Nick Cave shares heartbreaking tribute to his late friends The Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan and Sinead O'Connor
Nick Cave has shared a heartbreaking blog post reflecting on the recent losses of iconic artists Shane MacGowan and Sinéad O'Connor.
The Australian singer, 66, hailed The Pogues frontman a 'true friend and the greatest songwriter of his generation' after his death was announced on Thursday.
Cave's poignant words extend to an online essay detailing memories of a significant event – the 60th birthday gig of Shane MacGowan in 2017, where he also shared the stage with Sinead, who died five months ago.
Recalling the moment, Nick confessed to feeling 'agitated and nervous' about performing alongside luminaries such as Bono, Carl Barat, and Bobby Gillespie.
However, it was O'Connor who offered solace amid the anxiety.
![Nick Cave, 66, (pictured) has shared a heartbreaking blog post reflecting on the recent losses of iconic artists Shane MacGowan and Sinéad O'Connor](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/03/03/78514965-12819227-image-a-25_1701572955038.jpg)
Nick Cave, 66, (pictured) has shared a heartbreaking blog post reflecting on the recent losses of iconic artists Shane MacGowan and Sinéad O'Connor
Cave wrote: 'Sinéad looked up and caught my eye, smiled, and walked over and hugged me. I'm not sure why, but I was terribly moved by her gesture.'
Despite being ushered on stage to perform Summer in Siam with Shane, Cave was struck not only by MacGowan's musical prowess but also by the profound love between the Dirty Old Town singer and his wife, Victoria Mary Clarke.
Cave described the audience's outpouring of love for Shane as 'extraordinary' and unlike anything he had experienced before.
![The Australian singer hailed The Pogues frontman a 'true friend and the greatest songwriter of his generation' after his death was announced on Thursday. (Nick pictured on stage with MacGowan in 1991)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/03/04/78514961-12819227-The_Australian_singer_66_hailed_The_Pogues_frontman_a_true_frien-a-74_1701577111754.jpg)
The Australian singer hailed The Pogues frontman a 'true friend and the greatest songwriter of his generation' after his death was announced on Thursday. (Nick pictured on stage with MacGowan in 1991)
![Cave's poignant words extend to an essay detailing memories of a significant event – the 60th birthday gig of Shane MacGowan in 2017, where he also shared the stage with Sinead, who died five months ago. (Sinead pictured on stage in 2014)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/03/04/78515047-12819227-Cave_s_poignant_words_extend_to_an_essay_detailing_memories_of_a-a-75_1701577111770.jpg)
Cave's poignant words extend to an essay detailing memories of a significant event – the 60th birthday gig of Shane MacGowan in 2017, where he also shared the stage with Sinead, who died five months ago. (Sinead pictured on stage in 2014)
In his touching words, Cave emphasised Shane's uniqueness, purity, innocence, generosity, and spiritual intelligence, which endeared him to fans not just for his musical talents but for the essence of who he was.
Reflecting on both Shane and Sinéad, Cave concluded, 'Sinéad once said of Shane, ''He is an angel. An actual angel.'' Whether or not this is the case, who's to say? But Shane was blessed with an uncommon spirit of goodness and a deep sense of what is true, which was strangely amplified in his brokenness, his humanness.'
'We can say of him most certainly, 'he was beloved on the earth,' and Sinéad too — truly beloved and greatly missed, both.'
The Pogues frontman Shane died 'peacefully' at 3am on Thursday with his wife Victoria Mary Clarke and family by his side.
The singer - whose prolific history of alcoholism and drug abuse was well documented - was battling viral encephalitis – a life-threatening condition that leads to brain swelling - and had been in and out of Dublin's St Vincent's Hospital for months.