One of my favorite Pogues stories came courtesy of an ex-girlfriend.

Apparently, at a Los Angeles Pogues show, the band started 45 minutes late - Shane hadn't arrived - then went on without him. After a while, he showed up onstage slobbering drunk, moaned incoherently into the mic for a song or two, passed out and was drug offstage.

To the credit of the band, they apologized and then ripped through a longish set of traditional instrumental that they spiced up a bit... my ex said that this show was what got her started on traditional.

I've heard horror stories of the "Shane McGowan and the Popes" shows - things that make me believe he's more GG Allin reincarnated than Behan. It all leaves me rather flat, to be honest. In my mind, all the songwriting talent in the world doesn't excuse extreme stupidity. I'll respect the man's work as a writer, and respect some of what he's recorded, but from what I've seen, read, and heard about the man I don't think I can respect HIM.

M