Shane MacGowan on The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos: INTERVIEW

To interview the legendary Pogues frontman, George travelled to a pub in Tipperary.
George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight airs weeknights at 7 and 11:30 pm on CBC Television
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[@Eazy6364]

Rest In Peace Shane you were one in a billion no one could do it like you both lyrically and spirtually

[@barrysargent1213]

Although the drugs have had their toll, I enjoyed this interview. He is very loyal and deep, loves his mum and dad and writes and sings very cool music. What more do people want. I like him very much.

[@smokesletsgo2374]

Strombo is a great interviewer because he talks to Shane like a human being and not a joke like most people do

[@TheOldHaneyPlace.]

Still remember when this interview came out. George couldn't get ahold of Shane. They gave him his mother's number. She gave him the pub owners number. Sad but amazing at the same time

[@barryheeran3919]

Nicely said yeah most interviewers just judging him

[@bshaw8843]

Shane would sit and have a pint with you...hes not full of himself and in person hilarious.

[@bshaw8843]

👍👍👍

[@wakeoftheflood2]

@@TimothyOBrien1958 thats a little extreme, Id say

[@michaeloruaidh3605]

R.I.P Shane. Always genuine and brutally honest. Sleep well

[@20thcenturyresidue78]

Shane is a beautiful guy. His humanity and wit are priceless. Then there's the music, the amazing music and most importantly his lyrics and the belief at which he sings them. He's Irish and a Punk Rebel Poet, we need more of these in these times.

[@jamesbradshaw3389]

You have been reading my mind, you speak my own words

[@kaycamille1544]

I love this man.Not only has he incredible talent and gives so much joy with his music ,he is humble and real and does not deserve these mindless comments regarding his personal choices he makes in life , regarding his drinking, drugs or even the disgusting comments I have seen about his teeth ! Human beings can be cruel and judgemental a very nasty trait in my opinion. My very best wishes to you shane ,your music brings me great joy my dear ..xxx

[@vishengro]

Kay Camille good call 👍👍👍👍

[@pietermoorer3679]

When you are right. You are right!!

[@markmarsh27]

he is a fucking disgrace. ... how much do YOU drink? .... jesus

[@royferguson3909]

@@markmarsh27 go fuck yourself. While are you to judge. Fuck, fuck off

[@dannybirch5117]

@@markmarsh27 wanker!

[@theshapeexists]

You can tell shane was happy to do this interview. He was always honest, but in this interview, he was happy also.

[@RataStuey]

Wow. To the interview the guy, and at his local. That’s an honour.

[@bigworm7350]

This man will be in our hearts forever with the music he has given us . He looks how he looks a fucking living legend. Long live you old boy 🍻

[@richiewilliams6875]

Am gonna have Shane’s Laugh as my Ringtone.Sleep easy Shane and Thanks for the Music and the memories . God bless

[@blobby273]

it always amazes me that this man is still alive he's been pickled since for ever

[@TheNick279]

+frustratednomad He is a walking miracle. He should have been dead DECADES ago! Glad he's not though. I met him once, said hello and he shook my hand.

[@blobby273]

one things for sure when he does die they will be able to preserve him in a jar he's all ready pickled just needs vinegar

[@TheNick279]

***** He is worth a LOT of money. Most men with a lot of money don't have too much trouble finding a spouse.

[@ianclark6485]

He will be 60 next year, living legend!

[@richardwhittle8299]

+frustratednomad He's been slagged of for being a pussy drinker here, no messin. I;m taling about Ireland, the shit hole...that's why we drink. He'sthe greatest by far

[@UncommittedAddict]

Interviewer is brilliant. Shane never easy to deal with but talks to him really well.

[@michelle88960]

Shane is a genius. So were a lot of famous poets. Lord Byron was a "hellraiser" too. To be a fantastic, sensitive writer, that really understands the human psyche is to be in touch with your own feelings and emotions. You pour them into your work, the cost is putting up a wall made up of substances to numb you from your own hyper sensitive emotions. I always look at Shane's eyes, and they always look sad.

