Mmmm. Whiskey.

[in_the_morning]

[nigchinsan1971]

Spider seems to be absent from the photos? The integrity of the band?

[Mike from Boston]

Spider seems to be absent from the photos? The integrity of the band?

Spider (and James Fearnley) both now live in the US, Spider in New Orleans and James in LA. Most likely the reason they weren't there for the launch.

Spider did a show this weekend in New Orleans with the Lost Bayou Ramblers.

Here is IISFWG

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBV3jiw3ULw

[Frances]

The integrity of the band?

Fuck integrity.

Vodka. We need vodka!

[Crooked Jack]

Where can you buy this? Havent seen it in any bars or off licences and can't find anywhere selling it online.

[Charlie W]

Sorry this just makes me feel very sad. The band have spent so much time fighting against the lazy journalism that focused on the alcohol and the members of the Pogues relationship with it. As far as I have read Spider, Phil and Terry all stopped drinking completely due to alcoholism and Shane continues to drink heavily which is of course his choice. I just wish so much that we were able to hear some new material from this great band rather than seeing them promote whiskey. Breaks my heart...

[Low D]

Sorry this just makes me feel very sad. The band have spent so much time fighting against the lazy journalism that focused on the alcohol and the members of the Pogues relationship with it. As far as I have read Spider, Phil and Terry all stopped drinking completely due to alcoholism and Shane continues to drink heavily which is of course his choice. I just wish so much that we were able to hear some new material from this great band rather than seeing them promote whiskey. Breaks my heart...

While i agree with you in that I'd rather hear new music, it's also fair to say they've had a number of songs WRITTEN about the stuff, which they do in fact still perform, so I don't see it being awkward, hypocritical, or anything. Makes sense, really, but like I said before, it's just kind of irrelevant.

Now if they were touring under a large Jagermeiter banner or something, THAT would be tres gauche....

[in_the_morning]

Sorry this just makes me feel very sad. The band have spent so much time fighting against the lazy journalism that focused on the alcohol and the members of the Pogues relationship with it. As far as I have read Spider, Phil and Terry all stopped drinking completely due to alcoholism and Shane continues to drink heavily which is of course his choice. I just wish so much that we were able to hear some new material from this great band rather than seeing them promote whiskey. Breaks my heart...

I understand your feelings on this. But as Low D pointed out, many of the songs are about alcohol or alcoholism even. Can't really argue about that one. Shane still looks cool as fuck, but how he is alive is beyond me. He's actually working on a new album as far as I'm informed. I'm really excited about the thing, though it can be dangerous, especially when you are Shane MacGowan and have that legacy of songs. Sorry, going off topic here.

[Low D]

Sorry this just makes me feel very sad. The band have spent so much time fighting against the lazy journalism that focused on the alcohol and the members of the Pogues relationship with it. As far as I have read Spider, Phil and Terry all stopped drinking completely due to alcoholism and Shane continues to drink heavily which is of course his choice. I just wish so much that we were able to hear some new material from this great band rather than seeing them promote whiskey. Breaks my heart...

“While The Pogues might be the most likely band to launch a whiskey, drink was never the thing that actually defined us—but it did feature prominently," said Stacy. "“Drink was an angle about the band that people really played up. If that’s the way people write about you, that becomes people’s perception of you. It’s not something we did anything to dispel, and in many ways we are responsible for that. If you know the subject matter of the songs, and the way we presented ourselves, people were putting two and two together and coming up with four-ish"
...
"It was a bit of an albatross in the old days,” Stacy said. “There was a time when it was all people seemed to want to talk about. At the same time we did rather make our own bed in that respect, so I guess we learned to lie in it. It is what it is. It would be foolish to try to pretend otherwise. I really liked Irish whiskey, and was actually quite fussy about single malts.”

