Shane MacGowan’s music legacy will live on “forever and ever”, according to Wolfe Tones frontman Brian Warfield.
The Pogues star’s wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, announced his death this morning, with his family saying he died peacefully in his sleep at 3am.
He was discharged from hospital last week where it is understood he was being treated for a serious infection.
"He was a complete and utter one-off." @andreagilligan hears tributes to Shane MacGowan, who died today at the age of 65, on @LunchtimeLiveNT. pic.twitter.com/3td4dMdDVs
— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) November 30, 2023
Speaking to Lunchtime Live, Wolfe Tones frontman Brian Warfield said he was “devastated” when he heard the news.
“We did a Late Late Show together quite recently,” he said.
“So, we’ve had many great times [together] and he’ll always have a fond spot in my heart.
“What a writer; he just wrote some wonderful songs.”
— Shane MacGowan (@ShaneMacGowan) November 30, 2023
In 1987, The Pogues’ released Fairytale of New York and it raced up the charts.
For many, it is the quintessential Christmas song and Mr Warfield described the tune as a “masterpiece”.
“That’ll go on forever and ever and ever,” he said.
“[It’s a] Christmas song that’ll always be there and I think that’ll be a huge legacy left behind him.
“Now only that, he’s had some great works as well, which of course will also be remembered.”
A part of Irish culture
Mr Warfield said the band embedded themselves into Irish culture and wherever he goes, people want to hear The Pogues played.
“Fairytale would come up or something of Shane MacGowan’s was always part of the Irish session,” he said.
“So, it is very much part of Irish folklore at the moment and I think that will live on forever and ever and that will be his legacy, in my view.”
Statement by President Higgins on the death of Shane MacGowan https://t.co/gHiCNjxwzE pic.twitter.com/C8x5IRIUpO
— President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) November 30, 2023
Mr Warfield said MacGowan had been a “good friend” to the Wolfe Tones over the years and he always appreciated his “dry humour” behind closed doors.
“Many people might not know it - because they saw him on stage - but it was totally different to the real man,” he said.
“The real man was just a nice guy, a lovely guy and you had to love him.”
The Lord Mayor of Dublin has opened a book of condolence at the Mansion House to allow people to pay their tributes MacGowan.
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Main image: Shane MacGowan of The Pogues on stage at The Stockton Weekender in Stockton-on-Tees, UK. August 2012. Picture by: Alamy.com
