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 The Popes
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"The Official Site"

Outlaw Heaven

The Popes (View our profiles)

Paul (Mad Dog) McGuinness - Guitar and Vocals

Charlie Hoskyns - Guitars and Backing Vocals

Will Morrison - Drums and Backing Vocals

Laurie Norwood - Bass and Backing Vocals

Fiachra Shanks - Mandolin, Guitar, Banjo and Backing Vocals

Declan Daly - Fiddle

The Popes welcome you.

"Welcome to The Official Site"

Shane MacGowan formed The Popes to record his album 'The Snake' in 1994 after leaving The Pogues.

From that original line up are Paul (Mad Dog) McGuinness, on vocals and guitars (Paul originally played with The Pogues, his first performance being live on the David Letterman show, plucked from the technical team at a moment's notice!).

After releasing 2 sell out singles - 'Are You Looking At Me' and 'Holloway Boulevard' on Scarlet Records - The Popes signed to Snapper Records and released their debut album 'HOLLOWAY BOULEVARD' with a 'never been done before' - (and I should imagine never again!!) one day - 6 venues - musical pub crawl along the Holloway Road in North London!!
'Holloway Boulevard' received great reviews and the record-buying public took the band to their hearts - and their parties!

After recording another live album with Shane in New York on St Patrick’s Day (Across the Broad Atlantic), and extensive touring, Paul began writing material for the new album.

Tommy McManamon

Following the sad death of Popes banjo god Tommy McManamon at the end of 2006, Paul reformed THE POPES with a new line up of fantastic and experienced musicians; drummer WILL MORRISON (Here be Dragons, Lisa Knapp), guitarist/producer CHARLIE HOSKYNS ( Lisa Knapp, Badly Mixed Bastards), LAURIE NORWOOD on bass, DECLAN DALY on fiddle and FIACHRA SHANKS on banjo, mandolin, guitars and vocals.

The Popes' new album - ‘Outlaw Heaven’ looks like it will showcase some of their most exciting material to date, with some very interesting 'special guests', including Shane MacGowan, to be featured on tracks, as well as some new remixes and production ideas. Art work designed for the Album by London Irish artist Brian Whelan.Ta.P.

Apart from playing live throughout 2007, they have been working on the new album, which is now well in progress and will be available for release for September 2008. A Tour is planned for OCTOBER 22nd-2nd November 2008 – Dates to be confirmed – check back to this site for updates.