5 Things You Might Not Have Known About 20th Century Paddy: The Songs Of Shane MacGowan

The Pogues are covering one of Shane’s pre-Pogues songs

Shane MacGowan may be best remembered for the songs that he wrote as a member of The Pogues – but there's gems to be found outside that period too. In an unexpected twist, 20th Century Paddy: The Songs of Shane MacGowan finds his former bandmates Spider Stacy, James Fearnley and Jem Finer taking on 'Gabrielle', a track that stretches all the way back to 1979 – three years before they'd come together as Pogue Mahone (and later The Pogues).

'Gabrielle' was one of a string of singles released by Shane's band The Nips (formerly the Nipple Erectors). Although James Fearnley came on board as The Nips' guitar player the following year, and would have played the track live, Shane was the only Pogue to appear on the original recording.

"It’s the girl-boy story – going out to dance, and getting on a bus," Fearnley recently told Hot Press. "All that imagery has been there from the beginning with Shane – London and dancing. You should have seen him do Northern Soul dancing. That was a spectacle to behold!"

Fearnley, Spider Stacy and Jem Finer are joined on the new version of 'Gabrielle' by Irish musician John Dermody (Lankum, Poor Creature, The Jimmy Cake) and Goat Girl's Holly Mullineaux.

Shane MacGowan with James Fearnley (left) and the late Andrew Ranken (right)

Imelda May and Johnny Depp recorded ‘Haunted’ before they’d even heard a tribute album was in the works – with Imelda using Sinéad O'Connor's microphone

2023 saw Ireland lose several of its all-time musical greats – including, of course, Shane MacGowan and Sinéad O'Connor, who passed away within less than six months of each other. After losing her two friends, Imelda May found herself gravitating towards their version 'Haunted', recorded in 1995. She also happened to share her love for the song with Johnny Depp.

"We were sitting talking about it one night," Imelda recalls. "We were chatting about them, and talking about the song, and the two of them on it. And then we said, ‘We should do it.’"

Imelda had worked with Sinéad's long-time collaborator John Reynolds on numerous occasions over the years, but she felt it was particularly important to have him record her vocals for this track.

"He said to me, 'I have everything set up and ready for you – and I have Sinéad's mic,’" she says of working with John. "It was very emotional."

All of this, however, had happened before Imelda and Johnny Depp were even aware of the plans for 20th Century Paddy.

"When Victoria mentioned it to me, I said, ‘Well, funnily enough, we've already recorded ‘Haunted’..." Imelda reveals.

Shane had always wanted The Jesus and Mary Chain to record ‘I’ll Be Your Handbag’

Shane MacGowan had previously teamed up with The Jesus and Mary Chain back in 1994, as a guest vocalist on their fifth studio album, Stoned & Dethroned. But his wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, has revealed that, when he wrote his song 'I'll Be Your Handbag' in the early '90s, "he really, really wanted The Jesus and Mary Chain to sing it."

“I think he gave them a tape of it, and they said they would love to do it – but obviously they didn't get around to it," she reflected in an interview with Hot Press.

Shane would ultimately record the track himself, for his debut album with the Popes, 1994's The Snake. But after all these years, The Jesus and Mary Chain have now finally taken on the track, for 20th Century Paddy.

"That really meant a lot to me," Victoria said. "And they did it as well as I knew they would – and as Shane knew they would."

The Jesus and Mary Chain. Credit Mel Butler

There’s some familiar faces playing on Glen Hansard’s version of ‘Bottle Of Smoke’

Glen Hansard's contribution to 20th Century Paddy, 'Bottle Of Smoke', was unveiled as a single at the end of October – as the first posthumous release from the renowned singer-songwriter, following his death in July.

His version of 'Bottle Of Smoke' was recorded live at The Wiltern in Los Angeles in October 2024, with the final layers recorded earlier this year.

A scroll through the track's credits reveals an star-studded selection of names – including The Pogues' James Fearnley (accordion), DUG's Jonny Pickett (banjo), Joseph Doyle (bass), Rob Bochnik (guitar), Gareth Quinn Redmond (violin), Ruth O'Mahony-Brady (keyboards) and Tim Neuhaus (drums) – all of whom were playing live in LA.

Doyle, Bochnik, Quinn Redmond, Neuhaus and O'Mahony-Brady were all part of Glen's live band – with Doyle and Bochnik also serving as members of The Frames. Gareth Quinn Redmond is also known for his work as an ambient artist, while fellow Dublin musician and producer Ruth O'Mahony-Brady has played with the likes of Gorillaz and Sam Smith.

Traditional musicians Mary-Aoife and Séamus Ong joined Glen in the studio in January, to complete the track.

Steve Earle was in the room when The Pogues were recording the demos for If I Should Fall From Grace With God

Steve Earle reckons he's "one of the biggest Pogues fans in the world" – with the multi-Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter having enlisted the band for 'Johnny Come Lately', from his classic 1988 album Copperhead Road.

Not long before that, Earle got the chance to meet The Pogues for the first time while they were recording the demos for what would become If I Should Fall From Grace With God.

"They were hiding out in what they called the ‘penthouse’, at Abbey Road – the demo studio on the top floor," he recently told Hot Press. "It was supposed to be a big secret. But we went down there, and everybody in London was there..."

Fittingly, Steve has recorded a version of the title track from If I Should Fall From Grace With God for the new tribute album.

Steve Earle. Credit: Jacob Blickenstaff

20th Century Paddy: The Songs of Shane MacGowan is out Friday, November 13, via Rubyworks. Pre-order/pre-save the album here.