Shane MacGowan's 60th birthday concert: Johnny Depp, Nick Cave and more

Shane MacGowan will be celebrating his birthday at the National Concert Hall in January in fine style, with a galaxy of famous names lining up to toast the Pogues frontman.

Among those taking part are Nick Cave, Johnny Depp, Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream, Glen Hansard, Camille O'Sullivan, Cerys Matthews, Carl Barat of The Libertines, Lisa O'Neill, Finbar Furey, whenyoung, Glen Matlock of The Sex Pistols, Clem Burke of Blondie with Cáit O'Riordan, Spider Stacy, Jem Finer and Terry Woods of The Pogues.

MacGowan is recognised as much for the poetry of his lyrics as for the power in his songwriting. The Pogues frontman turns 60 on Christmas Day this year, and the NCH will be rolling out the red carpet on Monday, January 15th.

Shoring up the lineup will be a new band featuring members of the Pogues led by Terry Edwards, and the evening's celebrations will be hosted by John Kelly.

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MacGowan was born on Christmas Day, 1957 in Pembury, Kent before moving with his family to Nenagh in Co Tipperary. Back in England, he formed The Nipple Erectors in the mid 1970s amid the filth and fury of punk, but it was during the 1980s with the Pogues that he marked himself out as a musical force of nature.

Part punk, part traditional musical, and all sweary, swaggering attitude, The Pogues and MacGowan drew on Irish nationalism and immigrant life to create music and lyrics that were timeless and original. The band signed for Stiff Records, and a host of fine albums followed, including Red Roses For Me (1984), Rum, Sodomy and The Lash (1985), the Poguetry In Motion EP (1986) and If I Should Fall From Grace With God (1988). Not for nothing does his friend Johnny Depp describe MacGowan as “one of the most important poets of the 20th century”.

Tickets for the event go on sale on Friday, December 8th at 10am, priced from €65. Tel: 01-4170000 or see nch.ie.