Wire creator set to make Pogues musical

The man behind hit TV series The Wire is working on a stage production using the music of Irish rock legends, The Pogues.The Pogues combine traditional Irish music with the spirit of punk rock

David Simon, who created the popular police drama, is a lifelong fan and has used their music on several occasions in his TV shows. In the Wire, Shane MacGowan’s snarling voice can often be heard blasting out of the speakers in the Irish pub that the police frequent.

Simon recently paid tribute to the band on his website posting: “I love them hard. I consider MacGowan to be among the great lyricists and storytellers of our time, and the band to be the perfect ensemble for a remarkable synthesis of Irish traditional and rock ‘n’ roll.”

He then revealed that he is currently working with the band ‘on a particular project’, widely thought to be the new musical.

Simon had reportedly been working with Philip Chevron, the Pogues’ guitarist, on a musical about an Irish American boxer, but tragically Chevron died of cancer before it was complete.

Whether this new musical is a continuation of that work, or a new piece entirely is still unknown.

However, according to Irish paper, the Evening Herald, Simon has now completed the first draft and is in talks with the band. It is expected that the show will be produced by theatre company, the Druid, although it will not be ready for the stage for at least another 12 months.


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By Andrew Moore

Andrew Moore is a writer for Irish Music Daily and Ireland Calling. His favourite Irish music bands are the Dropkick Murphys and the Pogues.