[@zoebidule3397]

Yes, HE does have sad eyes. Because he is AWARE. He is fully aware of the human disaster ! Aware of the evil that man can produce....

[@zoebidule3397]

By the way, I am also a hyper-sensitive. This is why I love Shane so much, because I understand how he may feel... Your comment is very shrewd and you have a very good analysis.

[@helenbrooks1316]

A difference guy frim what he portrayed. Humble, kind, generous and non-judgemental. Honest and Sincere. How did he survive the madness of it all? Suppose the drink was his refuge from all the BS, his only way of coping. And of course, his soulmate Victoria who he spent most of his life with. A lady who loved him for who he was and he her ❤❤!! A beautiful soul now at peace. R.I.P.

[@quirkypurple]

I met Shane McGowan on the street in Dublin. I was drunk. He was drunk. We took photos outside the GPO. He was so nice. So obliging.. making great photo suggestions. I'll never forget it.

[@zoebidule3397]

He is a lovely soul. Even though I never saw him live (except on a stage in Montreux), you can tell here from the videos that he is a beautiful soul !

[@marklittlewood2919]

This was a lovely chat with shane ..one of the best

[@chikitabowow]

This is probably the most sober i've ever seen him.

[@hankbellamy]

best singer song writer of all time his songs are timeless compared to the absolute utter nonsense they play on the radio these days long live shaneo

[@zoebidule3397]

Music they've been doing since the end of the 90's is UTTER shit ! Shane and the Pogues are outstanding ! The OBVIOUS ! Plus I am in love with Shane (hee, hee !). But well : he has Victoria ! Problemo.

[@MrJCIRELAND]

Poet Shane will be appreciated more after he is gone,,it's always the same..a genius, who will be remembered.

[@smokesletsgo2374]

He is now gone. And yes we appreciate him even more. But not without a tear

[@sanchez16]

There is no doubt Shane is the best singer/song writer of a generation,whether he`s Irish or English

[@MrH1tler]

Hahahahahaha!

[@sanchez16]

Mock you,but get away from the looks and listen to the music

[@MrH1tler]

Ian McGillivray I guess its an opinion but im not saying hes bad, i just think there are better

[@rattleshakti]

Dick Phuck A lot lot better mate

[@stevobath]

The best? I wouldn't agree with that. Lot's of good songwriters of his generation, unless you're narrow minded enough only to listen to Pogues or Shane on his own?

[@nezbit8989]

He is who he is and doesn’t ask anyone to pay for his keep so respect 👍

[@patlec1291]

Always drunk but happy, what a genius! God bless him, from France

[@brianburk2559]

He makes sense in his own awesome kind of way And that laugh is priceless

[@udgt9389]

A very talented, friendly and humble man.

[@roberttrebor3286]

wow! Do you know what this man has brought to music? I Hear many years of struggles by my dad. Shane, your life, keep singing. Your gift to the WORLD.

[@peacefrog1916]

God love ya Shane.

[@egern22]

this is proof of magic. this man has written some of the most intelligent and beautiful songs ever. next time you walk into a shit brown bar, pay some respect to the old fool in the back corner. he could be some kind of Baudelaire.

[@bsilva2146]

+deadbutdreaming Shane plays banjo and 12 string guitar like no one else can. He plays piano also, check out some of his concerts on u-tube

[@davidpotts1778]

@deadbutdreaming in the early days he played 12 string guitar. Fact. Read here comes everybody by james fearnley of the pogues

[@davidpotts1778]

@deadbutdreaming I think you're strange

[@davidpotts1778]

@Eoin Donnan it was james fearnley who played piano in the pogues. They got shane to mime it for the video

[@fiacradoyle7474]

Really nice interview you can tell the only reason he's slow on the late late is because of pressure . Just goes to show what the environment can do

[@freestaterevolution]

I remember one of the times I saw him with the Popes back in '99 (?) It took him about an hour and a half to get on stage- completely sauced (more than I had ever seen)...but he sang through 2 hours straight like it was nothin'...he defies medical science.

