Here Comes Everybody
The Celtic punk band, the Pogues, is famous for many reasons, but two in particular stand out: distinctive melding of punk ferocity and traditional Irish music and jug-eared Shane MacGowan, its heavy-drinking, originally dentally-challenged front man. Founding member and accordionist Fearnley begins his entertaining and rollicking memoir as MacGowan is booted from the group as a result of his fickle and increasingly odd behavior (he rejoined later). The level-headed Fearnley also recalls the band members’ poverty-stricken early years, their first “chaotic” gig at the Pindar of Wakefield in London in 1982, their British and Irish tours, their first time in America, and their contribution to the iconic punk movie, Sid and Nancy. The Pogues’ famously raucous live performances were balanced by their celebrated  poetic storytelling. Some of their best songs reflected their Irish roots, including MacGowan’s “The Sick Bed of Cúchulainn” and “If I Should Fall from Grace with God” and guitarist Philip Chevron’s Irish emigration ballad, “Thousands Are Sailing.” A must for Pogues fans everywhere. --June Sawyers--This text refers to an alternatePaperbackedition.