The music world mourned the loss of one of its own. Shane MacGowan, the frontman of the band The Pogues, passed away on 30 November at the age of 65 due to a severe pneumonia, as confirmed by his wife Victoria Mary Clarke. She reached out to The New York Times to provide details on the cause of death.
Depp involved in MacGowan’s final farewell
Thousands of people took to the streets of Dublin in Ireland to bid farewell to a punk legend. They enthusiastically cheered for his greatest hits while raising a glass of beer or whiskey in his honour. A horse-drawn carriage carried the coffin through the streets of the Irish capital until it reached the Church of Santa Maria del Rosario in Nenagh.
There, family members, friends, and notable figures from both politics, such as Irish President Michael D. Higgins and former president of Sinn Féin, Gerry Adams. The music industry was obviously represented, with the likes of Jools Holland, U2′s Bono, and Nick Cave, gathering to pay their respects. Johnny Depp, with whom MacGowan shared a close friendship, was also in attendance.
Depp was actually one of those who carried the artist’s coffin on his shoulders, and his expression of sadness spoke volumes. The devastation over the loss of his friend were evident in the heartfelt speech he delivered at the church.
“Master, we pray for a deeper spirit of compassion in the world that we may feel,” he said. “The pain of others, we understand their need, and we reach out to all who suffer in any form with the enduring love rooted in faith and peace. Lord, hear us.”
The former star of Pirates of the Caribbean had taken on the role of producing “Crock of Gold: Drinking with Shane MacGowan,” an Amazon Prime Video documentary that delves into the life and darker aspects of the Irish artist.