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The Ireland Podcast

135. James Fearnley: Life Until 'Red Roses For Me'

Ep. 135 has Fender in conversations with The Pogues' Accordionist James Fearnley from England living in Los Angeles on the day before the 2025 LA Fire started. They go through 'Red Roses For Me' and James’ book ‘Here Comes Everybody: The Story Of The Pogues’.


Conversation includes: introductions; The Low & Sweet Orchestra; Cranky George; The Walker Roaders; infomercials; ‘Here Comes Everybody: The Story Of The Pogues’; Gregory Peck’s movie "The Bravados" (1958); Brad Wood; audio book recording; James the impressionist; James Joyce; early years in Worsley, Manchester, England; moving to London; studying in Ealing Technical College which has an alumni including Freddie Mercury and Pete Townsend; life’s journey as a musician; Culture Club vs. The Nips; painting and decorating with Jem Finer (The Pogues’ banjo player); the support of Jem and Marcia; early days with Shane MacGowan and Shanne Bradley in The Nips; joining Pogue Mahone; DJ Kid Jensen and transitioning to The Pogues; recording ‘Red Roses For Me’ with producer Stan Brennan at the end of July and beginning of August 1984 in Elephant Studios, London; track by track starting with ‘Transmetropolitan’; London; Shane the Pied Piper; James’ gratitude to Shane in a letter; the hate because of the love; that incident with Allie Campbell from UB40; the anvil; Baby, Please Don’t Go; Holly Mullineaux; Sea Shanty vs. The Kesh Jig; the other band members; the Three Castles Burning Podcast; how the sound of The Pogues came into focus; goat hooves; the sequel to Here Comes Everybody; The Popes and Charlie Maclennan; John Francis Flynn; Dylan Walsh; running orders and setlists; Ted Hutt and The Walker Roaders; Marc Orrell and Dropkick Murphys, as well as other topics.


Relevant Links

https://www.instagram.com/walkerroaders/

The Walker Roaders on Spotify

http://www.pogues.com/


Additional Links

Spotify Playlist for Episode 135

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Here-Comes-Everybody-Story-Pogues/dp/0571253970

https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Here-Comes-Everybody-Audiobook/B00XYKQ4XA

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