Saint Shane’s First Letter to the Internetians.

Mr Edwards is typing this on the bar of The Boogaloo with his laptop. It’s gone 1am, and we’re the only ones here. Mr MacGowan speaks – slowly. Mr Edwards writes it down. Without editing.

Take a letter, Mr Edwards.

DE: So how are you, Mr MacGowan?

SMG: It’s been a great day. People collapsing all round me. I’ve decided there’s no such thing as a heterosexual. Omnisexual. That’s the word you used. I just went to see Borat. It’s sickeningly sexist, racist, anti-PC. And I love it.

DE: How was Vegas?

SMG: I was nine grand up on the roulette table. And then something happened that jinxed me. But I got out before I lost my original stake. Though the next night I was banned from the roulette table. Victoria won at Blackjack. And then walked away, which is a really hard thing to do. And then she walked back. And lost it.

[Footnote: Ms Clarke vehemently denies this last sentence.]

Spider and Louise got married by the pool. And I was the Best Man. I was also the Elvis Imitator in the ’68 Special get-up: leather suit, red neckerchief, shades etc. I sang the song they chose: Love Me Tender. Backed up by most of the Pogues. We had a great time in Japan as well. And San Francisco. And L.A. Hope to see you soon; hope to see ALL those old faces soon. Sayonara to Nippon. And Howdy Doody; and Happy Trails to you.

In San Fran I met once again with the great Clay Wilson. He gave a personally autographed copy of his new book of underground art. His personal selection from the mid 60s till the present day. I was really made up. Thanks to Rudi Fernandez and Del Zamora…! I was shocked to hear of the death of Luis. May he sleep in peace. May the helicopters in his eyes fly forever.

DE: What was it wanted to say about your sister’s music?

SMG: My sister made one great album and did a few live dates before she decided she wanted nothing more to do with the music business. She has been throughout the years a brilliant barmaid, a brilliant office worker for an insurance company in Lloyd Baker St. And an invaluable part of the Pogues administration. And an invaluable part of Van Morrison’s administration. She was an original follower of the Anti-Nowhere League. Whose lead singer Animal’s sister married and then broke up with my cousin Paul. He is now happily married again. After that she made her own album Chariot with a bunch of cowboys from Limerick who ripped her off. That situation has been rectified. And the album has been re-released – with the help of my father – including the single I Love Him With A Grace, and its original B-side, which wasn’t on the original album. And it’s available on her section of my website. (DE locates it: http://www.shanemacgowan.com/siobhan.shtml). It’s absolutely brilliant: it’s like Enya with real guts and heart and soul and spirit. The best female Celtic Soul album. And that’s my totally unbiased opinion. No, honestly, really, it is. Paradoxically, considering the hardest drugs she indulges in are booze, Xanax, and cigarettes, it is the ultimate spaced-out chill-out album. Just stick the big cans on and lie back on the waterbed and let her take you away to a world of timeless Gaelic mysticism. It also features my mother and father talking a love duet in Irish.

She’s also finishing off her first book based on the early Irish legends or history as you will have it. She’s already proved her writing and graphic art skills as an early Pogue Mahone poster designer (for gigs etc). And then editing and designing the original fan mag. Previously edited by Julie Pritchard. Siobhán re-christened it Ord na hOne. Inspired by the Irish Catholic magazine The Messenger Of The Sacred Heart. Her various graphic art is available also on that website, including her portraits of me personally signed by me and for sale, of course…

DE: What would you like to say to those curious about your work who have just heard Fairytale Of New York and nothing else?

SMG: Check out the five Pogues albums I’m on. And if you like, try the two I’m not on. And also the SMG & Popes albums: The Snake and The Crock Of Gold (ZTT Records). And the official live album: Across The Broad Atlantic; recorded mainly in Dublin and partly in New York when for some reason there were two St Patrick’s Days.

DE: Which 5 Pogues / solo tracks would you recommend them to legally download for starters, Fairytale aside?

SMG: That’s an impossible question. But off the top of my head right now I’d say – personally – Star Of The County Down, Rainy Night In Soho, Waxie’s Dargle (The Pogues), Yeah Yeah Yeah (Pogues), Victoria (SMG & The Popes).

Incidentally the Popes have an existence of their own that grew out of being my backing band and friends. I would recommend listening to their recordings. I was heavily involved in the recording of the first album they put out without my name: Holloway Boulevard. I did SOME singing, writing and producing and wrote the sleeve notes. However the second album is as different as it is more accomplished. Take it from there, yourself…

That’s all for now, folks.

Érin go Bragh!!!
Seán Mac Gabhan.