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Imelda May thanks Shane MacGowan for his 'glorious talents'

Updated / Thursday, 30 Nov 2023 20:55

Imelda May has thanked Shane MacGowan for sharing his "glorious talents" following his death aged 65.

The Pogues' frontman, best known for the hit festive song Fairytale Of New York, died "peacefully" at 3am on Thursday with his wife and family by his side.

May is among a number of celebrities who have paid tribute to the Irish singer, who had been receiving care at St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin before he was discharged last week ahead of his upcoming birthday on Christmas Day.

In a post to her Instagram page, she said: "Thank you Shane. Thank you for opening your heart and sharing with us your glorious talents.

Watch: Shane MacGowan sings On Raglan Road with Imelda May and Finbar Furey

"Your genius song writing and poetry weaved of words and wisdom that made mortals feel seen, heard and moved to tears."

She added: "You always lived your truth.

"Your defiance, passion, energy, self awareness, honesty, daring, anger, love was always inspiring. Your divilment infectious.

"That look in your eye right before you'd say something amusing and then the laugh that set it up and us all off.. You loved your tribe and we love you."

May was a longtime friend of The Pogues frontman and visited him during his numerous stays in hospital. She also took part in a special celebration for MacGowan's 60th birthday at the National Concert Hall in Dublin in 2018.

Writing on Facebook after the event, which also featured performances from Bono, Sinead O'Connor, Finbar Furey, Nick Cave and Johnny Depp, May said: "The love in the room for Shane was immense and the support for each of us performing was overwhelming.

Cave also paid tribute to MacGowan on Thursday saying: "A true friend and the greatest songwriter of his generation. A very sad day."

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Furey described MacGowan as an "icon of our times".

"So very sad to hear about Shane's passing. He was an icon of our times, and will be sorely missed by @Victoriamary his family, close friends and indeed the whole music world….#RIPShane"

Another star who paid tribute to MacGowan was former bandmate Spider Stacy, who shared a black and white photo of the singer performing on stage, writing: "O Captain! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done.."

Singer Billy Bragg hailed the Irish star as "one of the greatest songwriters of my generation".

He added: "The Pogues reinvigorated folk music in the early 80s and his songs put the focus onto lyric writing, opening doors for the likes of myself and others."

The Charlatans' Tim Burgess praised the Irish singer-songwriter as a "lyrical genius" and an "inspiration" to many up-and-coming artists.

"I followed The Pogues to far-flung places, met Shane a few times and watched some of the most exhilarating shows I’ve ever witnessed," he added.

Music producer Jack Antonoff, who has worked with global artists including Taylor Swift and The 1975, said MacGowan made him "feel something" through his work that nobody else could.

He tweeted: "His way is something I feel inspired by everyday in the studio and on tour.

"Love to those close to him and for the rest of us who wouldn’t be here without his music it’s a sad day."

Former Countdown star Carol Vorderman shared a photo of a young MacGowan with the late Sinead O’Connor, who died in July aged 56, describing them as "the incredible rebels of my generation".

The London Irish Centre in Camden hailed MacGowan as an "icon" as it announced it will be paying tribute to his "music and influence" on Friday evening.

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