[@colincaldwell21]

Saw the Pogues about 8 years ago. Shane fell down, finished the song, then never returned. Sad that that performance is the last I’ll see of his. Such is life.

[@CK-dd7eq]

Shane the legend! I was brought up listening to the pogues and was lucky enough to see them live a few times. Some great memories when I hear a pogues song now 💚

[@slip9090]

MacGowan is an undeniable talent. Alcoholism erodes talent. I wish him the best.

[@tommydowling9]

Couldn't disagree more. It's a generalisation, for some it opens up doors that they wouldn't have walked through without it, Macgowan for sure is one of these, when you deal in melancholy as your muse, as he does, then it allows him to stay in that state for extended periods, it's the self destruction, the eroding of talent as you say, that allows him to be creative. The talent has to be there originally obviously but when it is and it's based in sadness as his is, then it's the ignition for some of the greatest songs ever written.

[@sunkintree]

@@tommydowling9 I think this is all just romantic hogwash, you don't need to destroy yourself to make great art. You don't need to be destitute, you don't need to be sad and depressed. All you need to do is feel and be genuine, and live the life that comes from that. If you're creative, if you have talent, if you feel things through the course of your life that are worth expressing, then you can express it. I think it's more appropriate to say Shane fell into alcoholism because or in addition to the traits I've listed, not the other way around. You can play with excess no doubt and still make it out fine, but when you are dealing with addiction you now walk with a limp, you're handicapped. Another person worth mentioning I think is Jim Morrison. He was doing very well for himself with drugs including alcohol, until the alcohol took over him slowly and then...Anyway that's just my two cents. Be creative first and foremost. Indulge in substances if it helps, but addiction isn't romantic, and it certainly doesn't help you achieve your goals. Addicts will tell you this themselves. But what do I know, really? I'd just rather advocate a somewhat healthy lifestyle. Lots of respect for Shane but I agree with the OP here

[@thescriptwriter824]

@@sunkintreeA healthy balanced lifestyle will breed healthy balanced thoughts and consequently the reflected artistry. In creation, destruction plays a very significant role to the art. Firstly, destroying the archetype of what has already been done by others, or by what has been achieved by the artist himself, and secondly, the renewed perspective of creating from an original feeling or a new idea. It's no accident that the greatest artists who have ever walked the earth were considered dangerous, mad, or prolific drug users. The extremity of feeling and focus of mind which precedes all great works of art could never be realised by a "healthy lifestyle". Coleridge could never have written Khubla Khan, Blake could never have written Jerusalem, Carl Jung, Nietzsche, Van Gogh, Salvador Dahli, Hendrix etc. None of these men would have existed as pioneers if it wasn't for the dangerous, mad or prolific drug usage which propels the psyche into the destructive, from which a renewed potential for life and creation can be forged.

[@sunkintree]

@@thescriptwriter824 Are you saying William Blake wasn't a bit mad? By all accounts his peers had a hard time separating his genius from his madness. And I'm certainly of a mind to call Blake a genius. I guess he wouldn't write Jerusalem but he didn't need to, Blake's pantheon of creations speak for themselves. I'm not familiar with Jerusalem or Alan Moore much but Alan Moore looks like the fringe guy in this comparison. For the rest of what you say, I can't say I have a solid argument against it. I believe in a healthy "derangement of the senses" as Rimbaud put it, I just think it's important to note the fine line between artist and self-destructive force-of-nature, and my primary point was that Shane crossed the line long ago into being too destructive for his own good. I don't know that those who are creative pioneers are so because of destructive lifestyles. Perhaps creative people are just more prone to them. Interesting nonetheless

[@rancidmisfit1382]

Clanhelius enough with all the big words. It comes down to this and it’s simple. How can you write songs that are sad and sorrowful and heart wrenching unless you’ve been in that state before? Absolute dark, hopeless bitter sadness? You get those raw emotions and chills listening to a song because you relate to the sadness and feel the emotions picked up on by the other person. You might know a lot of historians....but you sure don’t know shit about humane psyche at all..... Shane was amazing, he had issues. All the greats did. Their music is a reflection of what made them so amazing. Now show some respect and shut the hell up.

