Shane MacGowan, best known as the frontman of The Pogues, has passed away at the age of 65 after being diagnosed with encephalitis and spending some time in the hospital. MacGowan was a singer-songwriter whose top hits include “Fairytale of New York” and “A Pair of Brown Eyes.” He had been unwell for some time due to well-known issues with drugs and alcohol.
MacGowan’s death was announced by his spokesperson, who stated that he “died peacefully at 3.30am this morning (30 November) with his wife and sister by his side.” His wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, expressed her condolences on Instagram by saying that MacGowan “meant the world to me” and that he was the “love of my life and the most beautiful soul and beautiful angel.”
Born in Kent, MacGowan was the son of Irish immigrants and formed the Irish punk band Pogue Mahone in 1982, which later became The Pogues. Kirsty MacColl collaborated with The Pogues for the Christmas song “Fairytale of New York,” which was written by MacGowan and still remains one of the UK’s beloved Christmas songs.
MacGowan was diagnosed with encephalitis last year and had been using a wheelchair since 2015. He was honored with a lifetime achievement award at a 60th birthday party in Dublin’s National Concert Hall in 2018. MacGowan’s creativity and songwriting skills have influenced countless Irish people to connect with their culture and history in the most poetic of ways
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