The Medusa Fora

This time of year i'm thinking about Joe a lot - As i'm sure Brixton will be tonight when "Straight to Hell" comes over the PA. Cant believe its 3 years since he's gone.
Anyway i was wondering, how far did the plans to carry on the pogues with Joe as frontman go? i remember reading an interview with him wherehe said it didnt really happen because he was interested in doing his own thing and likewise The Pogues.
But i was wondering if any songs got written/recorded before you all came to this decision. In the absence of Shane it seemed like the lineup from heaven, and i still remember how great those shows with Joe were. I always hated the idea of the supergroup until those gigs, but it really was a special combination.

Sure he'll be looking down loving every minute of these shows, singing along with "coming up threes boys, coming up threes boys"!

RIP Joe

I miss Joe, and Kirsty, every single day. I don't think Joe ever felt welcomed enough by the fans to attempt a record together. It was the darnedest job in the world, having to step into Shane's shoes. That said, he was really great to work with, a real thinking musician, like an old jazz head. It was a memorable year while he was a Pogue.

But I did get sent a bootleg of some of Joe's demos recently and, poignantly enough, at least two of them sound as if they are possibly songs he was writing for the Pogues. But he never did play them to us.

philipchevron wrote:I don't think Joe ever felt welcomed enough by the fans to attempt a record together. It was the darnedest job in the world, having to step into Shane's shoes.

That's too bad. I saw The Pogues in Oct, 1991 in San Francisco. Joe was front.

The most memorable concert I've been to, and something I'll remember for years to come. I feel fortunate to have been there.

We did record a live album from that tour with Joe. I am sure, in the fullness of time, it will eventually see the light of day.

philipchevron wrote:We did record a live album from that tour with Joe. I am sure, in the fullness of time, it will eventually see the light of day.

Dare to dream.

philipchevron wrote:We did record a live album from that tour with Joe. I am sure, in the fullness of time, it will eventually see the light of day.

I do hope so. Itd be nice to have a record of those great shows thats not a speeded up bootleg with crap sound quality. I initially only planned to go to the Cambridge gig on that tour but loved it so much i found myself hauling my arse round the country for at least another 4! sleeping on train station platforms, getting a warning at work for unauthorised absence, but i wouldnt have missed them for the world. The Pogues and Joe really brought out the best in each other on those shows i thought.

I never thought it might have been the fans attitude that stopped Joe taking it further, but it makes sense. I remember being at the Brixton show surrounded by arseholes who wouldnt stop screaming for Shane at the top of their voices, like if they shouted loud enough he might appear. I guess everyone would have liked Shane to be there as well, but for me the sight of Joe singing Pogues songs he clearly adored, and the superb Pogues arrangements of Joes tunes, particularly "Straight to Hell" was plenty good enough . And i'd have loved to have heard the results of a spell in the studio with that lineup.

Thanks for taking the time to answer Mr C, It means a lot. Have a great gig tonight and a cracking christmas.

Yes, Joe Strummer is sadly missed. I still remember it clearly when I heard he had passed away. I was decorating the Christmas tree with me ma as we always do on the 23rd, and the news came on on the radio. I totally lost my will to decorate the tree and just sat down and thought about what a terrible tragedy it was.
Unfortunately I never got the chance to see Joe live, and that is something that makes me sad.
Seeing him live with The Pogues would've been a dream come true.
I have heard some crappy bootlegs of this, but I do hope that liverecording you were talking about Mr. Chevron will come out. It would be a great way to honour the memory of one of the greatest singers/songwriters of all time!

Yes Joe is sadly missed... I remember the first time seeing the Clash, my dad an old Who fan and me a young Clash fan travelled to Buffalo in 82 for the gig.. a magic day for the both of us and he has been hooked on the Clash ever since!! The last time I saw Joe was in Tokyo with the Muscaleros.. Joe was in great form but realizing how hot it was down front he started throwing bottles of water out to the crowd.. unfortunately one smacked me right in the mouth splitting it wide apart - after the show we got back stage and Joe asked me what had happened.. "only another night down in the front at a Joe Strummer show" is all I could reply.. He smiled and signed his name on an old record I had with me.. Cheers Joe for the memories! There are a couple of decent boots around with Joe and the Pogues.. Thanks Joe, Volume 1 and 2 come to mind!