The Popes Reformed
2008 - 2013
This was the official website for the newest iteration of the band, The Popes.
Content is from the site's 2008 - 2013 archived pages.
For the most up to date information on The Popes go to their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thepopesofficial/
Wikipedia/ History
1992–1998: Shane MacGowan and The Popes
After departing the Pogues, singer Shane MacGowan put together a new band, started with a group of people from the Pogues' extended family including Paul "Mad Dog" McGuinness and Tommy McManamon.
1998–2006: The Popes
As well as backing MacGowan both live and on his solo albums, the McGuinness–McManamon incarnation of The Popes recorded a few singles and one studio album, Holloway Boulevard, released in March 2000. A live album, Release The Beast, followed in 2004. The Popes played their final show with MacGowan 17 March 2005and had disintegrated by the time of McManamon's death in December 2006
2006–present: The Popes reformed
Following the death of banjo player Tommy McManamon at the end of 2006, Paul McGuinness reformed The Popes with a new album in the works and a new line-up including Charlie Hoskyns (Lisa Knapp, Badly Mixed Bastards) on guitar, Will Morrison (Here be Dragons, Lisa Knapp) on drums, Laurie Norwood on bass and Ben Gunnery on fiddle.
Outlaw Heaven - The Popes, The Official Version
The album was eventually released in 2009 as Outlaw Heaven, featuring Fiachra Shanks on banjo and Shane MacGowan as a guest vocalist on three songs, with Pogue Spider Stacy joining MacGowan and McGuinness on vocals on the title track.
During 2012 and 2013, this lineup of The Popes toured extensively in Europe and Australia. A new album with new material written by Paul McGuinness and the new line-up, and previous material telling the story of The Popes, was planned for 2014, although the band has been on an extended hiatus due to a brain injury suffered by McGuinness in November 2013.
Fan Notes: "Saw multiple shows on their European tour and in Hamburg I met their publicist who was extremely distraught over what he was seeing in a Google search for the band's name. An embezzler in London had claimed to be a band member and although that was a bogus claim, it made the news. So the a search for the band now shares a Google page with a convicted embezzler and it looks like there's some relationship between the two. The publisher claims the post is true (and it is) so it stays put. Google does not even respond to the requests. Not cool. So the publicist has just decided to hire a search results removal service to bury those harmful associations while the lawyers try to force the removal from the website. The appearance of a super specialized service, custom designed to address a problem in the search results is indicative of the times. Google should be doing this as a consolation to parties injured by their search results. It is unfortunate that such a service is required to counter the powerful and otherwise unaccountable search monster Google. The publicist is resigned to paying for this service until a more permanent solution is found. The joys of band management." Tammy Wells
THE POPES - Dirty old town (LIVEQUEST #55)
"Paul Mad Dog McGuinness" followed Shane McGowan and banjo player Tommy the Beast McManamon from The Pogues to form a brand new band. The story of the band has been a tumultuous one involving fame and notoriety, drugs, prison and death (Sadly that of Tommy). Led by 'Mad Dog' the band have come through those times all the stronger. With two new highly acclaimed albums, and an exciting live act that has entertained audiences on 3 continents. The Popes are winning whole new generations of fans around The World.
This concert has been shot live in France over october 11, 2013. On thursday the 21st November 2013 Paul was knocked down by a car in London and is now in Intensive Care at the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel. As of today, the 4th December, the good news is that Paul has regained Consciousness and is now responding to doctors. While this is extremelly encouraging news, there is still a long way to go along the long road to total recovery. Pauls Family, Friends and Band Members would like to thank you all for your prayers and thoughts.
ORDER THE NEW ALBUM 'NEW CHURCH' -
About The Popes
..."Rouses like only the very best of Irish Folk can..." Nick Duerden - Q Magazine
"The Popes' excellent Outlaw Heaven album is what The Waterboys would have sounded like had Mike Scott sipped from the streams of whiskey. A true rough diamond." Dave Simpson - The Guardian
Biography.
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.
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), JIM McALLISTER on Bass, DAVE ALLEN on fiddle, and WHISKEY MICK ROWAN on Mandolin.
'The Popes' new album - 'Outlaw Heaven' will showcase some of their most exciting and brilliant material to date! and is due for release Feb/March 2009. With excitingly a long awaited tour that will include Uk, Ireland and USA.
