Shane MacGowan was a troubled genius.
He struggled with drugs and alcohol, as well as numerous health problems, and fans spent decades worrying about his seemingly self-destructive behavior. Yet, he was also a Celtic punk poet of the highest order, who, at his best, would lift his main band — the legendary Pogues — to such incredible heights.
I feel so blessed to have had the chance to see him perform in concert, both with the Pogues and as the leader of Shane MacGowan and the Popes. In all cases, he was off kilter, not always easy to understand and, more than anything else, completely thrilling.
On Nov. 30, the great songwriter died at the age of 65 after a long battle viral encephalitis.
As a tribute to this mighty talent, and with the hope of introducing his music to the uninitiated, I have rounded up 5 songs that illustrate his lasting genius.