"Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan" came on suddenly on ARTE after Shane MacGowan's passing.

Reading the name Julien Temple made the reviewer very happy, since we are a big fan of his work. The film features some of the Pogues & Shane's timeless extraordinary music. But the artist himself says a couple of times that he might not agree to all the footage and at times even wonders, if the cameras were rolling. Having had the honor of hanging out with Shane in the early days I feel bad for him about the editing of the film. Some shots seem too long and some footage I rather would have not seen, since it seems very intimate. Also not a great fan of some of the cartoons. Shane's music and the Pogues & Popes make up for it, so turn it way up and maybe just take a listen to the lovely tunes. I very much do like the archival footage & background info. Well done!

Most of the movie is Shane talking to a few different people over a drink or two. He is definitely not well and it is like watching someone in hospital on their last days.

I can understand Shane and his wife wanting to share a few more stories and it does seem like many of the songs and the whole updating of Irish folk that the Pogues were part of has been under rated. It was good to hear about that but It is hard to watch.

Fairytale of New York is a great song but you know what I"ve never listened to the whole thing and never tried to decipher what it is about. It has always been just a few fragments of heartfelt emotion that seems to fit together well and it seems like commercially it did the trick for Shane and his band.

I'n glad I have a bit more background but fear Shane is not long for this world.