Shane MacGowan RIP

RIP Shane. For many a year the Pogues gig was the start of our Xmas celebrations. The man was a genius and his genius reconnected many a north London lad with their cultural Irish roots, linking up the traditions of both punk and Irish music. A few of us have tickets to see the The Pogue Traders at Dingwalls at Xmas, a tradition we started when it became clear that Shane was unlikely to return to the road. I daresay there will not be a dry eye in the house at the end, but for us, that will be his wake.

As a member of the North London music community, all I can say is that we've lost one of our own. Shane may have departed this world, but his music will live on for a very long time.