Image Credentials: Image Title: The Boss Leads a Star-Studded Farewell to Shane MacGowan with ’20th Century Paddy ‘. Source: (sora.openai) Date: March 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (sora.openai) and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle Staff
DUBLIN — The raw, poetic legacy of the late Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan is set to be immortalized in a massive new tribute album, spearheaded by a tender rendition of “A Rainy Night in Soho” by Bruce Springsteen.
The project, titled 20th Century Paddy — The Songs of Shane MacGowan, was announced today by MacGowan’s widow, Victoria Mary Clarke. Scheduled for release on November 13 through Rubyworks, the album serves as a high-octane wake for the legendary Irish songwriter, who passed away at age 65 in 2023.
The Boss on Shane MacGowan – 'he's the man' pic.twitter.com/1Lt5eJcQRS
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) November 30, 2023
A Roll Call of Rebels
The contributor list for the LP reads like a “Who’s Who” of rock and roll outsiders and Irish icons. Beyond Springsteen, the confirmed lineup includes:
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Tom Waits and Johnny Depp
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Hozier and Jessie Buckley
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The Libertines, Primal Scream, and The Jesus & Mary Chain
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Glen Hansard, Imelda May, and David Gray
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Dropkick Murphys, Steve Earle, and The Murder Capital
Members of The Pogues, MacGowan’s former bandmates, are also set to participate, ensuring the arrangements stay true to the “lawless” spirit of the original works.
“Naked, Bottomless Humanity”
In a moving tribute accompanying the announcement, Bruce Springsteen placed MacGowan in the pantheon of greats alongside names like Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, and Aretha Franklin.
“Shane was all naked, bottomless humanity,” Springsteen wrote. “His soul was filled with the transgressive and ecstatic properties of the saints. I don’t know who’ll be listening to my music in 100 years, but I know they’ll be listening to Shane’s.”
The “Boss” also recalled a final, intimate visit with MacGowan shortly before his death, describing the singer and his wife as “warm and gracious hosts” despite MacGowan’s failing health. “I stood in his warmth, kissed him, and told him I loved him,” Springsteen shared.
Art with a Mission
The album is more than a musical retrospective; it carries a philanthropic weight. Half of the artist royalties from 20th Century Paddy will be donated to the Dublin Simon Community, an organization dedicated to providing housing and medical care for those experiencing homelessness, a cause close to the heart of the “Fairytale of New York” singer.
Victoria Mary Clarke expressed her gratitude for the interpretations, noting that her late husband’s family is “humbled” by the musicians’ involvement. “Shane’s spirit and songwriting are eternally exalted through this glorious collection,” she stated.