The Pogues

Essential Albums

  • If I Should Fall from Grace with God (Expanded Edition)
  • Rum Sodomy & the Lash (Expanded Version)

Artist Playlists

More To Hear

About 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.

ORIGIN
Kings Cross, London, England
FORMED
1982
GENRE
Alternative

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada