ROSELAND MARCH 14 A STATEMENT FROM THE POGUES

[Dirk Schlaf]

I work in the industry somewhat and I know what tonight's "announcement" was all about--spin. Shane's not hurt. He's hungover. Or drunk in Astoria. I'm a huge Pogues fan, and trekked to the show tonight only to find it was cancelled. No biggie for me cuz I live in New York and got my tix transferred to tomorrow night (word of advice-call LA ticketmaster-they're still open). He's the best musician ever and I love him. But let's not act like he's "injured." He's a drunk who couldn't show up tonight. I don't feel bad for me, or for him. I feel bad for the people who travelled to the show from far away and maybe even paid a hotel room. I definitely feel bad for the bartenders who were counting on the money for a show that never materialized. Cheers to Shane, but lets not act like no one is hurt in the process of his drunkeness.

Yes. Try ticketmaster for tomorrow. They at least said at Roseland they would honor some tickets at tomorrow's show. I got mine transferred with no problem. I would have no problem with a seated Shane if his leg's that bad. I've never seen Pogues with Shane, only with Joe Strummer in the early 90's. I went through the same thing with the Fall a couple of month's back. The fickle tempermental drunken genius thing gets old if people are spending earned cash (if indeed the leg story isn't true).

[Johnny5]

People are entiltled to blow their frustrations.

European Pogue fans travel every year to the UK to see the Pogues.

THe absolute silence from the "voice" of the band, Mr. Chevron stinks anD speaks volumes .Shane has done an entire tour in a wheelchair in the past. Dont try and tell us he has a bruised/sprined ankle is enough to stop a show!

More than meets the eye!!

To those who travelled distances, one can only sympathyse. Spider can sing all the songs. why didnt they plough on??

If they do perform over the rest of the week, It will only make tonights cancellation even more ridiculous.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the last tour of the Pogues.

[DEEPDALE]

My husband and I were talking about this on the train ride home. I wished the band played anyway, without Shane. He disagreed and thought the crowd would have been really pissed. I wish we could have been given the option...refund or option to stay and hear the rest of the band. I would have stayed. I guess it doesn't work that way contractually, but it would have been nice.

To those who think anyone complaining about Shane is unreasonable..gimme a break...it happens over and over..people spend lots of money to travel, buy tickets, etc...and you just never know whether Shane will show. Been there, done that.

I agree with your husband. Personally, I think a Shane-less show would be just fine, but after witnessing 3 shows this past weekend, I think the majority of the people there are all about Shane. I think there's a good sized portion of the crowd who go to these shows to get drunk, hear some good music, and watch Shane be drunk. The man standing next to me at the Orpheum kept screaming "Thats whiskey!" every time Shane drank from the bottle. (I believe it's some kind of wine, right?) Anyway, my general impression is that a lot of people are infatuated with Shane as a drunk and love it when he stumbles, fumbles the words, and takes a sip of booze.

I do enjoy Shane's antics for the most part, but the music is what draws me to go deeper into credit card debt for this band.

And to all those people who are justifiably aggravated and bitter, at least it was an injury (one I can attest to, having witnessed the fall) I don't believe this is a case of Shane being too drunk to get on stage, or missing the bus/plane/whatever. Shane was injured, and the band made a very difficult decision to cancel the show. Life sucks some times.

Well said, and I agree totally with you. For me, the music and lyrics are what draws me to the Pogues. Always has, always will.

[philipchevron]

My husband and I were talking about this on the train ride home. I wished the band played anyway, without Shane. He disagreed and thought the crowd would have been really pissed. I wish we could have been given the option...refund or option to stay and hear the rest of the band. I would have stayed. I guess it doesn't work that way contractually, but it would have been nice.

I think this encapsulates the lose-lose position we were in here. The days when we went on without Shane were representative of an ongoing decline in his well-being, when we were forced to make such decisions by the seat of our pants as circumstances dictated. This is emphatically not the case in the present-day Pogues, when audiences are entitled to see all 8 Pogues at full strength and the Pogues are entitled to consider the option of cancelling a show if this is not possible because one of us is out injured. Very far from being in ongoing decline, all the Pogues, including Shane, are currently at the top of or close to the top of our game.

