11 February 2026
Irish/English Celtic-punk band THE POGUES broke the news of the passing
of their drummer Andrew Rankin, who was a co-founder of the band. He
was 72. R.I.P.
2 and 1/2 years ago, the band lost their notorious
frontman Shane MacGowan, aged 65. R.I.P.
19 Janaury 2026
UNCUT focuses in this new Ultimate Music Guide edition on the stormy story of the brilliant gang, know to us all as THE POGUES (1982–1996, 2001–2014) fronted by the incomparable Shane MacGowan (1957-2023).
The Pogues were a legendarily good time band, and immersed themselves heroically in the part, but their embrace of vibrant Irish musical culture was one aspect of a wider quest for adventurous music.
This they did, by expanding their personnel and taking influences from jazz,
middle-eastern music and beyond, building a group whose world-hungry musicality
found important fellow travellers in the shape of Joe Strummer, then on a similar
journey: a fusion of his punk era aggression with a more open-ended music.
You can purchase a copy and let it be sent to your home. Info HERE.
Significant longplayers from yesteryear
5 August 2025
Irish rooted folk-punk-pop legends THE POGUES fronted by the incomparable
Shane MacGowan (1957-2023) released their 2nd longplayer, their five-star
masterwork, named RUM SODOMY & THE LASH on 5 August 1985, today
40 years ago.
The album’s title, suggested by drummer Andrew Ranken, who said “it seemed
to sum up life in our band”, is taken from a quotation attributed to Winston
Churchill: “Don’t talk to me about naval tradition. It’s nothing but rum, sodomy,
and the lash”.
It peaked at #13 in the UK
Elvis Costello who produced the album, said at the time: “My task was to capture
them in their dilapidated glory before some more professional producer fucked them
up.”
The cover artwork was based on a painting by Théodore Géricault, with the band members’ faces replacing those of the men on the raft painted by illustrator Peter Mennim.
NME said: “It’s a collection of free-ranging stuff to be sure; from the funereal
folk ballad to the near spaghetti-western instrumental, raucous celebration to
brown study, cheerful melody to downright strangeness.
It’s never sentimental, it’s rarely polite, and it’s certainly not ordinary. Rum Sodomy
and the Lash is more than the best record The Pogues could be expected to make at
this time. It’s more than a brilliant example of a band using its resources in an
imaginative manner. It’s probably the best LP of 1985.”
KEY SINGLES
ALBUM
Reveries for the laziest day of the week
29 December 2024
I know Xmas is over, although Santa is still around. But I came across this recent epic perfomance of The Pogues‘ timeless classic Fairytale Of New York by La La Choirs in
the cathedral in Exeter (UK) a couple of days ago.
Goosebumps.
Glorious.
Hallelujah.
Back in time
24 December 2024
Band: NEW ORDER
Album: Low Life
Their 3rd one,
#7 in the UK.
Melody Maker said: “The album boasts the most articulate sound
since The Cocteaus’ Treasure, elevating depression to ecstasy.”
STREAM
Instagram – All Albums
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Band: THE POGUES
Album: Rum Sodomy & The Lash
2nd LP, #13 in the UK.
The album’s title is taken from a quotation attributed to Winston Churchill:
“Don’t talk to me about naval tradition. It’s nothing but rum, sodomy, and the lash.”
NME wrote: “A collection of free-ranging stuff to be sure. It’s never
sentimental, it’s rarely polite, and it’s certainly not ordinary.”
STREAM
.
Linktree – All Albums
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Artist: TOM WAITS
Album: Rain Dogs
9th LP,
#188 in the US,
#29 in the UK.
The Village Voice wrote: “Waits worked out a unique and identifiable lounge-lizard
sound that suits his status as the poet of America’s non-nine-to-fivers.”
STREAM
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Instagram – All Albums
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Band: THE FALL
Album: This Nation’s Saving Grace
8th longplayer.
AllMusic: “This collection is ample proof of the pure confidence the group had
at this time. The Fall sound mysterious, down-to-earth, and hilarious all at the
same time.”
STREAM
.
