The Pogues have announced they are embarking on their first headline tour in 10 years, following the death of frontman Shane MacGowan last November.

The Celtic punk band revealed they are doing six shows across the UK in May 2025, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the second album, Rum Sodomy and the Lash.

The shows will feature original members Spider Stacy, Jem Finer and James Fearnley, with the trio said to be joined by ‘special guests’ throughout the tour.

In a statement to their website, the group wrote: ‘The world got you down? What helps is celebrating 40 years of Rum, Sodomy and the Lash with The Pogues!’

They will be performing in Leeds, Birmingham, London, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle, but confirmed drummer Andrew Ranken would be absent due to health issues, with Fontaines DC’s Tom Cull standing in for him.It comes just weeks ahead of the band’s previously announced anniversary show in Dublin next month, to celebrate 40 years since their debut album, Red Roses for Me.

The Pogues have announced they are embarking on their first headline tour in 10 years, following the death of frontman Shane MacGowan last November (L-R Shane, Andrew Ranken, Jem Finer, Terry Woods, James Fearley, Philip Chevron, Spider Stacy and Cait O’Riordan)

The Celtic punk band revealed they are doing six shows across the UK in May 2025, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the second album, Rum Sodomy and the Lash

The shows will feature original members Spider Stacy, Jem Finer and James Fearnley, with the trio said to be joined by ‘special guests’ throughout the tour (pictured with Terry, Philip, Andrew, Shane and Darryl Hunt in 1990)

Taking place on December 17, Spider, Jem and James will be joined by members of fellow bands Fontaines DC, The Pretenders and The Mary Wallopers.

Rum, Sodomy and the Lash was released in August 1985, the year after their debut LP, with the name taken from a Winston Churchill quote and suggested by Andrew as ‘it seemed to sum up life in our band’.

Produced by award-winning musician Elvis Costello, the album was universally acclaimed by critics, with NME branding it ‘probably the best LP of 1985’, while Rolling Stone included it in its list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Despite not being nearly as commercially successful, it features many of the band’s most famous songs, including Pair of Brown Eyes and their version of Dirty Old Town.

The line-up at the time consisted of Shane as lead vocalist, with Spider on the tin whistle, James on accordion and Jem on banjo, as well as bᴀssist Cait O’Riordan, drummer Andrew Ranken and guitarist Philip Chevron.

Shane, who formed the legendary band with Spider and Jem in 1982, died in November 2023 aged 65, after an eight-year battle with viral encephalitis – a life-threatening condition that leads to brain swelling.

The singer-songwriter was famous for his hard-partying lifestyle, slurred speech, missing teeth and on-stage meltdowns during his 1980s heyday.

In recent years, the Irish icon was confined to a wheelchair and was aided by his wife and carer at home, having been plagued by by ill-health linked to his years of alcohol and substance abuse. 

Rum, Sodomy and the Lash was released in August 1985, to universal acclaim by critics, with NME branding it ‘probably the best LP of 1985’ (pictured in 1984)

Shane, who formed the legendary band with Spider and Jem in 1982, died in November 2023 aged 65, after an eight-year battle with viral encephalitis – a life-threatening condition that leads to brain swelling (pictured with wife)

The singer-songwriter was famous for his hard-partying lifestyle, slurred speech, missing teeth and on-stage meltdowns during his 1980s heyday (pictured in 1986)

In recent years, the Irish icon was confined to a wheelchair and was aided by his wife and carer at home, having been plagued by by ill-health linked to his years of alcohol and substance abuse (pictured in 2017)

Caitlin played bᴀss guitar and provided backing vocals for the band from 1983 in their first two albums, but left after Rum, Sodomy and the Lash in 1986. 

She also sparked a romance with Elvis while working on the album together and they tied the knot, but divorced in 2002. 

While lead guitarist Philip also tragically pᴀssed away in 2013 at the age 56 after a battle with cancer.

He had been treated for head and neck cancer in 2007 and later given a clean bill of health, but revealed the disease had returned in May 2013 and deemed ‘lethal’.

The tour news comes ahead of The Pogues’ inevitable return to the charts in the festive period with their most famous song, Fairytale of New York.

The 1987 Christmas classic, featuring the vocals of Shane and the late Kirsty MacColl, has regularly made December’s Top 10, consisting placing in the UK’s Top 75 every December since 2005.

But, despite regularly topping polls naming it as the best Christmas song ever written, it has never made it to number one, narrowly being beaten to the top spot in 2023 by Wham!’ classic Last Christmas.

The tour news comes ahead of The Pogues’ inevitable return to the charts in the festive period with their most famous song and 1987 Christmas classic, Fairytale of New York, featuring the vocals of Shane and the late Kirsty MacColl (pictured)