The Pogues have shared their first ever live performance of 'Fairytale Of New York'.
The performance, which you can check out below, was taken from the band's live show at Glasgow Barrowland on 17 December 1987, and has been revived by original producer Steve Lillywhite, who has helped to bring new life to the track.
This show also marked the first time that the late Kirsty McColl performed with The Pogues live on stage, with her entrance leading to a huge round of applause from the Glasgow crowd, who also chanted her name before the iconic piano line of the festive hit began.
Fairytale Of New York was written by Jem Finer and the late Pogues singer Shane MacGowan, who sang the iconic duet with McColl.
McColl was also married to Steve Lillywhite at the time of the show in Glasgow.
Thanks to modern production tools, Lillywhite has built the recording, smoothening out the rough roots, while retaining the electricity which defied every Pogues show of that era. This live recording is slightly faster than the studio version.
This new version was described by Lillywhite as chance to restore the track and a chance to honour the song, and his late former wife's legacy. Kirsty McColl tragically died in December 2000. it will also feature on a new limited edition Zoetrope 12" vinyl EP, which will arrive on December 12.
This EP will include the original version of Fairytale of New York, an instrumental version, live recording of Dirty Old Town which also took place at the same Barrowland show. It will also arrive on streaming and download services.
Check it out below.
In December 2024, Hozier performed his single, 'Too Sweet', and The Pogues' classic Christmas hit, 'Fairytale Of New York' on Saturday Night Live. Check this out and Nova's report here.