'Special Guests' with Paul (Mad Dog) McGuinness, on the title track 'Outlaw Heaven' are no less than his old friends Shane MacGowan and Spider Stacy. Shane also features with Paul on 'Black is the Colour' and
'Don't let the Bastards grind you down', PLUS a special solo performance by Shane MacGowan on
'The Loneliness of a Long Distance Drinker'.
The album also features amazing art work designed by London Irish artist Brian Whelan.Ta.P.
Paul "Mad Dog" McGuinness - Guitar and Vocals
Charlie Hoskyns - Guitars and Backing Vocals
Will Morrison - Drums and Backing Vocals
Jim McAllister - Bass and Backing Vocals
Dave Allen - Fiddle, Mandolin and Backing Vocals
Whiskey Mick Rowan - Mandolin, guitar and Backing Vocals
Tour Dates
2013 Dates
Further Dates to be added for 2013 - Keep looking back
Friday 20th Dec - 2013 --- O'Neills, Muswell Hill, London - Paul McGuinness Benefit fund raiser to aid to his Recovery.
Dates for 2014, more to follow
14/03/2014 - SARLAT (FR, 24) - CENTRE CULTUREL
15/03/2014 - LE HAVRE (FR, 76) - OCEANE STADIUM
16/03/2014 - LE HAVRE (FR, 76) - OCEANE STADIUM
22/03/2014 - SANTES (FR, 59) - AGORA
Summer 2014 - ALBI (FR, 81) - Festival PLACE AUX ARTISTES
Summer 2014 - CHARTRES (FR, 27) - Festival CHARTRESTIVALES
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2012 Dates - MORE TO FOLLOW
The Stranglers plus Guests - The Popes - March 2012
In addition to the above dates Sunday 11 March
THE POPES
Exeter Phoenix
Bradninch Place, Gandy Street, Exeter, EX4 3LS
Box Office: 01392 667080
Wednesday 14 March THE POPES
Bedford Esquires
60A Bromham Road, Bedford, MK40 2QG
Wednesday 21 March The Duchess
Stonebow House, York, YO1 7NP
Box Office: 08444 77 1000
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Sat 19 May - Bearded Theory Festival, Derbyshire Tickets - Ticket Hot Line : 08432 081 835 - Quay Tickets & 0871 220 0260 - Seetickets |
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2011 Dates
European Dates... | ||
Saturday 25th June 20111 | 19.00 | Festival Rencontres Et Racines Audincourt, FRANCE |
Sunday 26th June 2011 | 12.00 | >>>> Glastonbury <<<< Shepton Mallet, UK, UNITED KINGDOM |
Sunday 03rd July 2011
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Na Fir Bog Festival
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Friday 15th July 2011 |
GUILFEST |
Discography
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New Church (2012)
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Outlaw Heaven (2009)(Out Now) The long awaited follow-up to Holloway Boulevard, featuring the all-new Popes lineup and a host of new songs, including the title track Outlaw Heaven featuring Shane MacGowan & Spider Stacey from The Pogues. Tracklist: Black Is The Colour |
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Holloway Boulevard (2000)Released via Snapper Music 1. Holloway Boulevard |
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Release The Beast Live Album (2000)Released via Snapper Music 1. Church Of The Holy Spook |
Press | Reviews
The Popes interview for new album Outlaw Heaven
Paul 'Mad Dog' McGuinness talks about Outlaw Heaven, the second studio album by Shane MacGowan's former backing band The Popes.
Review: Adam Sweeting
Stirring and cathartic collection of songs: The Popes Photo: MARTIN POPE
Chaos has surrounded The Popes, ever since Shane MacGowan created them as his backing band in 1994 after he'd been thrown out of The Pogues for "unprofessional behaviour. They made a couple of studio albums with MacGowan in the Nineties before the singer wandered off into drink-sodden limbo. The Shane-less Popes then scored a critical triumph with their 2000 debut album, Holloway Boulevard, but since then fans have had only a live album and the reissue, Release The Beast, to sustain them.
But at last a second studio album is wrapped and ready to go. Outlaw Heaven is a stirring and cathartic collection of songs which run the gamut from punk to country, delivered by a new band assembled by original Pope-in-chief Paul Mad Dog McGuinness. The disc resonates with echoes of The Clash, Bo Diddley and a whole history of Irish balladry, but thanks to the influence of new collaborators Charlie Hoskyns and Will Morrison, there's a punchy experimental edge to it too.
