The Pogues

JOHNNY DEPP SUPPORTS HIS ERRANT FRIENDS

Nice to hear that Johnny Depp is now a producer – he worked with documentary filmmaker Julien Temple on Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan. Fans of punk may recall Shane was led singer of The Pogues, most famous for “Fairytale of New York.” Johnny has always been drawn to overindulgent irresponsible characters like MacGowan, who is notorious for his struggles with heroin addiction and alcoholism. At one time, he was even kicked out of his own band for behaving badly. But his music is wonderful- incredibly touching and sensitive, loaded with Irish melancholy. Johnny appeared at the San Sebastian Film Festival to promote the documentary and said he enjoyed the scarcity of “Hollywood types” at the event.

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

SAY GOODBYE TO THE POGUES

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For some reason we’ve always had a weakness for The Pogues, and Shane MacGowan in particular. There’s something so melancholy and romantic about those Irish punk tunes like Dirty Old Town. We saw his last performance in Los Angeles a few years ago and now he says he’s retiring. The Pogues performed at Hyde Park to a cheering UK crowd this week but Shane wants to give it up. His battles with the bottle are legendary, and he was described as “pasty, slurring, and holding onto the microphone for dear life” at the show this week. Shane says this will probably be the band’s last appearance – “I’m 56 now and I want to start working out in the gym every day.”

Photo Credit: Pacific Coast News

ST PATRICK’S DAY WITH THE POGUES, OF COURSE

It wouldn’t be St. Patrick’s Day without The Pogues. The 80’s Irish punk band is performing in NYC for St Paddy’s and there’s no better way to celebrate. It’s a miracle the band is still together and sounds great. Shane MacGowan’s voice is raspier now, but we know most of the words, anyway. ”Dirty Old Town “ always brings tears to our eyes so we’re posting the rowdier “If I Should Fall From Grace With God.”

SHANE MACGOWAN, JOHNNY DEPP, AND FRIENDS PUT A SPELL ON YOU FOR A REASON

Now HERE’S a charity song you can sink your teeth into. Our insightful colleague Lisa Derrick at The Huffington Post obviously has a thing for Shane MacGowan like we do. She revealed that Shane gathered up some buddies including Johnny Depp, Nick Cave, and Chrissie Hynde, to record a new version of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ classic “I Put a Spell on You” to raise money for Haiti. It’s cool to see Shane and Johnny together again and the song is a lot less sappy than most fundraising songs – give it a listen. (By the way, what happened to Shane’s “new” teeth?)

JOHNNY DEPP ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A MUSICIAN

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(LOVE this old photo of Johnny and Shane!)

Johnny Depp is getting the itch to play guitar in a band again. He’s a huge fan of The Pogues Irish punk band and back in the 90’s he played with Shane MacGowan (whom he considers a poetic genius) in concert and on his solo album. Johnny was in a band when he arrived in Hollywood before he became an actor. His favorite British band is Babybird and apparently he’s secretly set to appear with them at the Hoxton Bar and Kitchen in London on November 12. But since word leaked out, we predict SOMETHING will change.