Shane MacGowan, the bold, Irish punk singer-songwriter and frontman of The Pogues, has died. He was 65.
The legendary musician was in poor health and had been recently hospitalized. MacGowan was receiving treatment for a diagnosis of encephalitis, a dangerous infection that causes swelling of the brain.
MacGowan’s wife, Irish writer Victoria Mary Clarke, announced his death on Instagram Thursday morning.
“I don’t know how to say this so I am just going to say it,” Clarke wrote. “Shane who will always be the light that I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love of my life.”
Clarke wrote that MacGowan “has gone to be with Jesus and Mary and his beautiful mother Therese.”
She said she was “blessed” to have loved MacGowan and to have been loved by him in return.
“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,” she continued. “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,” Clarke concluded. “You meant the world to me.”
A spokesperson for MacGowan confirmed news of his death to the BBC and said the musician “died peacefully” around 3:30 a.m. on Nov. 30, with his wife and sister at his side. The spokesperson said prayers and last rites were read during MacGowan’s death.
MacGowan breathed new life into the Celtic music scene in the 1980s, and with The Pogues, created rousing, emotionally charged folk tunes about Irish life.
Originally named Pogue Mahone (a jab at the Gaelic phrase “póg mo thóin” meaning “kiss my arse”), the band later became simply The Pogues and released seven studio albums.
Fairytale Of New York, a sombre tale of alcoholism, went on to become one of the band’s biggest hits, and a seminal, moody Christmas classic.
MacGowan was the frontman of The Pogues from 1982 until he was removed from the band in 2014.
This is a developing story. More to come…
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