The Pogues

Formed in 1982, The Pogues popularized Celtic punk by blending acoustic Irish folk music with songs of protest and maximum attitude.

∙ Early on, The Pogues’ packed London pub and club shows caught the attention of their idols The Clash, who asked the band to open their 1984 summer tour.
∙ Produced by Elvis Costello, their breakthrough album, 1985’s Rum Sodomy & the Lash, was named one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time by Rolling Stone.
∙ “Fairytale of New York,” their 1987 duet with singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl, was repeatedly voted best Christmas song in the UK and was included in NME’s 100 Best Songs of the 1980s.
∙ Joe Strummer of The Clash took on lead vocal duties for The Pogues on their 1991 tour, after the band parted ways with singer and primary songwriter Shane MacGowan.
∙ The Pogues’ mix of Celtic folk lyricism and punk rock furor helped to carve out a musical path for such bands as Dropkick Murphy, Crowns, and The Saw Doctors.