Nick Cave pays tribute to “the greatest songwriter of his generation” Shane MacGowan after storied friendship

Wham! taking the lead for the peak position on the charts.The news follows a neck-and-neck race between the iconic ‘80s pop duo Wham! And Eurovision star Sam Ryder over the past week, with their respective songs ‘Last Christmas’ [1986] and ‘You’re Christmas To Me’ [2023].At the first look at the race last week, just 42 chart units stood between the two taking the top spot on the UK charts, however, this week it has been revealed by the Official Charts that Wham! are in pole position, and have widened the gap between Ryder’s Amazon Music original track – which remains at Number Two.However, it doesn’t seem likely that the charts will stay this way until Christmas, with Ryder set to play a fan-exclusive gig tonight (December 19) in Shoreditch, London, in a push to promote the song in time for Christmas Day.Similarly, today (December 19) The Pogues are sharing a special, limited-edition physical run of their own iconic Christmas song ‘Fairytale Of New York’ in a push to climb the charts.Originally released in 1988 and featuring Kirsty MacColl, the track is being reissued in memory of the band’s late singer Shane MacGowan, who died “peacefully” in hospital from pneumonia on November 30. He was 65 years old and his funeral took place in Nenagh, County Tipperary on December 8.All proceeds from the reissue will be donated to the Irish charity Dublin Simon Community, and the release also arrived alongside a fan campaign to get Fairytale of New York to Christmas Number 1 for the first time.The push for the top position on the charts has also been endorsed by Shane MacGowan’s widow, Victoria Mary Clarke.

Shane MacGowan‘s widow has recalled how it felt like she was living on the “edge of some kind of actual destruction” during her long-term relationship with the late Pogues icon.The Irish musician died “peacefully” in hospital from pneumonia on November 30. He was 65 years old.

Shane MacGowan's widow, Victoria Mary Clarke, has finally spoken out after a Catholic priest criticised the stars funeral, describing it as "completely inappropriate".

Shane MacGowan‘s widow Victoria Mary Clarke has shared her gratitude to Johnny Depp following her husband’s funeral.Depp was among several well-known friends who attended the Pogues frontman’s funeral last week following the singer’s death from pneumonia, aged 65.During the ceremony, the Pirates Of The Caribbean actor stood for a reading, where he called MacGowan “maestro”.“We pray for a deeper spirit and compassion in the world,” he said.

Nick Cave has performed an emotional version of The Pogues‘ ‘A Rainy Night In Soho’ at Shane MacGowan‘s funeral.The Pogues frontman passed away “peacefully” on December 30, having died from pneumonia aged 65. His funeral occurred today in Tipperary, close to where MacGowan grew up in his childhood.

The Pogues performed together for the first time since 2014 at Shane MacGowan’s funeral to play a version of ‘The Parting Glass’. Watch the video below.The Pogues frontman passed away “peacefully” on November 30, having died from pneumonia aged 65.

Johnny Depp delivered a personal reading to the “maestro” Shane MacGowan at the late Pogues singer’s funeral.The Irish singer-songwriter and former Pogues frontman died from pneumonia in hospital, aged 65, on November 30.

Pat Saperstein Deputy Editor There was dancing in the aisles, Nick Cave singing “A Rainy Night in Soho” and Irish musicians Glen Hansard and Lisa O’Neill performing “Fairytale of New York” as mourners turned out Friday for the funeral of Shane MacGowan. Bono and Bob Geldof were also in attendance, while Johnny Depp was one of the pallbearers. The Pogues frontman and Irish punk rock icon, who died Nov.

Johnny Depp pulled on heartstrings on Friday, 8 December as he performed a touching reading of Prayer of the Faithful at Shane MacGowan's funeral - who sadly passed away age 65 last week following a battle with pneumonia. However, many were left distracted over the Kentucky-born star's accent, as it appeared he was using an Irish accent for the moment.

Johnny Depp and Nick Cave are among those who have paid tribute to the late Shane MacGowan during his funeral in Ireland.The Irish singer-songwriter and former Pogues frontman died from pneumonia in hospital, aged 65, on November 30. It came after he had been diagnosed with encephalitis and had been in ill health.Now, to celebrate the life and memory of the musician, fans lined the streets of Dublin for his funeral today (December 8), and famous faces from the entertainment world have arrived at the service.Nick Cave performs 'A Rainy Night in Soho' at the funeral of Shane MacGowan in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, this afternoon.

Shane MacGowan’s funeral today (December 8).The Irish singer-songwriter and former Pogues frontman died from pneumonia in hospital, aged 65, on November 30. It came after he had been diagnosed with encephalitis and had been in ill health.As reported by BBC, the procession took place between 11am and 11:45am GMT around the south inner city, close to where MacGowan lived in Ballsbridge.

