The Pogues

In 2002 Q magazine named The Pogues as one of the "50 Bands To See Before You Die". Following the completion of the tour, Porno for Pyros went their separate ways. The band, including MacGowan, re-formed for a Christmas tour in 2001 and performed 9 shows in the UK in December 2004. Other than being a sure crowd-pleaser, in retrospect it seems like a foreshadowing of the later Jane's Addiction reunion efforts. His autobiography, A Drink With Shane MacGowan, co-written with his journalist girlfriend appeared in 2001. It's interesting to note that on several tour stops, Porno for Pyros played Mountain Song, a popular Jane's tune. Shane MacGowan remains the sole member of the band in the spotlight, having founded The Popes (AKA Shane MacGowan and The Popes) in 1994. The band again set forth on a heavy touring schedule.

Though he came with strings attached, few would argue that without MacGowan, The Pogues were a band lacking a leader and in search of creative direction. The album also featured the post-Jane's reunion of Farell with guitarist Dave Navarro, who made a guest appearance on Freeway. Two politely received but disappointing albums followed until 1996 when the Pogues disbanded. Ex-Minutemen bassist Mike Watt was brought in to finish up the album tracks, and join the band on tour. Without their singer, vocal duties were for a time handled by Joe Strummer, before Stacy finally took over permanently. For their follow up album, Good God's Urge, bass player Le Noble left the band after completing the lion's share of the bass tracks. With his departure, the band was thrown into a state of flux. Unlike the relatively straight-ahead rock shows that were the hallmark of live Jane's Addiction, Porno for Pyros live shows relied heavily on props, extras, and special effects (including, but not limited to pyrotechnics).

MacGowan and the band parted company in 1991. Following the album's release, Porno for Pyros continued a heavy touring schedule. Their next album Hell's Ditch, produced by The Clash's Joe Strummer, featured Stacy and Finer handling many of the vocal duties. The video for the album's first single Pets received heavy airplay on MTV. The band was at the peak of its commercial success, but MacGowan was spiralling out of control (especially notable during an appearance on the US Saturday Night Live). Reaction to the album was mixed, with some fans ecstatic, and others disappointed. They managed to get things together to record If I Should Fall from Grace with God in 1988 (with its Christmas hit duet with Kirsty MacColl "Fairytale of New York") and 1989's Peace and Love (featuring "White City" and "Down All The Days"). By the time their debut album was released in 1993, the anticipation surrounding the project was enough to briefly drive the album to the #1 position on the Billboard top 20 list.

Looming over the band at this period (as throughout their entire career) was the increasingly erratic behaviour of their vocalist, principal songwriter and creative visionary, Shane MacGowan. Following the demise of the extremely successful Jane's Addiction project, frontman Perry Farrell and drummer Stephen Perkins formed Porno for Pyros after acquiring guitarist Peter DiStefano and bass player Martin Le Noble. Prior to releasing their eponymous first album, Porno for Pyros (named after the orgy of destruction that was the Los Angeles/Rodney King riots) embarked on a nation-wide tour to support their new band. The band failed to take advantage of the momentum created by the strong artistic and commercial success of their second album. They first refused to record another album (offering up the 4 track EP Poguetry in Motion instead); O'Riordan married Costello and left the band, to be replaced by bassist Darryl Hunt; and they added a multi-instrumentalist in Terry Woods, fomerly of Steeleye Span. Porno for Pyros is a US musical group and was Perry Farrell's and Stephen Perkins' next project after their former band Jane's Addiction. Their version of Eric Bogle's "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" featured on the album and has become more popular than the original. Good God's Urge (1996). While the first album had focused mostly on traditional songs, Shane MacGowan came into his own as a songwriter with this disc, offering up some remarkable pieces of poetic story-telling. Porno for Pyros (1993).

The album cover featured The Raft of the Medusa. Phil Chevron (guitar) joined the group soon after, then with the aid of punk and new wave forefather Elvis Costello they recorded the follow up, Rum Sodomy & the Lash, in 1985 (The album title is a reply attributed to Winston Churchill and others in describing the Royal Navy.). Shortening their name to "The Pogues" due to lack of radio play for the curse in their name, they released their first album Red Roses for Me in 1985. The band rapidly developed a reputation, started releasing some indie work, and ended up opening for The Clash on tour in 1984.

During this time they added Jeremy 'Jem' Finer (guitar, banjo), Cait O'Riordan (bass) and Andrew Ranken (drums). Shane MacGowan (vocals), Jim Fearnley (accordion) and Spider Stacy (tin whistle) were the original members of the Pogues, in the days when they busked on the streets of London. In the later incarnations of the band, after the departure of Shane MacGowan, electronic instruments such as the electric guitar would become more prevalent. Their politically-tinged music was reminiscent of The Clash, with whom they played (Joe Strummer produced one of their albums), and utilised traditional Irish instruments such as the tin whistle, banjo mandolin, accordion, and more.

The Pogues were founded in London in 1982 as Pogue Mahone — "pogue mahone" being the Anglicization of the Irish póg mo thóin, meaning "kiss my arse." The band specialised in Celtic folk with a side order of punk attitude and featured a largely Irish-born cast. They had a strong following, providing music which remains largely unique to this day. The Pogues were a popular Irish folk/punk band of the 1980s. The Rest Of The Best.

The Best of The Pogues. Pogue Mahone. Waiting For Herb. Hell's Ditch.

Peace and Love. Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah. Poguetry in Motion. If I Should Fall From Grace with God.

Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash. Red Roses For Me.