Sure we considered, and rejected, the possibility of going on without Shane. If you can persuade me that the sickening venom directed at him would not have occurred anyway, I will concede we made the wrong decision.

[Thea]

THe absolute silence from the "voice" of the band, Mr. Chevron stinks anD speaks volumes .

Well. Who knows. He might be asleep.

[Guest]

how do you switch it through ticketmaster?!

Call them. They need the order number and the credit card number. I did it much earlier tonight though.

[DzM]

Stop for a minute and take a deep breath, OK?

at least be honest dont tell me he hurt his ankle,thats bull,he f"d as usual

I am being completely honest with the information I have, and I have no reason to suspect it's wrong. Shane's leg is injured. I'm willing to give Philip the benefit of the doubt. He has enough respect for the fans that he wouldn't lie to us. The last six years have proven that.

[Gjachts]

Headed into NYC ready for a great show like last year (and the other dozen times I have seen the Pogues and Shane). Unfortunately, The show was cancelled. On one hand I hope that Shane is ok. On the other hand, I have a feling that Shane fucked us all and is sleeping it off now.

Nonetheless a great time was had at McCoy's (9th ave between 51st and 52nd). Many a Harp was hoisted and The Pogues (and Shane's The Snake album) were playing on shuffle all night.

I am going to wait and see what can be found out on this site before trying to get some ickets for tommorrow or Saturday.

Happy St. Pat's to all.

[Thea]

Oh. Or not. Go me and my timing.

[CaptBradBeard]

My husband and I were talking about this on the train ride home. I wished the band played anyway, without Shane. He disagreed and thought the crowd would have been really pissed. I wish we could have been given the option...refund or option to stay and hear the rest of the band. I would have stayed. I guess it doesn't work that way contractually, but it would have been nice.

I think this encapsulates the lose-lose position we were in here. The days when we went on without Shane were representative of an ongoing decline in his well-being, when we were forced to make such decisions by the seat of our pants as circumstances dictated. This is emphatically not the case in the present-day Pogues, when audiences are entitled to see all 8 Pogues at full strength and the Pogues are entitled to consider the option of cancelling a show if this is not possible because one of us is out injured. Very far from being in ongoing decline, all the Pogues, including Shane, are currently at the top of or close to the top of our game.

Sure we considered, and rejected, the possibility of going on without Shane. If you can persuade me that the sickening venom directed at him would not have occurred anyway, I will concede we made the wrong decision.

Coming from someone who did not spend any money, or travel to the show tonight, I'd say you made the right decision. And I am quite sure the nasty responses would be coming in full force had you gone on without him.

I'd like to think I'd understand even if I had spent the money and took the time to travel to see a show, I guess I'll get my opportunity this weekend, as I will most likely make the trip to Phillie and NYC. Any word yet on the probability of these shows? Being just 24 years old, and having blown out a knee, I know leg injuries don't heal overnight

[Behan]

This was the flyer they were handing out at the Roseland Ballroom entrance.
I wish Shane a speedy recovery. BTW I left only a couple of minutes before Phil posted the notice. Oh well, a few pints at "Scruffy Duffys" and then dinner and a pint at "O'Lunny's of Time Square". Not a complete loss.

[Gjachts]

Meant to include in this in my original post.

I am glad that the Pogues didn't go on without Shane. It isn't the same band. I would have been pissed to pay Roseland prices for beer only to find that there was no Shane.

May the Road Rise to You.[b][/b]

[strummercalling]

I was there, I waited in line before learning the show was cancelled, and all I can say is I just hope that Shane is going to be all right, that he's not in too much discomfort, and that he's being taken good care of. Above any interest of my own, because I (as I'm sure many fans of the band do) care about Shane, my thoughts are with him and all the Pogues. The Pogues are indeed at the top of their game now and hopefully each of them can get attention and care when they need it, so we can enjoy this band for a long time to come.

[Behan]

I couldn't have said it any better, strummercalling!!

[Guest]

Out 40 bucks for a wasted train ride from Connecticut. What took so long to get him to a DR? Talk about a horrible PR event for a band finally gaining the trust back of there fans. Shane may be our hero but 50 and still falling down drunk is becoming a bit pathetic. Its kind of like watching your favorite athlete hang on one year too long. Its time to retire to the pub in Tipp.