Shane MacGowan and The Popes
Encyclopedia
Shane MacGowan and The Popes was a band formerly led by Shane MacGowan
of the Pogues
, who played a blend of rock
, and Irish folk, sometimes referred to as Paddy Beat, borrowing from World Beat, a popular genre name in the 1980s. Shane MacGowan and the Popes released two studio and one live album in the 1990s. As well as serving as MacGowan's backing band, The Popes recorded one studio and one live album without MacGowan, and have toured on their own.
The band's line up has changed through the years. Members have included Paul 'Mad Dog' McGuinness (guitar
), Tom McManamon (banjo
), Andy Ireland (drums
, vocals), and Bob Dowling (bass
). Past members have included Gerry Diver, (fiddle) Mick O'Connell (accordion
), Kieran "Mo" O' Hagan (Acoustic guitar, vocals), John Myers (fiddle
, tin whistle
), Danny Heatley (aka Danny Pope) (drums), Berni "The Undertaker" France (bass), Colm O'Maonlai (whistle), and Kieran Kiely (accordion, whistle). Long-time friend of McGowan, Johnny Depp
joined to promote the single, 'That Woman's Got Me Drinking' in October 1994. Depp played guitar on the track, directed and appeared in the video, and made a string of appearances with Shane.
In March 2007, several former members appeared as The Popes at a memorial concert for Tom McManamon. Meanwhile, guitarist McGuinness had already announced a new line up with a new album in the works. The "new" Popes are Paul McGuinness on guitar and vocals, Will Morrison on drums, Charlie Hoskyns on guitar, Fiachra Shanks on banjo, mandolin, Laurie Norwood on bass, and Ben Gunnery on fiddle. This line-up has recorded a new album called 'Outlaw Heaven' that was mixed by Chris Brown (Radiohead, etc). The album was released in May 2009.
In May 2007, the remaining members of the old band announced that they were reforming, calling themselves The Electric Popes. These include: Bob Dowling on bass, Andy Ireland on drums, Brian Kelly on mandolin and Denis Dowling. As of yet, The Electric Popes are unheard of.•
As of April 2011, members of The Popes include:
Shane MacGowan
Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan is an Irish musician and singer, best known as the original singer and songwriter of The Pogues.-History:...
of the Pogues
The Pogues
The Pogues are a Celtic punk band, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before...
, who played a blend of rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, and Irish folk, sometimes referred to as Paddy Beat, borrowing from World Beat, a popular genre name in the 1980s. Shane MacGowan and the Popes released two studio and one live album in the 1990s. As well as serving as MacGowan's backing band, The Popes recorded one studio and one live album without MacGowan, and have toured on their own.
The band's line up has changed through the years. Members have included Paul 'Mad Dog' McGuinness (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), Tom McManamon (banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
), Andy Ireland (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, vocals), and Bob Dowling (bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
). Past members have included Gerry Diver, (fiddle) Mick O'Connell (accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
), Kieran "Mo" O' Hagan (Acoustic guitar, vocals), John Myers (fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
, tin whistle
Tin whistle
The tin whistle, also called the penny whistle, English Flageolet, Scottish penny whistle, Tin Flageolet, Irish whistle and Clarke London Flageolet is a simple six-holed woodwind instrument. It is an end blown fipple flute, putting it in the same category as the recorder, American Indian flute, and...
), Danny Heatley (aka Danny Pope) (drums), Berni "The Undertaker" France (bass), Colm O'Maonlai (whistle), and Kieran Kiely (accordion, whistle). Long-time friend of McGowan, Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp
John Christopher "Johnny" Depp II is an American actor, producer and musician. He has won the Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild award for Best Actor. Depp rose to prominence on the 1980s television series 21 Jump Street, becoming a teen idol...
joined to promote the single, 'That Woman's Got Me Drinking' in October 1994. Depp played guitar on the track, directed and appeared in the video, and made a string of appearances with Shane.
In March 2007, several former members appeared as The Popes at a memorial concert for Tom McManamon. Meanwhile, guitarist McGuinness had already announced a new line up with a new album in the works. The "new" Popes are Paul McGuinness on guitar and vocals, Will Morrison on drums, Charlie Hoskyns on guitar, Fiachra Shanks on banjo, mandolin, Laurie Norwood on bass, and Ben Gunnery on fiddle. This line-up has recorded a new album called 'Outlaw Heaven' that was mixed by Chris Brown (Radiohead, etc). The album was released in May 2009.
In May 2007, the remaining members of the old band announced that they were reforming, calling themselves The Electric Popes. These include: Bob Dowling on bass, Andy Ireland on drums, Brian Kelly on mandolin and Denis Dowling. As of yet, The Electric Popes are unheard of.•
As of April 2011, members of The Popes include:
- Paul Maddog McGuinness – Guitar, vocals
- Charlie Hoskyns – Guitar, vocals
- Will Morrison – Drums
- Jim McAllister – Bass, vocals
- Dave Allen – Fiddle, vocals
- Whiskey Mick – Mandolin, vocals
Tom McManamon
On December 15, 2006, Tom McManamon died after a long battle with illness. As well as The Popes, he also played with Storm, The Pogues, Depeche Mode, Joe Strummer, U2, Sinead O'Connor, and many more. He was buried with his banjo in his hands on 5 January 2007.Albums (backing MacGowan)
- The Snake (October 1994)
- The Crock of GoldThe Crock of GoldThe Crock of Gold was the second full length album by Shane MacGowan and the Popes and was released in November, 1997. The Crock of Gold followed The Snake, MacGowan's first solo album after the breakup of The Pogues, and was less critically acclaimed than its predecessor...
(October 1997) - The Rare Oul' Stuff, a 2-disc best-of collection, (January 2002)
- Across the Broad Atlantic: Live on Paddy's Day - New York and Dublin (February 2002)
The Popes Discography (without Shane)
- Holloway Boulevard (March 2000)
- Release the Beast (August 2004), Live in London 2003 - a 2-disc set including a re-release of "Holloway Boulevard".
- Outlaw HeavenOutlaw HeavenOutlaw Heaven is the second studio album by London-Irish rock band The Popes, which was originally due for release in September 2008, but was delayed until May 2009...
(May 2009), including special guest Shane MacGowan on 3 tracks