I heard about this biopic documentary film about a year after its release, I missed it a couple of times broadcast on television, but I couldn't ignore it when it was shown again the day that its subject sadly died at age 65, produced by Johnny Depp, directed by Julien Temple (Sade: "Smooth Operator", Earth Girls Are Easy, Bryan Adams: "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You)", S Club 7: "Have You Ever"). Basically, it is about the life and career of Irish singer, songwriter and musician Shane MacGowan, lead singer of Celtic punk band The Pogues. MacGowan was born on 25 December, Christmas Day 1957 in Pembury, Kent, but raised in Tipperary, Ireland. It is shocking to find out he started drinking alcohol when he was five years old, smoking huge quantities of cigarettes and took excessive amounts of drugs by his late teens. This would explain the poor health of his teeth and it is remarkable that he lived for the length of time he did. MacGowan co-founded The Pogues in 1982, they were originally called Pogue Mahone, based on an Irish phrase that translates "kiss my arse". They fused punk influences with traditional Irish music. Early hits for the band, specifically in Ireland, included "Dark Streets of London", "Boys from the County Hell", "A Pair of Brown Eyes", "Sally MacLennane", and "Dirty Old Town". It was in 1987 that The Pogues had their biggest hit with the Christmas song "Fairytale of New York, with MacGowan duetting with Kirsty MacColl; it was kept from the UK Christmas Number One by "Always on My Mind" by Pet Shop Boys. They also released the party song "Fiesta", and the political protest song "Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six". MacGowan performed endless shows across Ireland and the United Kingdom and he suffered a breakdown. He later returned to music and formed a new band, the Popes, and he made an appearance in the 1997 version of Lou Reed song "Perfect Day", hitting Number One and raising money for Children in Need. In the film, MacGowan talks about his experiences but comes across as a slightly aggressive and sometimes bewildered participant in his own story. The film also uses animation to depict his childhood and unseen events from the past. With contributions from Johnny Depp, Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie, former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, Siobhan MacGowan (Shane's sister), Maurice MacGowan (Shane's father), and Victoria Mary Clarke (Shane's wife). I will admit it is slightly uncomfortable and awkward viewing, MacGowan is a tragic figure you feel sorry for in some respects, but he is equally a legendary figure and, to be fair, it is an interesting biographical documentary. Good!
