The Pogues

THE POGUES. Irish-British Celtic punk band formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. They reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s, recording several hit albums and singles. They scored two Top 5 albums in the UK ; "If I Should Fall From Grace with God" (1988) and "Peace and Love" (1989). "The Irish Rover" was a UK No8 single in 1987. "The Fairytale of New York"  has reached the UK Top 20 fourteen times (selling over 2 million copies) since its original 1987 release and is the most played Christmas Song of the 21st century. Shane MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems, but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals, before breaking up in 1996. They reformed in late 2001 and played regularly across the UK & Ireland and on the US East Coast, until dissolving again in 2014.