10 Unknown Facts About Shane MacGowan

Meraj Hashmi

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Birth and Upbringing

Shane MacGowan was born on December 25, 1957, in Pembury, Kent, England. His parents were Irish, and he spent his childhood in County Tipperary, Ireland.

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Early Life and Literary Talent

Shane studied at Westminster School, one of England’s prestigious academic institutions. However, he was expelled due to indiscipline. At the age of 13, he won £10 in the Daily Mirror's national literary competition.

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Start of Music Career

Shane began his career in the 1970s with punk rock. Later, in 1982, he founded The Pogues, a band that blended traditional Irish folk music with punk rock, creating a unique musical style.

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Famous Christmas Song

In 1987, Shane wrote Fairytale of New York, which became a Christmas classic. The song’s lyrics, including the phrase "cheap lousy slut", faced censorship attempts by the BBC, but Shane and Kirsty MacColl defended it. Even today, this song remains one of the most popular holiday tracks.

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Unique Singing Style

Shane’s singing style and voice were distinctive, partly due to his bad teeth. By 2008, he had lost all his natural teeth. In 2015, he underwent a nine-hour surgery to receive eight titanium implants, including one gold tooth.

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Six Months in a Psychiatric Hospital

At the age of 17, Shane was admitted to London’s Bethlem Royal Hospital for six months due to drug and alcohol addiction.

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Support for Irish Independence

Shane was a vocal supporter of Irish independence and often criticized British government policies.

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Documentary Film

Hollywood actor Johnny Depp was a close friend of Shane MacGowan. In 2020, Johnny produced a documentary about Shane’s life titled Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan.

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Awards and Honors

In 2018, Shane was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Irish President Michael D. Higgins in recognition of his contribution to music.

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Music Until the End

Shane MacGowan passed away on November 30, 2023, at the age of 65. He had been battling health issues for a long time, but his songs and music will keep him immortal.