An upcoming all-star tribute album is set to honor the enduring legacy of the late Pogues frontman, Shane MacGowan, featuring contributions from a remarkable lineup including Bruce Springsteen, Kate Moss, and Johnny Depp. Irish artists, British indie legends, and US stars like Tom Waits are also slated to contribute to the album, titled “20th Century Paddy: The Songs of Shane MacGowan,” which is scheduled for release on November 13.
Bruce Springsteen has not only contributed a cover of “A Rainy Night in Soho” – which is already available as the album’s first single – but has also penned a heartfelt essay celebrating MacGowan’s extraordinary songwriting. Springsteen praises MacGowan’s work as “flashing, alive and historically rich,” noting that its creation often seemed a mystery even to MacGowan himself.
In his essay, Springsteen reflects on artists who defy convention, describing them as “natural rebels” whose impulses lead to both glory and hardship. He characterizes MacGowan’s voice as “deeply real, profane and honest,” and highlights the “dangerous joy, the glee and courage, the humour in the face of fate” present in his art. Springsteen delves into MacGowan’s life as a “wild ramble… towards the artistic heavens and the daily balm of self-obliteration.” He concludes by asserting that MacGowan embodied “naked bottomless humanity,” challenging listeners to live more deeply and authentically. He confidently states, “I don’t know who’ll be listening to my music in 100 years but I know they’ll be listening to Shane’s.”