Hero (meeting Joe Strummer )

[philipchevron]

The story of The Pogues and Ecstasy, or rather Andrew Ranken and Ecstasy, is well documented in, among other places, Carol Clerk's book. For myself, I took E twice in my life, once in St Patrick's week 1987 and once on our first Australian tour in 1988. In both instances, it was a horrendous mistake, although I was careful to time them so that gigs were unaffected. There has never been a third occasion. For what it's worth, E was never really a part of Pogues culture, though what people did outside of office hours has always been their own business.

In feeling affronted by Guest's little tall tale about how Joe Strummer was so thrilled to meet him, my main objection is to his notion that there is some generic entity called The Pogues, rather than a group of individuals who make their own informed choices about their recreation. There is only a thing called The Pogues between the hours of 4pm and 11pm on gig days when, with the exception of the Singist, sobriety is observed at all times. I know, boring, isn't it? Your heroes will always let you down.

[Frankiecon]

The various guests posting will have to forgive us our entertainment. It's just one of the rare examples of a situation where someone is remembering an event and retelling it, and someone else who was also there is disputing much of the detail.

In this case we have a Dude-Guy retelling how cool it was to meet Joe Strummer and buy drugs for The Pogues. And we have one of The Pogues disputing the facts of the story. And we have the Dude-Guy responding with comments that boil down to "you're just jealous 'cause you weren't there, it was super awesome and stuff." Dude-Guy does not appear to realize that he is, in fact, talking to someone that WAS, in fact, there.

So yeah, maybe it's a little mean of us, but we're enjoying watching the car wreck.

I have no idea how much of the story is true, how much is the mists of time making the meeting that much more glamorous when remembered, etc. It doesn't really matter. It's a fun story and I'll remember it just that way - a story.

Hey, It's me again, someone else posted in my defense out of loyalty and friendship above. So, this is the dude-guy who served all of you that night. I also remember you guys were bored and didn't know where to hang out later after the show. So I suggested a place on Sunset called "Smalls." You were a great bunch who drank more than any other band that I had served before a show at the venue before. I remember you guys being much happier as you left for your performance. Maybe I am confusing the ecstacy part with Elvis C's crew but who cares. The main point was meeting my hero Joe. And if you were there that night, and you reach back far enough into the cobwebs, Try and remember how happy and outgoing he was towards the waiter. This dude-guy had an experience he will never forget.

No disrespect,
Frankiecon

[Frankiecon]

The various guests posting will have to forgive us our entertainment. It's just one of the rare examples of a situation where someone is remembering an event and retelling it, and someone else who was also there is disputing much of the detail.

In this case we have a Dude-Guy retelling how cool it was to meet Joe Strummer and buy drugs for The Pogues. And we have one of The Pogues disputing the facts of the story. And we have the Dude-Guy responding with comments that boil down to "you're just jealous 'cause you weren't there, it was super awesome and stuff." Dude-Guy does not appear to realize that he is, in fact, talking to someone that WAS, in fact, there.

So yeah, maybe it's a little mean of us, but we're enjoying watching the car wreck.

I have no idea how much of the story is true, how much is the mists of time making the meeting that much more glamorous when remembered, etc. It doesn't really matter. It's a fun story and I'll remember it just that way - a story.

Hey, It's me again, someone else posted in my defense out of loyalty and friendship above. So, this is the dude-guy who served all of you that night. I also remember you guys were bored and didn't know where to hang out later after the show. So I suggested a place on Sunset called "Smalls." You were a great bunch who drank more than any other band that I had served before a show at the venue before. I remember you guys being much happier as you left for your performance. Maybe I am confusing the ecstacy part with Elvis C's crew but who cares. The main point was meeting my hero Joe. And if you were there that night, and you reach back far enough into the cobwebs, Try and remember how happy and outgoing he was towards the waiter. This dude-guy had an experience he will never forget.

No disrespect,
Frankiecon

PS The other dude-guy who posted about jealously is a lovely woman from NYC who has her own blog which you can find on my page. It's called Stagnant Artist

[Stagnant Artist]

well that is a whirlwind of crazy... huh? Now to think that an actual member of the band is reading a forum (which I never do believe- i mean really.... really?) was unthinkable. But to have the idea of a story coming back to smack one in the face and be it a long while ago, I can imagine the confusion. Just assumed (and I can't help it with my Boston/NYC living) that you all were just a bunch of cocky guys. And by the way- i am not a dude guy.... more like dude girl....

All in all, this has become more of a funny story in it's own right! Glad to see it get cleared up!

[DzM]

And by the way- i am not a dude guy.... more like dude girl....

Aren't we all, in some mystical sense, dude-guys?

The Dude abides.

[fluke]

give this dude girl a chair! She can stay because she's really funny!!

[Stagnant Artist]

hehe... this dude girl accepts... but can you all keep up with my crazy ass?

[Mick Molloy]

hehe... this dude girl accepts... but can you all keep up with my crazy ass?

We're quite used to it