Shane too sober now?

[Zuzana]

"A determined fan with a booklet of MacGowan's solo debut album waited in front of the dressing room. Shane took the offered ballpoint, put it to the photograph of his own face and then tore the booklet with a violent jerk of the pen. Shreds of colourful paper fell to the ground and Shane spat on them. Then he lurched to the showers, while his manager Charlie motioned me to sit in the dressing room and wait till the Master comes back. "The interview will start in a quarter of an hour and last until Shane gives you a beating," he explained the rules laconically..."

I've dug up an article depicting the impressions of a Czech journalist from three meetings with Shane, in three different phases of Shane's career – ranging from predicting Shane the usual six months of life to the conclusion that he's got too sober. My English translation of the full text (with some nice pics) is here.

[sheva]

' "And now to your questions, " Shane MacGowan prodded me, turned to his equally drunk manager and spluttered something which could be – with a bit of goodwill – reproduced on an out-of-tune bass guitar, but hardly with words. '

Thanks for sharing this with us, Zuzana!

[Eyeball_Kid]

thanks, that was an interesting read and I really liked the picture of Shane with his mother. The description of the second meeting reminded me of a video I saw recently that was taken backstage in '95 by Danish (? - can't remember exactly) TV crew. Shane is quite drunk, not too friendly and singing an awful version of Danny Boy.
AND I envy your English skills, Zuzana!

[MacRua]

Then you should try Zuzana's original works, Eyeball_Kid !

[territa]

This one's a gem. Thank you for making it accessible to the rest of us.

[Mick Molloy]

Yeah good read!

[Guest]

Have you ever had a bad day at work? I gather from your little diatribe that you haven't. Get a grip, nyet?

[Tom Wade]

i don't really like the interview very much.
doesn't anyone else feel that he's asking shane to kill himself, again for the amusement and general delight of others?

i would stop drinking, too as soon as people became more interested in the bottle attached to the man, rather than the man attached to the bottle.

[Eyeball_Kid]

You're right, Tom, the ending could be considered quite 'sick'.
I also thought it was disturbing that Joey seems to controll Shane's mind quite a bit...

[MacRua]

Correct me, Eyeball_Kid, but poor Joey wasn't even mentioned in that interview i am afraid...

[Eyeball_Kid]

just re-read it. Sorry, Joey - it was Charlie who sometimes seemed to dictate Shane what to say. Maybe the text gives a false impression of this situation but that's the way I read it.

[MacRua]

aha, the text gives impression that someone malicious imposed his dark will... Who it could be? guess at one dash... the answer seems to be so obvious. Actually automatic.

[Eyeball_Kid]

[MacRua]

As for dictating what to say... The text gives me impression that Charlie was mocking Credo off: Shane, when asked about faith and God, reply: Yes, I believe!" MacGowan nods, then says aloud: "Yes, I believe!"

An interrogative form of the Apostles' Creed which is used in the Rite of Baptism. A set of questions is asked. Those which begin with "Do you reject..." are answered with "I reject". Another three - "Do you believe in..." -must be answered with "I believe"

[Eyeball_Kid]

thanks, your interpretation makes more sense than mine