The singer-songwriter and Pogues frontman, who is widely known for his Christmas hit Fairytale Of New York with Kirsty MacColl, passed away after being sent home from hospital following a prolonged period of ill health, battling an uncommon but serious brain condition, Encephalitis.
A statement from MacGowan's spokesperson confirmed he, "died peacefully at 3.30am this morning (November 30) with his wife and sister by his side. Prayers and the last rites were read during his passing."
The singer-songwriter's wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, posted on Instagram that the "love of her life" had died. She wrote:
"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."
Born in Pembury, Kent in England, Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan was the son of Irish immigrants and led The Pogues from 1982 until their break-up in 2014. They released popular singles such as The Irish Rover with The Dubliners and a cover of Ewan MacColl’s Dirty Old Town.
A Julien Temple documentary film about the musician's life, Crock Of Gold: A Few Rounds With Shane MacGowan, was released in 2020.
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