Raw, for instance, is a ferocious bellow of rage lifted by a throbbing electronic groove, while McGuinness' lurid tale of self-martyrdom in Crucified is buttressed by a sonic cathedral of crunching powerchords, gospel voices and horns. The title track's exuberant singalong is led by Shane MacGowan himself, making one of three guest appearances on the album.
I've never seen Shane in better shape or more enthusiastic, reports McGuinness, in a Dublin accent thick enough to steamroller tarmac. I always had a great time with Shane, but this time it's been great to meet some very fine new musicians and work with a different kind of person.
HM Prison Pentonville deserves a generous sleeve credit, because it was here that McGuinness began writing the Outlaw Blues songs. He spent four and a half months on remand for perverting the course of justice, locked in an 8ft by 6ft cell. He had d been a heroin addict for more than decade, topping up with cocaine and alcohol on the side, and on top of everything else had been struggling with writers block.
You were locked up for 23 hours a day, and if it was a good day you might get outside for half an hour,McGuinness recalls. I had a serious drug habit when I went into Pentonville, and I went through a whole detox in there, so I have to thank Her Majesty for the holiday and for the inspiration. They talk about [bluesman] Robert Johnson doing a deal with the devil - Ive done a deal with God. I got myself together and cleaned myself up a little bit.
Paradoxically, the primitive conditions in prison acted as a spur. He was only allowed three pieces of writing paper per fortnight, so he developed the habit of preserving his lyrics in tiny handwriting. The only way he could get access to a guitar was to attend the Sunday folk-mass and borrow one from the priest.
I'd work the tunes out in my head, then I'd turn up early for mass, grab the priests guitar and try out the ideas. He was very annoyed because I could play better than him, but it was nice of him to lend me his guitar.
I wouldnt recommend prison to anyone, but I knew it was the right place for me and that realisation was a big thing.
McGuinness was eventually acquitted of all charges, but found surviving drug-free outside prison so terrifying that as soon as I got out the first thing I did was run to a dealer". He learned to lean on valium and methadone instead of the harder stuff, and first teamed up with Hoskins and Morrison, musical partners for 15 years, at a St Patricks Day gig organised by friends ("when we first met Paul he was off his face, he literally couldnt stand up, Hoskins remembers). Undeterred, they set about recording an album at Hoskyns studio in East Dulwich, gradually knocking McGuinness skeletal songs into shape while recruiting new bandmembers (bassist Laurie Norwood, fiddler Ben Gunnery, Fiachra Shanks on banjo and mandolin).
We experimented with the songs, which is why it took a bit of time," says Morrison. Charlies and my influence isnt Irish at all -we dont understand it. It all sounds the same to us! What we brought to the sound was more of a contemporary twist, but still retaining the Irishness. Every song has its own environment, but they all hang together next to each other.
The next step is taking the band on tour, which McGuinness views with excitement mixed with apprehension.
“I love playing live most of all, but it used to be back to the dressing room and snorting lines off mirrors and all of that. What am I gonna do now?
Its something Im still trying to learn. Im not at the finish line yet.
The Popes - New Church
The Popes are a band that aren’t very widely-known, but this doesn’t mean that that aren’t very good. In fact, their latest album ‘New Church’ deserves all the exposure it can get and its moments of greatness shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s an album that easily transports you into a cosy pub in Dublin, showcasing a sound that encompasses the fun spirit of Ireland.
Formed back in 1994 by Shane MacGowan after leaving The Pogues, The Popes have gone from strength to strength, developing a unique modern folk-rock sound that evolves with every record. Since Shane‘s departure, Paul ‘Mad Dog’ McGuiness has taken up the lead vocalist role for their last three albums, including their wonderful new effort – their best record yet.
‘New Church’ is an album that takes a distinct vintage folk sound and twists it into a modern-sounding style of music. Opener ‘Storming Heaven’ is one of the heavier-sounding tracks on the record, opening the album with a bang with its distinct 80s punk thrash, with vocals that can be easily compared to that of The Misfits. But don’t be fooled by this bold opening, The Popes can do laid-back too. It’s a record that has almost theatrical moments, with the desperately spoken poetry intro of ‘Throw Down Your Aces’, a track that sets the album’s slightly bluesy-vibe whilst incorporating a modern electric-rock sound with gentle crashing percussion in the background. It’s an impressive mixture of sounds that somehow still maintains their signature folk undertones.
