Piers Morgan leads tributes to Shane MacGowan with campaign to get Fairytale of New York to Xmas No1 after his death

PIERS Morgan has launched a campaign to get The Pogues to No 1 at Christmas following the death of front man Shane MacGowan.

The musical legend died “peacefully” on Thursday morning at the age of 65, with his wife by his side.

Shane, who was best known for hit festive song Fairytale Of New York, had been due to celebrate his 66th birthday on Christmas Day.

Paying tribute today, Piers wrote:  “RIP Shane MacGowan, 65. Irish punk legend, genius Pogues singer/songwriter, and hell-raiser extraordinaire. His favourite joke was: ‘I was given six weeks to live, about 25 years ago!’

“Let’s make Fairytale of New York the Christmas No1 as a tribute. (He was born on Xmas Day).”

Fairytale of  New York spent five weeks at Number 1 in the Irish charts, when it was released in 1987.

However it never secured the Christmas number one in the UK charts.

Despite that it re-enters the Official Christmas Singles Chart Top 20 every year.

Meanwhile, tributes have flooded in from elsewhere – musician and singer Peter “Spider” Stacy paid his respects to his fellow bandmate, sharing an image of him performing on a stage.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Stacy wrote: “‘O Captain! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done..'”

The line was accompanied by a black and white image of MacGowan smiling on stage.

Stacy co-founded The Pogues along with MacGowan, Jem Finer and James Fearnley and appeared on all of their recordings.

Nick Cave paid his respects writing saying: “A true friend and the greatest songwriter of his generation. A very sad day.”

Dermot O’Leary posted a lengthy tribute on his Instagram, writing: “The smile, the snarl, the beauty, the heartbreak, the longing, all under the waves of punkish, rage, fervour and passion.

“Feelings of grief for someone you’ve never met but whose art and work mean so much to you and have played an elemental part in shaping your identity are strange, muted.”

He went on to say how much the singer meant to him being second-generation Irish and revealed The Pogues was the first gig he ever went to.

A statement shared on behalf of his wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, his sister Siobhan and father, Maurice, on The Pogues’ official Instagram said: “It is with the deepest sorrow and heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Shane MacGowan.

“Shane died peacefully at 3am this morning (30 November, 2023) with his wife Victoria and family by his side.

“Prayers and the last rites were read which gave comfort to his family.

“He is survived by his wife Victoria, his sister Siobhan and his father, Maurice, family and a large circle of friends.

“Further details will be announced shortly but the family ask for privacy at this very sad time”.

His devastated family have paid tribute to the beloved Pogues star.

Shane’s heartbroken wife Victoria wrote on Instagram: “I don’t know how to say this so I am just going to say it.

“Shane who will always be the light that I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love of my life and the most beautiful soul and beautiful angel and the sun and the moon and the start and end of everything that I hold dear has gone to be with Jesus and Mary and his beautiful mother Therese.

“I am blessed beyond words to have met him and to have loved him and to have been so endlessly and unconditionally loved by him and to have had so many years of life and love and joy and fun and laughter and so many adventures.

“There’s no way to describe the loss that I am feeling and the longing for just one more of his smiles that lit up my world.

“Thank you thank you thank you thank you for your presence in this world you made it so very bright and you gave so much joy to so many people with your heart and soul and your music.

“You will live in my heart forever. Rave on in the garden all wet with rain that you loved so much. You meant the world to me.”

His sister Siobhan also paid tribute, saying: “So I walked as day was dawning; as small birds sang and leaves were falling, where we once watched the row boats landing on the Broad Majestic Shannon.”

Musician Peter “Spider” Stacy, who co-founded The Pogues along with MacGowan, Jem Finer and James Fearnley back in the 1980s shared a touching tribute.

Sharing an image of MacGowan performing on stage, Stacy wrote: “‘O Captain! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done..'”

Replying to fans extending their condolences, Stacy added: “It’s s***, isn’t it.”

Spider had visited MacGowan several times at St Vincent’s Hospital in recent weeks.