Now it is clear who will celebrate with the Pogues forty years “Rum, Sodomy & The Lash”. The album, the title of which quotes a coarse saying by Winston Churchill about the marine corps, was released in the summer of 1985. The plans for an anniversary tour have been haunting through the news for some time.
The band replaces the actually irreplaceable singer Shane Macgowan (who died in November 2023) with strong female voices. The new live list calls Singer/Songwriter Nadine Shah, singer and poetin Iona Zajac, as well as Lisa O’Neill and Daragh Lynch from the Irish traditional group Lankum, as well as the Irish folk bars John Francis Flynn.
When the second album of the Irish-British crew appeared with “Rum, Sodomy & the Lash”, the relentless struggle between Ira and Great Britain was in full swing. Bomber attacks, targeted murders and “troubles” in Northern Ireland. A folk/punk plate with classics such as “Dirty Old Town” or “And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda” does not really fit into the heated political climate.
And yet the seven-member crew around Shane Macgowan was able to celebrate its international breakthrough with her unpleasant counter songs. Ruff and drink in the sign of the green cloverleaf. The great film documentary “Crack of Gold” (in German just “Shane”) by director Julien Temple drew a comprehensive picture of this moving era.
On May 2025, The Pogues bring the 13 songs of the album (and more) to the stage of the Pogues original members again, James Fearnley, Jem Finer and Spider Stacy at his Tin Whistle.
Reinforced by the guest musicians Holly Mullineux (bass), Jordan O’Leary (Banjo), Fiachra Meek (Pipes/Whistles) and Lankum drummer John Dermody, as well as the wind set Pete Fraser, Daniel Hayes and Ian Williamson.
The revue-like formation initially only has the UK on its tour plan and starts on May 1st in Leeds. Glasgow, Newcastle, Birmingham and Manchester have so far been on the preliminary poster. Specialist media speculates that the Irish spectacle also puts on the continent …
