The Pogues Announce Farewell UK Christmas Tour

All good things must come to an end -- and even the Pogues are not immune to the march of time. The band have decided to bow out once they've completed their final Christmas dates in the UK this December. Now something of a tradition, the Pogues have hit the road for a festive tour every December since the band reformed in 2001.

Formed in 1982, the Pogues -- originally named Pogue Mahone (Gaelic for "Kiss my arse") -- blended traditional Irish music with a punk rock sensibility. Lead by pickled poet Shane MacGowan, the Pogues secured international success on the back of albums such as 'Rum, Sodomy and the Lash' and 'If I Should Fall from Grace With God.' Drinking problems caused MacGowan to leave the band in 1991 and his place was taken briefly by former Clash frontman Joe Strummer. The band carried on with whistle player Spider Stacy assuming vocal duties before splitting in 1996.

More recently, Shane MacGowan and his wife, Victoria Clarke, appeared in his own gardening show, 'Victoria and Shane Grow Their Own.'

The Pogues' final stand will take place at:

Glasgow O2 Academy, Scotland (Dec. 13)
Newcastle O2 Academy, England (Dec. 14)
Sheffield O2 Academy, England (Dec. 16)
Manchester Apollo, England (Dec. 17)
Birmingham O2 Academy, England (Dec. 18)
London O2 Academy Brixton, England (Dec. 20 and 21)