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THE POPES - "OUTLAW HEAVEN"

"Shane MacGowan initially started the Popes in 1994 when The Pogues could no longer tolerate his erratic behaviour caused by his recreational pursuits, but MacGowans work ethic was never particularily focused, and though he appears on three particular tracks here (strictly in the background), the promotion of Paul McGuinness to frontman, suggests they do not need him. McGuinness is a man with Demons of his own (Drink, Drugs, Prison) and his voice, like Tom Waits in a paricularily bad mood, is compelling: the opening 'Black is the Colour' is a vigourously ominous Sea Shanty, while much else rouses like only the very best of Irish Folk can..." Nick Duerden - Q Review.

‘…Bands who try to sell you their “outlaw” credentials usually turn out to be trust-fund poseurs, but Popes mainman Paul McGuinness drew on his four-month spell in Pentonville prison to write a batch of songs dripping with rage and exploding with the need to be heard. It’s a chaotic, red-blooded mix of punk, rockabilly, Celtic and country, surging to ferocious peaks in Let The Bells Ring Out or the tormented Crucified, or laying back to haunting effect in Angels Are Coming or Outlaw Heaven itself…’ Adam Sweetings - Uncut.

"You’d imagine that surely Shane MacGowan’s brains have melted by now - but no! Stick the mad bastard in The Popes and watch the fireworks start flying again. McGowan is ready to meet his maker on ‘Outlaw Heaven’, a lusty barnstormer that toasts the great dead rebel-poets. Elsewhere, he lustily advises us “Don’t let the bastards grind you down!” on ‘Bastards’. When Shane’s not about, the LP is guided by the cozy and wise burr of Paul McGuinness. This isn’t just an Irish party album with fire in its belly, it’s also the most warm, celebratory and downright mortal LP you’re likely to hear in 2009. 8/10".... Rick Rawlins - Clash Magazine.

JAILHOUSE ROCK

Elaine Sheridan ( from 'The Irish Post' ) talks to The Popes' Paul McGuiness on how a spell behind bars inspired him to clean up his act and led to new album, Outlaw Heaven....

The Popes are back with a brand new album and music maestro Shane MacGowan features on three of the tracks.

The long-awaited and highly-anticipated Outlaw Heaven features some of their most exciting and credible tracks to date with a real hint of rough and raw emotion.  Also on the guest list is Shane's fellow Pogue, Spider Stacey, who adds his own twist to the title track Outlaw Heaven.

This stonking new offering was inspired by the time lead singer Paul 'Mad Dog' McGuiness spent recently on remand in Pentonville prison for perverting the course of justice.  Also battling with drink and drugs Paul says his experience on the inside not only made him a better person but helped him to explore and expand his lyrical talents.

The 50-something-year-old said: "i hated being stuck in a cockroach, mice-infested 8x6ft cell for 23 hours a day, but once I got over the bad food and cramped conditions I began to realise it was the best thing to happen to me in a long time.

"I imagined I was in a luxury hotel getting the rest, detox and seclusion I needed to sort my life out.  I also met some of the kindest, straightest, upfront people ever, and that was only the murderers!

"Prison is however the mother of creativity and before you could say Outlaw Heaven I was off writing and singing songs to my cellmate.  I didn't have a guitar so I wrote the lyrics down on three pieces of paper I was allowed every fortnight, the music I composed in my head.  If I was able to get to church on Sunday I was able to borrow the priest's guitar.  Thank God for the folk Mass - I never thought i'd say that!"

After the London Irishman was released from prison and following the sad death of banjo god Tommy McManaman at the end of 2006, he reformed The Popes with a new and exciting line-up in the shape of drummer Will Morrison, guitarist and producer Charlie Hoskyns, Laurie Norwood on bass, Fiachra Shanks on banjo and Ben Gunnery on fiddle.  The end result is this fine offering from a bunch of tenacious and talented artists.

Paul says: " There is an Irishness about the songs on this new album as opposed to it being Irish music.  The feel is more Thin Lizzy-Van Morrison than it is Shane MacGowan or The Pogues.

"When we began this project I took a bunch of half-written songs to Will and Charlie and it came together slowly but surely."

Reflecting on the chain of events that led to the eventual release of this long awaited album, Paul added:"It's been three years since I walked down the Caledonian Road with a plastic bag full of Her Majesty's notepaper containing the ideas and half-written songs for Outlaw Heavn and with some amazing help and support along the way I've got a band to die for, music I care for and an album hopefully people will pay for."

THE POPES FEATURING SHANE MacGOWAN

Top of the Popes

The ferocious Outlaw Heaven, which features ex-member Shane MacGowan on three tracks, is a storming showcase of their exciting new material – and the music may be Irish, but it’s decidedly more Thin Lizzy than The Dubliners! Shane MacGowan formed The Popes to record his album 'The Snake' in 1994 after leaving The Pogues, with McGuinness in the original line-up.

Two hit singles, 'Are You Looking At Me' and ' Holloway Boulevard' led to the band’s singing to Snapper Records, and an acclaimed debut album ' Holloway Boulevard' (which was accompanied by an impressive six venue musical pub crawl along the Holloway Road). The Popes recorded another live album in New York, Across the Broad Atlantic, before McGuinness sat down to write songs for the new album. And as he explains, it wasn’t all plain-sailing…

Can you describe your sound in one sentence?

Er, if I could do that, I’d give up music and become a journalist! It’s rock music with lots of Celtic influence weaving through it. From Van ‘The Man’, Thin Lizzy, and even touches of The Pogues.

It’s been a while since you released anything. Why?

I needed to do some serious attitude adjustment and it took a considerable time. The last album we put out was ‘Release The Beast’, and since that time a lot of stuff has happened. Tom McManamon, one of the founder members sadly passed away, I took a few years out to kick a heroin habit amongst other things. I knew I wanted to do something new and fresh and it took a while to meet the right people who I could collaborate with. To find people who had the right personalities to fuel the chemistry took some time. If I’d known it would have taken so long I’m not sure I would have started the project, but now I’m glad I did.

For the full interview, buy this week's Irish World at your local newsagents, or pick up a copy HERE for only 50p!

The Popes play The Borderline, Manette St, London, Tel: 020 7734 2095 on May 14th. Tickets available from www.ticketweb.co.uk. The new album 'Outlaw Heaven' is out May 11th. Check out www.thepopes.uk.com.