The Pogue's star Shane MacGowan's funeral took place on Friday, December 8 with mourners lining the streets of Dublin to pay their respects.

Shane MacGowan, has shared an emotional tribute to her partner ahead of his funeral today (December 8).The Irish singer-songwriter and former Pogues frontman died from pneumonia in hospital, aged 65, on November 30. It came after he had been diagnosed with encephalitis and had been in ill health.Now, ahead of his funeral in Ireland later today, his widow has shared a moving tribute to her late partner, reminiscing on their “precious” 35 years together.“Tomorrow is Shane’s funeral which is hard to believe and probably I won’t believe it for a while,” she began the post last night (December 7), sharing a photo of them.

Crowds of people are expected to gather in Dublin and Tipperary for the funeral procession of Shane MacGowan in Ireland.The songwriter, who found fame as the lead singer of London-Irish punk/folk band The Pogues, died at the age of 65 on November 30. Ahead of today’s funeral, Shane’s family have issued a touching statement and revealed how fans can pay their respects to the iconic singer.

Tom Waits made a rare public appearance this week to honour actor Nicolas Cage.The singer-songwriter presented Cage with a lifetime achievement prize at the SFFILM Awards Night in San Francisco, California on Monday evening (December 4).Waits’ participation in the event had not been announced prior, and his presence prompted “gasps” and “wild applause” from those in attendance, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.After taking to the podium at the Yerba Buena Center For The Arts, the musician spoke about how he and Cage have known each other since the Oscar-winner was a teenager working for Waits as his driver.“He was the same as a teenager. It was troublesome for his family and other people around him,” Waits joked in his speech.

The Murder Capital covered The Pogues‘ ‘I’m A Man You Don’t Meet Every Day’ in tribute to Shane MacGowan during a recent live performance in Ireland.The Dublin punk group were performing as part of Other Voices Festival on Friday (December 1) at St James’ Church in Dingle when they remembered the late Pogues frontman, who died last week, aged 65.The five-piece performed an a cappella version of The Pogues’ 1985 song from album ‘Rum Sodomy & the Lash’, only occasionally using the sparse rattle of a tambourine for the haunting rendition.Frontman James McGovern asked the crowd to “join us if you know it”, before performing their version of the song. “Love you, Shane,” he said as they closed out the set.A post shared by The Murder Capital (@themurdercapital)The Murder Capital are the latest band to pay musical tribute to the late Irish singer-songwriter.U2 covered The Pogues’ ‘A Rainy Night in Soho’ in tribute to MacGowan during their latest show at the Las Vegas Sphere.

Shane MacGowan had finished his final solo album before his death.The Irish singer-songwriter and former Pogues frontman died from pneumonia in hospital, aged 65, on November 30, as shared by his wife Victoria Mary Clarke.MacGowan’s final LP is said to comprise 15 tracks featuring both original songs and covers. The album was produced in collaboration with the Irish band Cronin and includes appearances from the late singer’s Pogues bandmates, Spider Stacey and Jem Finer.Johnny Cronin, the frontman of Cronin, spoke to the The Irish Sun about MacGowan’s final LP and said that he had “a fine voice right to the end”, adding: “Shane was ill but he wanted to keep working.

Shane MacGowan‘s cause of death has been revealed after The Pogues frontman’s passing last week.The Irish singer-songwriter died from pneumonia in hospital, aged 65, on November 30, as shared by his wife Victoria Mary Clarke in The New York Times.He died “peacefully” and was surrounded by his family, while tributes have since poured in for the ‘Fairytale Of New York’ musician from the likes of Nick Cave and U2.Details around MacGowan’s death come after Clarke shared on social media that her husband was “so determined to live only a few days ago”.In another fresh tribute shared over the weekend, she wrote that “losing Shane has been the thing that I feared most for a very long time, almost since we first got together”.It’s so hard to believe that someone could be so vibrant and beautiful and so determined to live only a few days ago. But so many people are losing loved ones all over the world.

The wife of The Pogues singer Shane MacGowan has said the late singing icon was "so vibrant and beautiful and so determined to live only a few days ago" before his death at the age of 65.

The Pogues’ ‘A Rainy Night in Soho’, in tribute to the late Shane MacGowan. Watch the video below.On November 30, it was announced that MacGowan passed away peacefully surrounded by his family and friends.The next night, Hansard was among the guests on RTE’s The Late Late Show, performing the classic song alongside Pogues member Terry Woods, and the musicians Moya Brennan, Camille O’Sullivan, Aidan Gillan and Liam Ó Maonlaí.On the show, Hansard said: “He’d say find the truth in that lyric.