The Pogues
| The Pogues | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Pogue Mahone (1982–1984) |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Celtic punk, folk punk |
| Years active | 1982–1996, 2001–2014 |
| Labels | Stiff Records, Island, Pogue Mahone Records, Chameleon |
| Website | Pogues.com |
| Past members |
Shane MacGowan Spider Stacy Jem Finer James Fearnley Andrew Ranken Darryl Hunt Terry Woods Cait O'Riordan Phil Chevron Joe Strummer Dave Coulter James McNally Jamie Clarke |
The Pogues were a Celtic punk band formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band was founded in Kings Cross, London, as Pogue Mahone — the anglicisation of the Irish póg mo thóin, meaning "kiss my arse". The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s, recording several hit albums and singles. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The Pogues reformed in late 2001, and played regularly across the UK and Ireland and on the US East Coast, until dissolving again in 2014. The group did not record any new material during this second incarnation.
Their politically tinged music was informed by MacGowan and Stacy's punk backgrounds, yet used traditional Irish instruments such as the tin whistle, banjo, cittern, mandolin and accordion.
The Pogues have influenced many bands throughout the years, such as Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys.
The future members of The Pogues first met when MacGowan (vocals), Peter "Spider" Stacy (tin whistle), and Jem Finer (banjo) were together in an occasional band called The Millwall Chainsaws in the late 1970s after MacGowan and Stacy met in the toilets at a Ramones gig at The Roundhouse in 1977. MacGowan was already with The Nips, though when they broke up in 1980 he concentrated a bit more on Stacy's Millwall Chainsaws, who changed their name to The New Republicans.
In 1982, James Fearnley (accordion), who had been a guitarist with The Nips, joined MacGowan, Stacy, and Finer, forming the band, then known as Pogue Mahone. The new group played their first gig at The Pindar of Wakefield on 4 October 1982.
...
Wikipedia