LAST GIG WITH SHANE

[Zuzana]

All this makes one wonder: Were the Pogues expecting Shane to return after he left the band? Even in 1993, after the release of Waiting For Herb, the band members mentioned in interviews that they hoped Shane would eventually be back. Was the possibility of reunion with Shane kept in mind even years after the parting of ways? Or was there any official announcement of the split after all? Just curious.

[DrugProwlingWolf]

Ps thanks for taking time out to answer that.

According to my records. such as they are, the show we recorded on that tour for a possible live album took place on December 12, 1991at the Forum, Kentish Town. Joe sang If I Should Fall From Grace With God, Sayonara, Rain Street, Turkish Song Of The Damned, London Calling, The Sunnyside Of The Street, Straight To Hell, Dirty Old Town,
The Sick Bed Of Cuchulainn, I Fought The Law, Hell`s Ditch, Brand New Cadillac and Fiesta. Andrew, myself and Spider did numbers too and Terry did several. No sign of Shane. That would appear to be the definitive answer.

The album remains unmixed, apart from the songs on the Box Set.

If that version of Turkish on the boxset is anything to go by, it's absolutely worth mixing. Maybe float the idea to the suits whenever the next inevitable Clash reissue blitz happens?

[Fr. McGreer]

Ps thanks for taking time out to answer that.

According to my records. such as they are, the show we recorded on that tour for a possible live album took place on December 12, 1991at the Forum, Kentish Town. Joe sang If I Should Fall From Grace With God, Sayonara, Rain Street, Turkish Song Of The Damned, London Calling, The Sunnyside Of The Street, Straight To Hell, Dirty Old Town,
The Sick Bed Of Cuchulainn, I Fought The Law, Hell`s Ditch, Brand New Cadillac and Fiesta. Andrew, myself and Spider did numbers too and Terry did several. No sign of Shane. That would appear to be the definitive answer.

The album remains unmixed, apart from the songs on the Box Set.

If that version of Turkish on the boxset is anything to go by, it's absolutely worth mixing. Maybe float the idea to the suits whenever the next inevitable Clash reissue blitz happens?

That gig was one of the best ever. It was surreal see to Mr. Strummer with his back to the audience and all the Pogues gathered around him in a circle playing the intro to Hell's Ditch, all building up to the cresendo that launches the song. He brought a totally different energy to the shows (not better than Shane at his peak) but different.

It HAS to be mixed and released.....please.....

[obsoleteshock]

This gig just shattered every other album in existance as my absolute most-wanted album. If they put it out, I will buy it without even glancing at the price.

[philipchevron]

All this makes one wonder: Were the Pogues expecting Shane to return after he left the band? Even in 1993, after the release of Waiting For Herb, the band members mentioned in interviews that they hoped Shane would eventually be back. Was the possibility of reunion with Shane kept in mind even years after the parting of ways? Or was there any official announcement of the split after all? Just curious.

No, I don't think we ever seriously considered that, as circumstances stood, we would ever reunite with Shane. We were, after all, still fulfilling the excessive gig contracts that had contributed to Shane's implosion in the first place. I think I mentioned in the If I Should Fall From Grace documentary that what we should have done was take a year off, recharge, regroup and screw the legal consequences, but that several vested interests had - incorrectly - persuaded us that this was not an option. This is a position Spider has echoed in recent interviews.

[Jon]

No, I don't think we ever seriously considered that, as circumstances stood, we would ever reunite with Shane. We were, after all, still fulfilling the excessive gig contracts that had contributed to Shane's implosion in the first place. I think I mentioned in the If I Should Fall From Grace documentary that what we should have done was take a year off, recharge, regroup and screw the legal consequences, but that several vested interests had - incorrectly - persuaded us that this was not an option. This is a position Spider has echoed in recent interviews.

I guess the lack of pressure to keep producing hits is also probably key to your longevity? It seems to have done wonders for The Men They Couldn't Hang, 25 years in the business and their most recent release is a blinder!

[SMILEY WYLIE]

I think it was in Osaka if anyone is interested, the second night of two and the last of the tour. I was there for that one in a small venue that was done out like a small dive but was in fact on floor 8 of a towerblock. They came back later in the year with Joe and played a bigger venue in Osaka. Shane did about three songs in all with Spider taking over on lead vocals for the rest. I remember reading a NME interview about a month later with the band and Joe, Tower records used to sell back copies, it was only then I realised it had been the last gig.

[Torfirion]

I am upping this old thread but it is quite interesting. As said before "02-Mar-94The Grand, Clapham, London, England ""The first Pogues reunion!" (for two songs)
"The Pogues final gig was in front of 300 fans at The Dome (the venue on the first floor of The Boston Arms public house), Tufnell Park, London on 28-Jul-96. During the evening, it had been announced that this was the last ever Pogues show. Shane MacGowan joined the band for one last song and as he left the stage is reputed to have shouted "Goodbye forever, thank Christ for that!”" https://web.archive.org/web/20131206104 ... 992-96.htm

[Ciderman]

I am upping this old thread but it is quite interesting. As said before "02-Mar-94The Grand, Clapham, London, England ""The first Pogues reunion!" (for two songs)
"The Pogues final gig was in front of 300 fans at The Dome (the venue on the first floor of The Boston Arms public house), Tufnell Park, London on 28-Jul-96. During the evening, it had been announced that this was the last ever Pogues show. Shane MacGowan joined the band for one last song and as he left the stage is reputed to have shouted "Goodbye forever, thank Christ for that!”" https://web.archive.org/web/20131206104 ... 992-96.htm

I've just watched the DVD and listened to the CD bootleg. I'd say he says "Goodnight, thanks for that" Just at the end of Rainy Night in Soho.

Goodnight & Thank You gets said when he leaves the stage after the final song which was Streams of Whiskey