The Star of the County Down?

**Sat Apr 23, 2005 1:13 pm**

I saw 2 of the 3 Brixton gigs in 2001 and I seem to recall a brilliant version of The Star Of The County Down sung by Andrew Ranken in the encore. Did I just dream that, as it isn't listed on the track listing for the live cd. Or was it left off for reasons of space or copyright?

Hopefully I'll see the Pogues in Guildford in the summer. Can we expect Birmingham 6 to be played given it's reference to the Guildford 4?).

And Mr Chevron, any chance of any gigs in South Wales/West Country next time the band do a UK tour? The last time I recall the band was in Wales was the brilliant gig in Newport in December 1993.

Thanks,

Andy

**Sat Apr 23, 2005 2:20 pm**

I remember that Newport show very well - what a great evening. IF we ever do another UK tour, we are perhaps more likely to play Cardiff.

The Birmingham Six/Guildford Four song played its small part in building pressure to have those convictions overturned. To play the song now would, I believe, add an unwelcome triumphalist subtext. We are all mindful of the fact that there is still a great deal of pain in both Guildford and Birmingham among the loved ones of those who lost their lives. Thanks in part to the incompetence of the judicial system, those families may never achieve "closure". In addition, we should all be aware that life has not been rosy for many of the wrongfully-imprisoned since their release. The song belongs in its own time.

Andrew did indeed sing "Star Of The County Down" in 2001 and again in 2004. On this number, Darryl plays drums, Jem plays guitar and I play bass. (We recorded a studio version of this at the Hit Factory in New York in 1989). There was not sufficient room on one CD to accomodate an entire show so, regrettably, we had to omit "Star" and a few other numbers from the show. I think I have posted elsewhere on this subject in greater detail. Perhaps one of our valued boffins could post a link to it?

**Sat Apr 23, 2005 2:36 pm**

On this number, Darryl plays drums, Jem plays guitar and I play bass.

Thats quite a re-shuffle!. Did you lads find it hard to change around mid-gig.

**Sat Apr 23, 2005 2:53 pm**

Simon, it always occurs at the start of one of the encore sequences, so it's not a problem. Remember that Terry and Jem (in particular) are changing instruments all through our 2 hour show.

**Sat Apr 23, 2005 4:06 pm**

How many instruments do u Play Phillip?

**Sat Apr 23, 2005 4:32 pm**

Just Guitars really, though I can get a noise out of a number of things - the lead bazouki part on "Just One Of Those Things" is me, for example, and the mandolin on "The Parting Glass", the vamping piano on "Whiskey You're The Devil" and various bits and pieces on the "Sid And Nancy" and "Straight To Hell" soundtracks. Outside of the Pogues and the Radiators I almost always compose on keybpards.

The real resident multi-instrumentalist has always been Jimmy Fearnley however. If he hasn't played it, there's a good chance it doesn't exist!

:wink:

**Sat Apr 23, 2005 5:00 pm**

philipchevron wrote:
The real resident multi-instrumentalist has always been Jimmy Fearnley however. If he hasn't played it, there's a good chance it doesn't exist!

Okay: sousaphone?

**Sat Apr 23, 2005 7:22 pm**

philipchevron wrote:There was not sufficient room on one CD to accomodate an entire show so, regrettably, we had to omit "Star" and a few other numbers from the show. I think I have posted elsewhere on this subject in greater detail.

It’s in this thread.

By the way, speaking about numbers sung by Andrew, why don’t you perform Worms more often? Shining gem of a song.

And (judging from Live At Town & Country video) even more shining gem of a performance. :lol:

**Sun Apr 24, 2005 7:47 am**

Ya it wen down well as an encore preformance! Also I think Andrew has a gret unique voice.

**Sat Apr 30, 2005 1:27 pm**

apparently when shane left, Ranken sang boys from the county hell(don't know if this is a rumour or not) that i'd like to hear!

**Sat Apr 30, 2005 2:02 pm**

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote:apparently when shane left, Ranken sang boys from the county hell(don't know if this is a rumour or not) that i'd like to hear!

he sang Cotton Fields, i don't think they did Boys From The County Hell after Shane left.

**Wed May 04, 2005 12:40 pm**

wasn't that when shane missed some gigs in 88 or 89? NOT after he left.

**Thu Apr 25, 2013 6:36 am**

Does Shane typically stay onstage for this song (as he does on the Pogues in Paris DVD)? I had thought he always tooks a break while other members of the band were singing.

**Thu Apr 25, 2013 11:03 am**

HuckleberryDillinger wrote:Does Shane typically stay onstage for this song (as he does on the Pogues in Paris DVD)? I had thought he always tooks a break while other members of the band were singing.

As it's invariably performed as part of the encores section of the show, when it is performed at all, Shane typically stays onstage to sing along with Andrew.

**Sun Sep 13, 2015 11:07 am**

I heard a version of 'Star' on a bootleg cassette[thats one for the teenageers!]live in Bremen December 1992 ,which Mr.Ranken dedicated it ,and i quote ''to all my friends at Blackburn Rovers''.Has anyone heard this version?The sound quiality was/is very good,i would love to have been there,i visited Bremen long before The Pogues came into my life,or anyone elses for that matter.

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