?

Regards
Kris

[philipchevron]

I'd also like to second the posts above, my thoughts are with you Philip! I reckon you'll beat this crap with that good spirit of yours!
Who will be your stand-in for the upcoming gigs? I've played the guitar for over 10 years and mainly with the "Pogue-sound" as reference. I've tried to copy your style and, due to your speed, by God it isn't easy! I know almost every Pogues tune there is and I've gone through stacks of videos to see how you play the songs, where you put the capo, etc.
Anyhow... The stand-in is in for one hell of a job, I hope he/she pulls it off.

Get well soon, ok?

Regards
Kris

Thank you. Pay no attention to where I put my Capo, for heaven's sake. Some nights, just for the hell of it, I position the capo on a different fret and force myself to auto-transpose on the spot.

My only advice to you is never claim you are the guitarist with the Pogues. It is no guarantee you will get laid and besides, there are at least 7 other Pogues with competing claims, though they vary in validity somewhat. A good rule of thumb for people with guitarring ambitions is this - if you have been doing it more or less constantly for 40 years and are now still doing it aged 50, you probably meant to do it all along.

[shipbuilder]

Hello Mr. C - just read all of this after a 2 week holiday. Shocking news - I wish you all the very best for a fast recovery.

[Doktor Avalanche]

Pay no attention to where I put my Capo, for heaven's sake. Some nights, just for the hell of it, I position the capo on a different fret and force myself to auto-transpose on the spot.

Brilliant. I'm sick to death of hearing how a capo is "cheating." That's quite an exercise!

[fluke]

Pay no attention to where I put my Capo, for heaven's sake. Some nights, just for the hell of it, I position the capo on a different fret and force myself to auto-transpose on the spot.

Haha.. I probably could do that with DOT but with most of your songs "I'd better not been drinking"

[SkaPunkAndOtherJunk]

Article on Philip was posted on Billboard.com today:
link

[Titi77]

I hope you will be ok Philip and back in a great form very soon.

[dublinrambler]

from RTE: http://www.rte.ie/arts/2007/0711/chevronp.html

[Esther]

Philip, I was late in finding this news and later yet in posting. For that, I apologize.

You must surely feel all the love for you here, felt by so many. May that love somehow give you added strength to battle the cancer and endure the difficult treatment.

Please do take care.