Shane MacGowan of the Pogues Dead at 65

He was discharged from the hospital last week following a lengthy stay

Photo: Masao Nakagami

BY Alex HudsonPublished Nov 30, 2023

Shane MacGowan of the Pogues has died. He was 65.

MacGowan's wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, posted a tribute on Instagram, writing that the artist had "gone to be with Jesus and Mary and his beautiful mother Therese."
 

Last week, MacGowan was discharged from hospital following a lengthy stay. Late last year, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with encephalitis, a condition involving swelling of the brain.

He had dealt with health conditions for a number of years, and had used a wheelchair since 2015, when he injured his pelvis in a fall.

The Pogues were a Celtic band who rose to fame during the '80s and '90s, most notably releasing the holiday hit "Fairytale of New York" with featured guest Kirsty MacColl. MacGowan dealt with alcohol addiction, and he was fired from the Pogues in 1991 due to his unreliable behaviour on tour. The band reunited post-millennium but didn't record any more albums in that time.

He was in a long-term relationship with Victoria Mary Clarke, with whom he was engaged for 11 years. They married in 2018.

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