Songs such as ‘In A Broken Dream’ and ‘Hanging Up My Guns’ show that The Popescan also produce melancholy songs with heartfelt lyrics. ‘In A Broken Dream’ brings their vintage sound back to the present day with a slightly eerie intro filled with distorted guitars, which set a gloomy scene for the rest of the track.
Full of ska-like horns, ‘Back In The Day’ will get you feeling upbeat and in the mood to party, along with the bubbly Alice, which explores the fun of youth.
Whilst musicaly it seems like an album that has everything anyone looking for something a little different to listen to would want, Mad Dog‘s vocals are not perfect. However, given the nature of the sound they’re seeking, this doesn’t matter in the slightest. After a few listens, you would no doubt grow to love his gruff voice which complements the raw tone of ‘New Church’ so well.
If you’re looking for a band that offers a sound that’s a bit more exciting than the predictabilities of modern mainstream music, The Popes are well worth a listen. Whether you’re into your folk-punk or not, ‘New Church’ is bound to get your foot tapping on at least one occasion.
The Popes - New Church
Once the band behind Shane McGowan, The Popes were/are a mighty fine beat combo in their own right, managing to combine some fine rock 'n' roll with a slight tinge of Celtic and folk without it sounding cheesy.
'New Church' begins with 'Storming Heaven' and a fine slab of growling guitars and four to the floor it is too. There are parts of this record that remind me of other bands, especially the title track which has more than a hint of Echo and the Bunnymen, especially in the vocal melody. You do notice that the band have a good grasp of songwriting and also how to record a great sounding album.
You get fourteen tracks for your money and a few surprise special guests, like Howard Marks and his spoken words on the epic 'Throw Down Your Aces' which builds into a Tom Waite, late night waltz through downtown with some neat guitar playing. Also Jo O'Meara turns up on an interesting romp through the classic 'In A Broken Dream' as it gets rocked up.
There is plenty of variety going on throughout the album with the excellent 'Queen Of Manhattan' being very different with its laid back pluck and slap bass with gang vocals, to the more traditional straightahead punk of 'Storming Heaven'.
As the album plays on the variety expands and the uplifting 'Love Shines' makes way for the more acoustic 'Hanging Up My Guns'. 'Alice (Reprise)' is a lament stripped bare. On the penultimate track, 'What's Done Is Done', we're back to the loud guitars and throbbing bass and I'd suggest the Popes have concentrated on writing songs and have thrown the kitchen sink into 'New Church' with plenty of variety going on, which only leaves the breezy horns on 'Back in The Day' to close this album out.
I loved the stuff they did with Mr McGowan but, to give them credit, they were always about more than just a backing band.
A very enjoyable album indeed and there's always room in your collection for the eclectic Popes.
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.
They are best known as Shane MacGowan's other band (now fronted by the equally gravel-voiced Paul "Mad Dog" McGuinness), and this strings-led cut from The Popes' excellent Outlaw Heaven album is what The Waterboys would have sounded like had Mike Scott sipped from the streams of whiskey. A true rough diamond.Dave Simpson - The Guardian
"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.
The Popes, the band Shane MacGowan assembled in the early '90s after walking The Pogues' plank, would always suffer by comparison to their near-namesakes and fellow ex-pats, but comparisons are misguided. Now led by Paul 'Mad Dog' McGuinness and with a lineup bearing little resemblance to its original incarnation, theirs isn't a potty-mouthed take on Irish traditionalism - Outlaw Heaven is a rough, tough rock record. Occasionally the meaty sound offers up a little gristle - McGuinness's strident voice isn't the best vehicle for nuance and his lyrics don't quite offer the romance and poetry of MacGowan's pen - but there's no lack of fire and conviction here. After all, these are songs the chief Pope wrote while doing a stretch in HMP Pentonville ("the mother of all creativity", McGuinness notes of his alma matter). Other plusses include the reappearance of MacGowan on three numbers and the title track, which carries the distinction of being the first song to name-check all of these names and more - Bobby Sands, Robert Johnson, James Joyce, John Dillinger, and "Lord Fucking Nelson".NIGE TASSELL THE WORD
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
London-Irish Celtic noise fiends The Popes are back with a new album (released March 11th) and a European tour – and it's about time. By Shelley Marsden - 28/04/09
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.
Paul McGuinness drew on his four month spell in Pentonville prison top 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 'Outlaw Heaven' (the latter featuring Shane MacGowan). MacGowan also excels in 'Bastards', but with then succumbs to his own myth in 'Loneliness Of A Long Distance Drinker'. ADAM SWEETING - UNCUT Magazine