[@1975libertine]

A national treasure, thanks Shane

[@sylviaconlon5428]

Please god I will meet this great man one day for a shake hands and tell him hes a legend

[@gordongrant444]

"The funeral home is in walking or carrying distance" The hilariously dark humor of Shane!

[@rickybobby8545]

Shane always love you your brilliant

[@docteur6667]

Best laughter ever! Love Shane!!

[@AlexDizzys]

last seen sober at age 5

[@bshaw8843]

Guess ur not celic

[@mydigicraftscrafts8649]

Still to this day very much alive! including the fact he is still a prolific genius to the heart of the Irish xxxx let him just be bless him xxx

[@TimothyOBrien1958]

@@bshaw8843 Celic?

[@Jaunt1able]

B Shaw ... neither is Shane..... born in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@Jaunt1able]

Willow me Crafts he’s English.... he’s about as Irish as Andy Townsend hahahaha 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿😂😂

[@mattmacneil3424]

1:03 something about the way he says that is really nice. maybe it's just nice to see him so coherent and reflective.

[@babidaboopy]

He seems relatively healthy here and lucid, good interview

[@hoggybhoy1967]

Shane is one of the best song writers of all tile

[@pstrap1311]

Xcuze lol good one! But you spelled "spelled" wrong! Haha!

[@pstrap1311]

Xcuze oh yeah. I guess your right. Sorry, I'm not that bright.

[@pstrap1311]

But it is confusing that spell has two past tenses and spelt is also a noun.

[@marykatesmith4705]

you spelled you're wrong.

[@pstrap1311]

Aww shit, I sure did. Fuck me.

[@DanielDanger420]

You could tell ole Shane loved this interview. George is a class act.

[@rochford1000]

I can only imagine that Shane keeps going by attending the 'Keith Richards Fitness Centre.' God bless him!

[@colandbev]

he may be pissed but these people dont deserve to be on the same seat as him hes a legend so leave the guy alone ...when you can write songs as good as him then and only then do you deserve to knock him ..

[@1992Maton]

Brilliant interview. Very well done by the interviewer.

[@gayeblinman5055]

Gorgeous Interview 🤗🌟

[@megaleo451]

at least he's happy :)

[@taralynnhoffmann5831]

I believe it was 99' I was a courier in Dublin and our Christmas party was the same night Shane McGowan was to play. So I went to the show with white jeans like an idiot and fell on the floor in the moshpit which was covered in goo. The whole leg of my jeans was black with goo. The concert was great. I went to the work Christmas party after and was so jacked, jumped up on tables and yelling stuff and singing. We ended up at my bosses house, he was a Nordie. We were drunk and just kept drinking. Next thing you know I wake up , I'm in a corner and everyone is gone. My boss comes out of his room like wtf are you still doing here?! I get home real early and one of my friends Gary calls me, says he is at some hotel with Shane McGowan drinking. I dont remember the name of the hotel now but I went straight down there and there he was out of it, drinking whiskey at the bar. You couldn't understand a word he was saying. His ma came out of nowhere and took him back to his room, helping him walk. I have still never seen anyone so out of it. I have no idea how he manages to sing or write. And how he has managed to stay alive. But anyway, fair play to him.

[@cryon7260]

I wouldn't stand 3 month tat way and I know what I'm talking about. I feel pity for the hard times he was doin' himself. He shall rest peacefully. I liked him a lot. Greets from Germany

[@1nfiniteSeek3r]

George is a great interviewer.

[@ianclark6485]

Up in the top ten of all time

[@richardwhittle8299]

+gno nimo He's dreadful

[@richardwhittle8299]

+gno nimo Shane is brilliant

[@fatimamelo3858]

Michelle you said so brilliantly!no need for more...

[@SC-rn1uc]

I love this. Great interview Srombo, we love Shane here in Ireland. His music will live on forever.

