The Pogues on record are never short of inspirational, and in person, they might be a life-changing experience. This hackle-raising blend of traditional Irish folk music, politically charged broadsides and electric rock ‘n’ roll, delivered by charismatic frontman Shane MacGowan flanked by a grizzled band of veterans that includes penny-whistle virtuoso/alternate vocalist Spider Stacy, was formed in the King’s Cross district of north London in 1982. Despite occasional time off for good behavior, they’ve been playing ever since and have a handful of festival dates planned for this summer. Here’s hoping it lasts for at least another 10 years. We are proud to say that Stacy, who is currently appearing as a street musician in season two of HBO’s Treme, will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our new Q&A with him.
Stacy: I find myself thinking about cities—western cities, with the strange coincidences of their quirks, their bohemias and their reeperbahns. The grimly ferocious charms of their sink estates and banlieues, the neglected and battered old manufacturing citadels rusting and scorned but still standing somehow. The tanned and glittering pavements of the charmed Babylons of the first world, the jamais-vu familiarities of Tokyo, Osaka and Seoul and their successors in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. And then, of course, the sprawling, supercities of the not-for-much-longer third world and all their enormous, unguessed potential. Most of all, though, I think of the Sunset Marquis in Los Angeles and having breakfast with my wife on the new terrace out the back. Klaus, who is the entertainment sales manager, is an long-time Pogues fan who once flew from his native Austria to see us play in a small pub in London in 1985. It’s a genuinely lovely hotel, and despite its claims to the contrary (“If we were any more Hollywood, our pool would be shallow at both ends”), they’re really friendly and down to earth.
Best picture I could find of the Sunset in its glory days features Clash-era Joe Strummer. Joe had a long history with the Pogues going back to the early days when we supported the Clash in Brixton. Me and him were in two films together. He played guitar on tour with us, produced Hell’s Ditch and took over from Shane as lead singer for a while.
Video after the jump.
One reply on “From The Desk Of The Pogues’ Spider Stacy: Places”
Spider,
Not quite to Klaus’ standard but I did fly from Atlanta to New York recently for your show on St. Patrick’s Day. Much like your epiphany with the Ramones, I discovered the Poges two years ago on a juke box in Ireland. I missed you on the 2009 U.S. tour but wasn’t about to do it again. I have vague memories of the Pogues from my college years. Now fifty, I am fully engulfed in all the music the Pogues spawned. Thank you for being there and doing it for all the years, and continuing, for those of us who took a little longer, to influence and entertain us with the music.
All the best,
Gary Jackson
Atlanta, Georgia
U.S.A.