For fans of The Pogues and those interested in the evolution of their music, this episode of "The Ireland Podcast" offers a comprehensive look into the formative years of the band and James Fearnley's personal journey within it.
"The Ireland Podcast", host Fender Jackson engages in an in-depth conversation with James Fearnley, the accordionist of The Pogues, who resides in Los Angeles. Recorded just before the 2025 Los Angeles fires broke out, this episode delves into Fearnley's musical journey leading up to the creation of The Pogues' debut album, "Red Roses For Me". The discussion also touches upon his memoir, "Here Comes Everybody: The Story Of The Pogues".
Throughout the episode, Fearnley reflects on his early life in Worsley, Manchester, his move to London, and his studies at Ealing Technical College, an institution known for alumni like Freddie Mercury and Pete Townshend. He shares anecdotes from his time with bands such as The Low & Sweet Orchestra, Cranky George, and The Walker Roaders.
The conversation provides insights into the recording process of "Red Roses For Me", in 1984, at Elephant Studios, in London, offering a track-by-track analysis starting with "Transmetropolitan". Fearnley also discusses his collaborations with bandmates, like Shane MacGowan and Jem Finer, shedding light on the dynamics that shaped The Pogues' distinctive sound.
Listeners are treated to stories about the band's early days, including Fearnley's experiences with The Nips alongside Shane MacGowan and Shanne Bradley, and the transition from Pogue Mahone to The Pogues. The episode also touches upon Fearnley's literary pursuits, including his memoir and its audiobook recording.
Shane McGowan and his wife, Victoria.
In this candid conversation, James opens up about his intricate relationship with Shane MacGowan, describing it as a blend of love and frustration that fueled their artistic chemistry.
Fearnley told "The Ireland Podcast", "When Shane was dying in the hospital in Dublin, at the end of last not last year, but the year before last now. I would have liked to have visited him, but I was in, you know, the West Coast [of USA} and at the time and it was just too much of an upheaval to go and visit with him. But Spider [Stacy] said to me, why don't you write him a letter?
"So I did and it turned into, a kind of 'thank you' letter for Shane taking me on a trip through life that I would not otherwise have had.
"And in a sense, you know, if for me, he was always that kind of Pied Piper person who, I'd, you know, lots of times I followed him anywhere he wanted to take me. I'm just so grateful for what he did for me and my life. He was a hard bastard to work with a lot of the time, and a lot of a hard person to be with a lot of the time. But, I've got I've got nothing but gratitude for the trip that he took me on. And I'm getting all sort of [emotionally] throaty with that because I loved him."
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Jackson responded by saying "Oh, that's lovely to hear, James. Because at one point, you did hate him."
He responded "Yeah. No. I did! That sounds like the hate would eclipse the love that I had for him, but I think the two things can exist at the same time. Maybe I hated him because I loved him so much as well.
"It sounds like a lot of flannel when it comes out of my mouth like that, but it's not flannel. He was a person that, prompted quite a few emotions when you're in the same room as him [laughter] or working with him or traveling with him or on the same stage as him. It was a complicated experience. I deplored a lot of the stuff that he found himself getting into, but then there's so much else to rejoice about and thinking, 'Damn, I'm so happy to have spent that time with him!'"
Listen to the full "The Ireland Podcast" here:
* Fender Jackson is a musician and composer originally from the Sperrin Mountains in Northern Ireland. Throughout his life, he has lived in various places, including Belfast, Yorkshire, London, and China, and currently resides in Galway, Ireland. In addition to his musical pursuits, Jackson is the host of The Ireland Podcast, which launched in October 2023 and is produced by Salthill Media.
Beyond his podcasting endeavors, Jackson has been involved in various musical projects and has a presence on social media platforms, such as Instagram, where he shares insights into his work and interests.
For more visit TheIrelandPodcast.com.
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