» Shane MacGowan

Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan (born 25 December 1957) is an Irish musician and singer best known as the original singer and songwriter of The Pogues. His voice has been described by Jools olland as a voice that touches the heart and soul.

MacGowan was born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. His parents, both Irish^[1], lived in many parts of the south-east of England, including Brighton and London. Soon after his birth MacGowan's mother returned to Ireland, where he spent the next six years of his life at his mother's family home in Carney, near Nenagh, County Tipperary. He returned to England where he attended Holmewood House Preparatory School at Langton Green, Tunbridge Wells. He was a moderately above average scholar but suffered from bullying. Despite his early years in Ireland and private education, he acquired (and retains) a north London accent. Whilst in Ireland, he became completely immersed in the traditional music of Irish culture. His mother was a singer and traditional dancer and had worked as a model in Dublin. His father was very interested in literature and writing. In 1971, MacGowan earned a musical scholarship and was accepted into Westminster School, a renowned English public school close to the Houses of Parliament. He was found in possession of drugs and was expelled in his second year^[2].

MacGowan got his first taste of fame in 1976 at a Clash concert, when his earlobe was bitten by a girl he had previously been kissing (Kate Korus, formerly of The Slits). A photographer snapped a picture of him covered in blood and it made the papers^[3], with the headline "Cannibalism At Clash Gig". Shortly after this, he formed his own punk rock band, The Nipple Erectors, later renamed "The Nips". He also tried busking at Covent Garden but had little success.

MacGowan drew on his Irish heritage when founding The Pogues. Many of his songs are influenced by Irish nationalism, Irish history, the experiences of the Irish in London and the U.S., and London life in general. MacGowan has often cited the 19th-century Irish poet James Clarence Mangan and playwright Brendan Behan as influences.

Between 1985 and 1987 he co-wrote what is perhaps his best-known song, "Fairytale of New York", which he performed with Kirsty MacColl. After The Pogues threw MacGowan out for unprofessional behaviour, he formed a new band, Shane MacGowan and The Popes. In 1997, MacGowan appeared on Lou Reed's "Perfect Day", covered by numerous artists in aid of Children in Need. The single entered the charts at number one.^{[citation needed]}

The Pogues and MacGowan re-formed for a sell-out tour in 2001 and re-formed again in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 for further tours, including headline slots at Guilfest (UK) and the Azkena Rock Festival (Basque Country). In 2005, the Pogues re-released "Fairytale of New York" to raise funds for the Justice For Kirsty Campaign and Crisis At Christmas. The single was the best-selling festive-themed single of 2005, reaching #2 in the UK Charts.

In 2006, he was voted 50th in the NME Rock Heroes List. He has been seen many times with former Libertines and current Babyshambles singer Pete Doherty. The two are close friends; MacGowan has joined Babyshambles on stage. Other famous friends include Johnny Depp, who starred in the video for "That Woman's Got Me Drinking", and Joe Strummer, who referred to MacGowan as "one of the best writers of the century". Strummer occasionally joined MacGowan and the Pogues on stage (and briefly replaced MacGowan as lead singer after his sacking from the band).

His sister is Siobhan MacGowan, a journalist, writer and songwriter, who released her own critically acclaimed album Chariot in 1998, and published a children's novel, Etain's Dream. In early March 2007, MacGowan announced plans to marry his long-time girlfriend Victoria Mary Clarke.

In 2000 Tim Bradford used the title "Is Shane MacGowan still alive?" for a humorous book about Ireland and Irish culture.^[4]

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