Here Comes Everybody: The Story of the Pogues

In October 1982, as ABC, Culture Club, Shalamar, and Survivor dominated the top twenty, The Pogues burst forth from the backstreets of King's Cross. Their sound was a furious, pioneering blend of punk energy, traditional melodies, and the powerfully poetic songwriting of Shane MacGowan. Often reviled by traditionalists for their frequently fast and riotous interpretations of Irish folk songs, The Pogues ascended from the sweaty chaos of backroom gigs in Camden pubs to world tours alongside acts like Elvis Costello, U2, and Bob Dylan. They also achieved huge commercial success with 'Fairytale of New York', a Christmas song beloved by many.

However, the exuberance of their live performances combined with relentless touring escalated into years of heavy drinking and excess, which eventually took its toll – most famously on Shane, but also on the rest of the band. This led to their parting ways seven years later. Here, their story is recounted with beauty, lyricism, and great candour by James Fearnley, a founding member and their accordion player. He vividly brings to life the youthful friendships, the bust-ups, the amazing gigs, the terrible gigs, the fantastic highs, and the dramatic lows in a hugely compelling, humorous, moving, and honest account of life in one of our most treasured and original bands.