“Among his finest work, this. RIP Shane.”
Earlier today, it was announced that Irish music legend Shane MacGowan has passed away at the age of 65.
The news of the singer-songwriter’s death has sparked an outpouring of tributes, with many taking to social media to remember the Pogues’ frontman.
One particular moment involving MacGowan that is being reshared in the wake of his passing is the time his band took to Twitter to putdown conservative political activist Laurence Fox.
The Pogues’ insulting Laurence Fox is being reshared following Shane MacGowan’s death
The incident occurred in 2020 when Fox – in a since deleted Tweet – complained about the BBC announcing that Radio 1 would be playing a censored version of the Pogues’ iconic Christmas song ‘Fairytale of New York’.
Fox wrote: “The cultural commissars at the BBC are telling you what is and isn’t appropriate for your ignorant little ears. Wouldn’t it be nice if we sent the (proper) version to the top of the charts? #DefundTheBBC. RT.”
Responding to Fox in short but brutal fashion, the band reshared Fox’s tweet with the caption: “F**k off you little herrenvolk shite.”
You can read various tweets reminiscing about the moment following MacGowan’s passing below, with one user writing: “Among his finest work, this. RIP Shane.”
Among his finest work, this. RIP Shane ? pic.twitter.com/8k8l3zISPq
— Kelly Welles @kellywelles.bsky.social (@kelly_welles) November 30, 2023
RIP to Shane MacGowan, a real one ? pic.twitter.com/UPiItMZ6SN
— Sorcha Ní Nia (@Luiseach) November 30, 2023
Oh, how desperately sad. For all his wonderful music and poetic lyrics, I adore him even more for his riposte to Laurence Fox. What a loss. https://t.co/ZBW6dz4atY pic.twitter.com/FLjrTvBVVY
— Bertha Mason (@ThornfieldHall) November 30, 2023
Perhaps the finest tribute that can possibly be paid to Shane and the Pogues is this response to general twatbadger and failed actor Laurence Fox back in 2020.#RIPShaneMacGowan https://t.co/GyEMXRRQNz
— Dan Makes Noises (@DanMakesNoises) November 30, 2023
With the sad death of Shane Mcgowan today I am not only reminded of all the great music the Pogues made. But of when they called Laurence Fox a Herrenvolk Shite. https://t.co/geaikPbS9M
— George AhhWell (@GeorgeAhhwell) November 30, 2023
RIP Shane MacGowan, and a reminder of what the Pogues thought of Laurence Fox’s attention-seeking culture wars pic.twitter.com/awL97gIleB
— Marcus Houlden?? (@mhoulden) November 30, 2023
Meanwhile, just hours after news of MacGowan’s passing, there is already a large push to make ‘Fairytale of New York’ a Christmas number 1 this year.
You can read about the disputed origins of the classic track by the Pogues right here.
Read more:
- Fairytale of New York’: Inside the disputed origins of classic Pogues song
- Calls for Fairytale of New York to be Christmas number one in tribute to Shane MacGowan’
- Shane MacGowan has died at the age of 65
- The problem with Fairytale of New York is easy to understand, and easier to fix
- There were some lovely tributes to the genius of Shane MacGowan on The Late Late Show
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