U2 Release The Pogues Cover For Shane MacGowan Tribute Album
- U2 has unveiled a cover of The Pogues' 1989 track "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah" as part of a sweeping tribute to the late Shane MacGowan.
- According to a press release, 20th Century Paddy was a project MacGowan had long envisioned creating himself.
- It includes Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, Hozier, The Libertines, Primal Scream, Steve Earle, Dropkick Murphys, David Gray, The Jesus And Mary Chain, The Murder Capital, Kate Moss, Jessie...
U2 has unveiled a cover of The Pogues’ 1989 track “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” as part of a sweeping tribute to the late Shane MacGowan. The song serves as the latest preview for the upcoming album, 20th Century Paddy – The Songs Of Shane MacGowan, scheduled for release on November 13.
A Legacy Reclaimed in Song
The title of the collection is not accidental. According to a press release, 20th Century Paddy was a project MacGowan had long envisioned creating himself. Now, it arrives as a sprawling collaborative effort released via Rubyworks.
The roster is vast. It includes Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, Hozier, The Libertines, Primal Scream, Steve Earle, Dropkick Murphys, David Gray, The Jesus And Mary Chain, The Murder Capital, Kate Moss, Jessie Buckley, and the late Glen Hansard. While available digitally, the album will also see a limited physical release: a package featuring 3LPs, 2CDs, liner notes, and a 56-page book of memorabilia.
The Edge on MacGowan’s Contradictions
Introducing U2’s contribution, guitarist The Edge reflected on the tension between MacGowan’s public persona and his artistic precision.
Shane MacGowan was full of contradictions — and that’s where the truth of him lived. He could be precise about what mattered and gloriously careless about everything else. If that sounds like a kind of performance, maybe it was. But as Oscar Wilde put it, ‘a mask tells us more than a face.’
The Edge
The Edge described MacGowan’s style as a cultural signal, placing him in a lineage that bridged the gap between traditional pub storytellers and the punk stage. He observed that MacGowan found a voice situated between John B. Keane and The Clash—a sound that felt ancient and contemporary all at once, weaving together political memory, folk tradition, romance, and gallows humor.
Supporting the Dublin Simon Community
The project carries a philanthropic mandate. At least 50 percent of all artist royalties from the album will be donated to the Dublin Simon Community to fund healthcare and housing for those experiencing homelessness.
Victoria Mary Clarke, MacGowan’s wife and the primary driver behind the album, stated that the family is humbled by and thankful to the participating musicians, Rubyworks, and John Kennedy.
From the Las Vegas Sphere to Nenagh
MacGowan died peacefully in the hospital from pneumonia in November 2023 at the age of 65. His funeral took place on December 8 in Nenagh, County Tipperary.
U2’s bond with MacGowan was deep and public. In 2018, the band joined Johnny Depp to cover “A Rainy Night In Soho” during MacGowan’s 60th birthday concert. They performed the same song again during their 2023 residency at the Las Vegas Sphere following the news of his passing.
The tribute album has released several tracks ahead of the November launch. Bruce Springsteen debuted a reimagined “A Rainy Night In Soho” in March, followed by a cover of “The Body Of An American” by Dropkick Murphys. U2’s “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” originally appeared on Hell’s Ditch, the 1990 album that marked MacGowan’s final recording with The Pogues.