[@damien1351]

Shane is a genius. He will be talked about long after we all go.listen to his lesser known tunes pure poetry. I think bono even said hes the best irish songwriter of ur time, even though hes not really irish

[@slaves329.]

Mate he was born in Ireland lived there until he was 6 then moved to London with his Dublin born father and Tipperary born mother. He's 100 percent Irish.

[@pepita6139]

No,parents Irlandais Shane est né en Angleterre vu son foutue accent.RiP Shane tu nous manques

[@Konagalvo1]

At this point, if he stopped drinking, he probably would die. And that's not a joke.

[@bajer111]

He stopped drinking and he didn't die. But he doesn't look good, I'll give you that.

[@user-py1pp4qg5m]

@@bajer111 he hasn't completely stopped drinking

[@wakeoftheflood2]

@William Mcphee is that confirmed?

[@dr.aisaitl7439]

@@wakeoftheflood2 Yeah it was a whole ordeal because Sinead O'Connor rang up the police

[@grimlund]

He have tried. Offcourse he has. He have had shorter times of sobriety. But he allways get back to the bottle. Its a disease.

[@justplainstupidbored]

Shane is so brilliant!

[@gemma2646]

Awww Shane :) I hate the horrid things some people have said about him. Shane is just a man who is quite immature for his age but we should respect that he has written many good songs and we still listen to songs like Fairy Tale of New York today.

[@philruane5910]

A poet then, a poet now. Listen to his songs xx

[@floppi798]

Irish Legend best drunking voice i ever heard

[@danmccarthy1910]

Fuck the negative people. Shane your a legend mate

[@blahblahblah85]

Living treasure. Humble and funny.

[@ericrose5094]

Your an Irish legend, Shane.... May your Irish eyes always smile my friend!

[@gggrrr00]

with an English accent.

[@ittybittygirl2093]

He's adorable

[@jasongrannell6100]

Shane is a truly innocent child-like man gouged alive by this rotten world.

[@brianburk2559]

Jason Grannell sooooooo true man......

[@andlidearmadta9680]

He's not that innocent...

[@davehoward22]

He aint innocent at all

[@averagejobogio]

the fuck are you talking about mate , ive never seena thing in this world more rotten than him. Sour the world might be but this man is pickled]

[@dilligaf700]

Make a statue of Shane while he is alive don't be hypocritical and wait till he is dead. The man is and will always be a legend and diamond.

[@emlix1]

"You look back... and you're still in this band.... you're still here. Does that surprise you?" *Extremely wry smile from Shane* "Not really." Lol

[@sorgan3882]

WHAT? Fairytale of New York isn't as popular in the U.S.? It's HUGE in the U.S. It IS Christmas for me here in the U.S.

[@charlesmaximus9161]

It's huge now, but wasn't until recent years. And in the UK it is still much, much bigger.

[@allansmith5248]

Shane's a legend 🦁🦁👍👍

[@newhuskytwenty]

A musical genius and a waste of a man, I admire him and feel sorry at the same time.

[@broken1394]

Wish he'd recorded an album just sat at the bar.

[@twstdelf]

Love Shane, The Pogues, and Fairytale is a-mazing.

I like listening to Shane. He seems a real nice bloke.👍👍👍🇬🇧

[@badgirl-67]

🖤🕯RIP♡Shane MacGowan🕯🖤You'll never be forgotten❤

[@tommydowling9]

GENIUS.. you dont ask for it, he was struck by what the world classed as special, he was just doin his thing

[@RataStuey]

“Weigh your press, don’t read it” wow that’s a great Tom Waits quote

[@wpm5077]

A lovely fella, he's his own worst enemy like most of us are.

[@franciscomiguel497]

ME ENCANTAN SUS CANCIONES, QUE GRANDE ERES!!!! 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍🔝🔝🔝🔝🔝🔝🔝🔝🔝🔝

[@SuperCraig1973]

He was such a intelligent man inside ❤

[@johnschober5240]

Jesus Murphy.He makes Keith Richards look like a choir boy.

[@cecioland67]

Keith Richards is not Humano..

