Irish musician who was best known as the lead vocalist and songwriter of Celtic punk band the Pogues, Shane MacGowan died at the age of 65. His wife, Victoria Mary Clarke confirmed.
On Instagram, MacGowan’s wife and partner of several decades, Victoria May Clarke, wrote, “I don’t know how to say this so I am just going to say it. Shane who will always be the light that I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love ❤️ of my life and the most beautiful soul and beautiful angel and the sun and the moon and the start and end of everything that I hold dear has gone to be with Jesus and Mary and his beautiful mother Therese. I am blessed beyond words to have met him and to have loved him and to have been so endlessly and unconditionally loved by him and to have had so many years of life and love ❤️ and joy and fun and laughter and so many adventures. There’s no way to describe the loss that I am feeling and the longing for just one more of his smiles that lit up my world. Thank you thank you thank you thank you for your presence in this world you made it so very bright and you gave so much joy to so many people with your heart and soul and your music. You will live in my heart forever. Rave on in the garden all wet with rain that you loved so much ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ You meant the world to me.”
He often cited the 19th-century Irish poet James Clarence Mangan and playwright Brendan Behan as influences. MacGowan was best known for his tongue-in-cheek, cranky delivery as the frontman of the Pogues, chronicling the misadventures of Ireland’s residents and diaspora in raspy, whiskey-ravaged tones.
Outside of the Pogues, Shane MacGowan and the Popes recorded two albums, and the Shane Gang performed several live shows in Ireland. In recent years, MacGowan was the subject of multiple documentaries, including 2015’s Shane MacGowan: A Wreck Reborn and 2020’s Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds With Shane MacGowan.
Pogues Frontman, Shane MacGowan Died at 65
