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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
As told to Dave Simpson

‘Shane was rascality personified’: the Pogues on their late frontman, anti-Irish prejudice and the feud over Fairytale of New York

Shane MacGowan Pogues Spider Stacy James Fearnley Jem Finer Laurence Fox New York Andrew Ranken Joe Strummer Ireland
The huddle around a staircase at the venue, posing for the camera
Put on the ritz … (clockwise from bottom left) the Pogues’ Shane MacGowan, James Fearnley, Spider Stacy, Philip Chevron, Terry Woods, Cait O’Riordan, Andrew Ranken and Jem Finer at the Ritz in New York, June 1986. Photograph: Gary Gershoff/Getty Images

The Pogues earned a reputation early on as a ferocious live band. What does it feel like to be in the middle of that whirlwind? VerulamiumParkRanger
Spider Stacy [co-founder, tin whistle, vocals]: Last Christmas, we did a secret gig in a pub in Nunhead [in London] and it reminded me of those early days when we were so close to the audience, who were practically on top of each other. The venue that most sticks in my mind is the Hope & Anchor [in Islington, London]. We played there to about 35 people [in 1983], but when we went back a month later the match had been struck and it was absolutely roaring. After that, at gigs, there were clothes landing on stage …

James Fearnley [co-founder, accordion]: Medical equipment, crutches …

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