Pogues guitarist and stringed-instrument extraordinaire Philip Chevron has passed away from cancer, according to the band's website. He was 56.
Chevron joined the London-formed punk band in 1984 as a temporary member, but soon took over the role of lead guitarist when vocalist Shane McGowan focused strictly on singing. Chevron's first album with the group, Rum, Sodomy & the Lash, was ranked the 440th best album of all time by Rolling Stone and music writer Tom Moon included If I Should Fall From Grace With God in his compilation 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die.
Although McGowan was the more magnetic personality in The Pogues (a reference to the Gaelic phrase "pogue mahone," or "kiss my ass"), Chevron was perhaps the most active in the recording of the group's albums, playing guitar, banjo and mandolin. Born in Dublin, he found it easy to fit into the band's Irish themes and wrote several tracks, including "Thousands Are Sailing," a hit from If I Should Fall. McGowan withdrew from the spotlight after the band's reunion during the last decade, and Chevron became the face of The Pogues, at least when communicating with fans and media.
During 2007, the band announced that Chevron had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He toured during 2008 however, and declared himself fully recovered in 2009. During an interview in May he announced that the cancer had returned however. He made his last public appearance at a fundraiser concert in Dublin during August.
Punk fans, raise a glass of stout in tribute to Chevron tonight. If you've listened to The Pogues, you know how happy that would make him.