[@cecioland67]

Keith Richards ha buttato giù più alcool e più droga di questo poveraccio ma Keith è unico non è umano

[@moiraoconnell1218]

I'm thinking Keith has the upper hand here.

[@philbarrows424]

My Mom was a hardcore alcoholic, I know his struggle. God Bless Shane.😇

[@pomod]

Great laugh Shane.

[@gannetsarewe]

Love this.

[@deborahmcgee7970]

That pup he’s in is in Nenagh co Tipp he goes there a lot he’s a very nice man what you see is what you get 🇮🇪☘️

[@22grena]

Condolences Shane on the unfortunate death of your mother

[@beckylingwood4405]

I love how his laugh is like Ernie hahaha x

[@boozoo61]

if folks here don't know who Shane MacGowan is, why explain? As Marley once sang.."who feels it knows it lord"... He's part of Irish/english folklore now..Poet Laureate to the lower classes..ha!.... legend! Nothing wrong with liking Adele, but you certainly show your one dimensional pea sized brain when comparing the 2. Sad that this generation have grown up on silly TV competitions that only forward non-artists with 'performing seal" mentalities and robotic "perfect voices"...Yes true MacGowan,Strummer,Lou Reed,John Lydon,Neil Young,Kate Bush et al..would have been kicked off any those corporate showcases due to lack of "better voice"......Bollocks to ya CW!

[@TheLoriaux]

Bien Parlé, cette homme fait partie d'une époque, et a révolutionné un style de musique, J'adore se mec !!!

[@carloslima6705]

+boozoo fisher Well said! What matters now: robotic performances for robotic audiences. Tell you one thing that singers like Jagger, MacGowan, Lydon, Morrissey, Siouxsie, etc have and these pre-fabricated don't: CHARISMA.

[@nknighton70]

I agree. Bullocks on Simon Cowells chin! Todays mainstream music is ALL a pile of nutty brown shit. None of it is tolerable to listen to. My wife turns that crap on in the car and I almost vomit. It's all tailor made for 14 year old girls because the record execs find that tripe the most profitable.

[@sixfootben4892]

boozoo fisher seeing the documentary " if i should fall from grace of god " back in the 90's . Never heard of him till then. Ive been obsessed ever since. Love him!

[@jimm9051]

I love Shane,.,, better than the rest

[@jackieirvine852]

in everyones live, you have to have a smile,, your face is imortant,, your mouth should shine, I do not know anyone that does not like a real smile///

[@sinrenfield]

RIP Shane :(

[@jamescassidy3773]

Shane was such a one off never gave a jot what other people thought,If you had a heart you can't help but love him,Strombo was great during the interview not like many of the smart arses snidely taking the piss but Shane new this and let it go. Sometimes RIP sadly missed.

[@danielosullivan3110]

Saint Shane MacGowan ☘️🥂🚬🖤

[@anonymous7192]

"you could have the mythical swine flu" - this man saw COVID coming!

[@RataStuey]

Handsome lads

[@Marlondurran]

Terrible sad what a down to earth chap...

[@johngould9723]

His genius will only be recognised when he dies, a giant of Irish culture.

[@aviansoul]

Brilliant songwriter, in my musical world. So glad he's still with us... as for being Irish, my understanding is he is; just that he was brought up in England. As for me, there's enough Irish in this mutt for me to love the music and poetry - grandparents of both my father and mother boated over, with German ancestry on my mother's side. Sure there's other stuff in there as well... pretty sure we're all mutts by now!

[@aviansoul]

Yep

[@jak76]

Legend

[@davidcarroll2035]

God Bless Him x

[@shadox8275]

como nao amar SHANE MACGOWANTH

[@giveusanepleasebob992]

Shane McGowan, shaun ryder and Liam Gallagher have to be the coolest music men that ever lived.

[@stagehand9002]

When closed caption sees Shane coming, it goes the other way...

[@robertparsons5295]

Addiction and genius.

[@sylviaconlon5428]

Happy Birthday 🎂 🎉 🍰 🍺 Shane happy Christmas to u have a great birthday