Pogues

The Pogues are a Celtic folk punk band from London, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The band reformed in late 2001, and has been playing regularly ever since, across the UK and Ireland and on the US East Coast. Their politically tinged music was informed by MacGowan and Stacy's punk backgrounds, yet used traditional Irish instruments such as the tin whistle, banjo, cittern, mandolin and accordion. The Pogues were founded in Kings Cross, a district of Central London, in 1982 as Pogue Mahone—pogue mahone being the anglicisation of the Irish póg mo thóin, meaning "kiss my arse".

Links To Peel
In the book, Kiss My Arse: The Story of the Pogues, Stan Brennan, who worked for the Pogues as their representative described Peel's connection with their first single Dark Streets Of London that was released in 1984:


 * "It started selling quite well. John Peel picked it up. He liked the fact that it was so minimally designed. He'd got one of the white labels. He played it on the radio."

Brennan later mentioned on the book that the BBC refused quietly to play the Pogues records because the band's original name Pogue Mahone in the Irish language meant "kiss my arse". The only exception Brennan mentioned was Peel's show, who played the record despite the BBC's reluctance.

The BBC's reluctance forced the band to drop Mahone from their name leaving it called The Pogues.

Peel continued championing the band through out the 80's, but by the 90's, he rarely played any of their material.

Festive Fifty Entries

 * 1984 Festive Fifty: Dark Streets Of London #45
 * 1985 Festive Fifty: I'm A Man You Don't Meet Every Day #25
 * 1985 Festive Fifty: A Pair Of Brown Eyes #20
 * 1985 Festive Fifty: Sally MacLennane #13
 * 1986 Festive Fifty: Body Of An American #50

Sessions
Both sessions are available on [https://www.discogs.com/The-Pogues-Just-Look-Them-Straight-In-The-Eye-And-Say-Poguemahone-The-Pogues-Box-Set/release/1569315 Just Look Them Straight In The Eye And Say... Poguemahone!! - The Pogues Box Set] (2008, 5 x CD, Rhino Records)