Instagram – All Albums
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Band: THE CURE
Album: The Head On The Door
6th one, #7 in the UK.
Pitchfork: “Their most focused
pop album. A tight, terrific package.”
STREAM
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Instagram – All Albums
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Artist: BRIAN ENO
Album: Thursday Afternoon
AllMusic: “Thursday Afternoon is an hour-long, uninterrupted ambient piece
created in Eno’s “holographic” compositional style, in which even the most brief
snippet of music is representative of the performance as a whole.”
STREAM
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Instagram – All Albums
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Band: TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS
Album: Southern Accents
Their 6th LP,
#7 in the US.
AllMusic: “An ambitious album, attempting to incorporate touches of soul,
psychedelia, and country into a loose concept about the modern South.”
STREAM
.
Linktree – All Albums
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Band: THE CULT
Album: Love
Their second LP,
# in the UK.
AllMusic: “Considering the musical schizophrenia that would plague each
subsequent Cult release, Love just may be the band’s purest moment.”
STREAM
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Instagram – All Albums
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Band: THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN
Album: Psychocandy
NME said: “A great searing citadel of beauty whose wall of noise,
once scaled, offers access to endless vistas of melody and emotion.”
STREAM
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Instagram – All Albums
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Band: HÜSKER DÜ
Album: Flip Your Wig
4th longplayer
#1 Indie charts UK
AllMusic: “Flip Your Wig would be a remarkable record on its own terms, but the fact that it followed New Day Rising by a matter of months and Zen Arcade by just over a year is simply astonishing.”
STREAM
30 November 2024
SHANE MACGOWAN, the former voice/face of iconic English-Irish misfits
The Pogues, one of the greatest performers/songwriters ever, passed
away today 1 year ago, on 30 November 2023 after being sick for some
time.
He was aged 65. This Christmas Day he would have celebrated his 67th one.
Shane had a wild life filled with lots of alcohol. Yet, he seemed to survive
anyway and live forever.
Shane MacGowan about that fabulous The Pogues classic
‘Fairytale Of New York’ feat. the late great Kirsty MacColl.
13 October 2024
Séan MacGabhann / Shane MacGowan: SONGSMITH is a new book featuring
many previously unpublished images photographer by Pádraig O Flannabhra of
the late Pogues frontman who passed away last year in November, aged 65.
The book supports the UNICEF–United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, which helps Palestinian Children in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, who have to battle
hunger and pain to stay alive.
More info and order details here.
A large mural of the late legendary The Pogues singer/songwriter
SHANE MacGOWAN will be officially unveiled in his second hometown
of Nenagh in the county of Tipperary In Ireland next month.
Tipperary town-based artist Neil O’Dwyer started work on the mural several
weeks ago, but he said there was lots of work yet to be done before the
inauguration.
Large mural of Pogues singer Shane MacGowan to be unveiled in late singer’s second home Nenagh, Co Tipperary https://t.co/3Z7tkyDaq7
— The Pogues (@poguesofficial) August 26, 2024
13 May 2024
Last night imperishable big born in the USA rock shot BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN who is in the middle of (another) European tour opened their show in Kilkenny, Ireland with a tribute to the late great British-Irish songsmith Shane MacGowan who passed away last November, at the age of 65. Springsteen and his E-Street Band covered The Pogues‘ 1985 pearl RAINY DAY IN SOHO from their fabulous Rum Sodomy & The Lash LP.
WATCH/LISTEN
THE POGUES
The Boss: Instagram
Band: THE POGUES
Single: DARK STREETS OF LONDON
Their debut 7″
Released: 1984
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Band: THE SPECIAL AKA
Single: NELSON MANDELA
Released: 8 March 1984
Score: #9 in the UK, #1 in New Zealand
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Band: ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN
Single: THE KILLING MOON
Released: 20 January 1984
Score: #9 in the UK, #7 in Ireland
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Artist: PRINCE
Single: WHEN DOVES CRY
Released: 16 May 1984
Score: #1 in the US, #4 in the UK
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Band: REDSKINS
Single: KEEP ON KEEPING’ ON
Released: 1984
In The Ghetto by NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS