Shane MacGowan’s funeral was as much of a celebration of his music as it was of the man. In the streets outside of the church, mourners joined in unison to sing some of MacGowan’s most beloved songs with The Pogues. Inside, Nick Cave gave an emotional rendition of “A Rainy Night in Soho,” and Glen Hansard and Lisa O’Neill teamed up for a rousing performance of “Fairytale of New York.”
Fittingly, MacGowan’s band delivered the final performance of the ceremony, as Spider Stacy led The Pogues’ surviving members in a rendition of “The Parting Glass.” It marked the band’s first time playing together since 2014.
MacGowan died on Thursday, November 30th at the age of 65 from what was later revealed to be complications from pneumonia and viral encephalitis. See further tributes to MacGowan from Tom Waits, Bruce Springsteen, and Bono, and read our very own Jonah Krueger’s essay on”Fairytale of New York,” the quintessential Christmas song for punks, drunks, and everyone else who’s rough around the edges.
