U2 paid tribute to Shane MacGowan with a touching cover of the Pogues' hit "A Rainy Night in Soho" at the Las Vegas Sphere, where the Irish rockers are currently in residency.
Performing the day after MacGowan's death, U2 frontman Bono asked the crowd to "sing with us, for Shane MacGowan."
Fan footage of the tribute showed Bono slightly tweaking the lyrics of the Pogues' 1986 single, finishing by singing "MacGowan's song is never over" instead of "Now this song is nearly over."
Guitarist The Edge played an acoustic guitar in a stripped-back version of the song.
MacGowan and Bono had been pals for a long time. On the day of MacGowan's death, U2 shared artwork of the Pogues singer on their social media accounts, alongside the caption "Shane MacGowan's songs were perfect so he or we his fans didn't have to be."
The artwork also contained the opening lyrics of "A Rainy Night in Soho" - "I've been loving you a long time/ down all the years down all the days/ and I've cried for all your troubles/ smiled at your funny little ways."
Shane MacGowan’s songs were perfect so he or we his fans didn't have to be… pic.twitter.com/DZAHqOcAER
— U2 (@U2) November 30, 2023
U2 previously performed a rendition of the Pogues' hit song back in 2018 for MacGowan's 60th birthday celebration. On that occasion, Bono was joined by Hollywood actor Johnny Depp on guitar.
"A Rainy Night in Soho" was first released on the Pogues' 1986 EP "Poguetry in Motion."
MacGowan died on Thursday, November 30 at the age of 65 following a lengthy illness. He is survived by his wife Victoria Mary Clarke, father Maurice, and sister Siobhan.
On Friday, December 8, a procession will be held in Dublin where members of the public can pay their respects to MacGowan. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s of the Rosary Church in Nenagh, Co Tipperary at 3:30 pm, followed by a private cremation.
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