Richard Balls: the intoxicating songs and chaotic life of Shane MacGowan

‘A Furious Devotion' is just out, written by Richard Balls after long conversations and nights spent with Shane and interviews with members of the Pogues, old girlfriends, former teachers and collaborators (Nick Cave, Sinead O’Connor and Christy Moore among them). This covers childhood times in Tipperary, his ‘genius’ school years, fierce debates about his Irish identity, the full story of Fairytale of New York, his marriage, how the band put up with him and the cussed old curmudgeon he is today (a taste: this is a man who shuns computers, mobiles and email and won’t turn the TV down when being interviewed). A revelation from start to finish.
@RichardBalls
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[@dondamon4669]

I was born in England but my parents were Irish and dad lives there now. As a kid I never knew I was brought up Irish Catholic with my sister's doing irish dancing, christining, holy communion,confirmation,and lots of drinking and church on sunday with father Gill who visited me years later when i had overdoses. But its only as i got older i see the difference between us irish English and English people growing up and sadly the drinking is true

[@clairduffy60]

So well said.

[@SC-rn1uc]

Great listen, cant wait to read the book.

[@stuartbartram1]

What a great listen.

[@AFaceintheCrowd01]

Enjoyed the interview. I’m going to recommend my library get the book.

[@db_23]

Great to see you again Richard. Congratulations on the book. Hope you are keeping well buddy. Jeff

[@ianhadingham6384]

Richard is a top bloke, I follow him on Twitter, not just for music but as we share a love of the same football team. His book on Stiff Records was also brilliant, will be getting this in due course. Another great Word!

[@theliamofella]

Five words that describe McGowan in my eyes are “ generosity, sensitivity, genius , intelligence and depth”. Not the shallow stuff like teeth or pisshead etc

[@WareBare]

Great interview Thanks

[@davidayer2168]

Surely the requisitet follow-up question should have been, "He ate the whole album, or just took a bite?"

[@irenemax3574]

Here’s hoping that a hundred years from now people will listen to Rum, Sodomy & the Lash (the best of the Pogues albums) as well as The River, Nebraska, and The Ghost of Tom Joad (the best of Springsteen’s albums).

[@michaelpiotrowski4205]

Springsteen and the Pogues, my two favourite bands/ artists. Excellent taste!

[@amatorichards6391]

Love this show its amazing Mark is a fantastic man love him

[@mikel4797]

Great discussion, really looking forward to reading the book.

[@AndyB1286]

Reading the book at the mo. A valuable insight into Shane and The Pogues.

[@anneliamohara2842]

Great interview only seen it now !

[@mikeydread62]

Terrific interview and I look forward to reading the book

[@krisscanlon4051]

Ahhh a new episode...just watched Ellen interviewing Parfitt/Rossi of Quo circa '84 lovely...I mean Mark not Degeneres! Fantastic! Shane finally gets a proper covering.

[@shanemacgowan1957]

I met Richard at Shane’s after party for his funeral decent fella 👍🏻

[@ChubbyChecker182]

The Pogues basically mixed Daniel O'Donnell with Lemmy.

[@theliamofella]

Daniel O’Donnell? Not at all 😂, Daniel O’Donnell and McGowan are like Chalk and cheese, McGowan and Ronnie Drew and Johnny Rotten more like

[@niallbourke7963]

No mention of Joey Cashman? Say what you like about Joey, but he was the only man who could get Shane to do anything. No Joey no Popes. Joey was also responsible for the 'Shane Gang' they didn't gig that much but were basically a move back to Shane's punk days, no traditional instruments involved just bass, guitar and drums.

[@jimcondon762]

C. O'mment