How The Pogues Stayed Sober Enough to Make Their Own Whiskey
Spider Stacy, co-founder of The Pogues, talks about the band's whiskey brand, why he himself gave up alcohol, Shane MacGowan’s excesses, and the uncertain future of the band.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2 ... iskey.html

[firehazard]

Sorry this just makes me feel very sad. The band have spent so much time fighting against the lazy journalism that focused on the alcohol and the members of the Pogues relationship with it. As far as I have read Spider, Phil and Terry all stopped drinking completely due to alcoholism and Shane continues to drink heavily which is of course his choice. I just wish so much that we were able to hear some new material from this great band rather than seeing them promote whiskey. Breaks my heart...

“While The Pogues might be the most likely band to launch a whiskey, drink was never the thing that actually defined us—but it did feature prominently," said Stacy. "“Drink was an angle about the band that people really played up. If that’s the way people write about you, that becomes people’s perception of you. It’s not something we did anything to dispel, and in many ways we are responsible for that. If you know the subject matter of the songs, and the way we presented ourselves, people were putting two and two together and coming up with four-ish"
...
"It was a bit of an albatross in the old days,” Stacy said. “There was a time when it was all people seemed to want to talk about. At the same time we did rather make our own bed in that respect, so I guess we learned to lie in it. It is what it is. It would be foolish to try to pretend otherwise. I really liked Irish whiskey, and was actually quite fussy about single malts.”

How The Pogues Stayed Sober Enough to Make Their Own Whiskey
Spider Stacy, co-founder of The Pogues, talks about the band's whiskey brand, why he himself gave up alcohol, Shane MacGowan’s excesses, and the uncertain future of the band.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2 ... iskey.html

Good article. Thanks, Low D.

[Doktor Avalanche]

Sorry this just makes me feel very sad. The band have spent so much time fighting against the lazy journalism that focused on the alcohol and the members of the Pogues relationship with it. As far as I have read Spider, Phil and Terry all stopped drinking completely due to alcoholism and Shane continues to drink heavily which is of course his choice. I just wish so much that we were able to hear some new material from this great band rather than seeing them promote whiskey. Breaks my heart...

“While The Pogues might be the most likely band to launch a whiskey, drink was never the thing that actually defined us—but it did feature prominently," said Stacy. "“Drink was an angle about the band that people really played up. If that’s the way people write about you, that becomes people’s perception of you. It’s not something we did anything to dispel, and in many ways we are responsible for that. If you know the subject matter of the songs, and the way we presented ourselves, people were putting two and two together and coming up with four-ish"
...
"It was a bit of an albatross in the old days,” Stacy said. “There was a time when it was all people seemed to want to talk about. At the same time we did rather make our own bed in that respect, so I guess we learned to lie in it. It is what it is. It would be foolish to try to pretend otherwise. I really liked Irish whiskey, and was actually quite fussy about single malts.”

How The Pogues Stayed Sober Enough to Make Their Own Whiskey
Spider Stacy, co-founder of The Pogues, talks about the band's whiskey brand, why he himself gave up alcohol, Shane MacGowan’s excesses, and the uncertain future of the band.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2 ... iskey.html

Good article. Thanks, Low D.

Indeed. And my thanks as well.

[Hennybhoy]

Any news on this one?

I want a bottle of that rare oul' stuff.......

[Phuckle]

Hi, I'm writing a cover story about The Pogues Whiskey for glossy West Cork Mag, on sale worldwide, 'Clonakilty Living'. Have been in with John O'Connell at West Cork Distillers and am trying to get some questions to the band or any of the members. You can contact me @Phuckle_IRE. Going to print soon and they're killing me to get it finished. Any help would be the dogs! Brendan

[Mike from Boston]

Hi, I'm writing a cover story about The Pogues Whiskey for glossy West Cork Mag, on sale worldwide, 'Clonakilty Living'. Have been in with John O'Connell at West Cork Distillers and am trying to get some questions to the band or any of the members. You can contact me @Phuckle_IRE. Going to print soon and they're killing me to get it finished. Any help would be the dogs! Brendan

Unfortunately, since Mr. Chevron's passing, it is rare for one of the members to visit the Raft.
I think your best bet is via Twitter-Spider, Jem, James, Victoria (Shane's gf) are active there.

[Wayne Kerr]

The Pogues go corporate, who would have thought it?I would have preferred a new album or maybe one last farewell gig.