Bob Dylan pays tribute to Shane MacGowan at Dublin show with ‘A Rainy Night In Soho’ cover
Bob Dylan honoured the late Shane MacGowan with a touching cover of ‘A Rainy Night In Soho’ in Dublin on November 25th.
Dylan previously covered the classic Pogues song in May at the Outlaw Music Festival in Phoenix, Arizona, and the performance in Dublin marked only the second time that he’d played it live.
The legendary singer-songwriter concluded the European leg of his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour on November 25th at the 3Arena in the Irish capital, which he brought to an end with the delightful cover.
MacGowan’s widow, Victoria Mary Clarke, took to X to share her gratitude to Dylan, writing, “I’m so grateful to Bob Dylan for honouring Shane MacGowan tonight at the 3Arena Dublin with a most exquisite cover of Rainy Night in Soho on the eve of our wedding anniversary.”
In a later post, Clarke shared an audio recording that captured the performance, describing Dylan’s rendition as “so beautiful” and also said, “what an anniversary gift”.
During his last visit to Dublin in November 2022, Dylan paid tribute to MacGowan on stage, who was in attendance at the show, and heard Dylan note that he loves ‘Fairytale of New York’ and listens to it “every Christmas”.
In 2017, Dylan invited MacGowan to his hotel when he toured Dublin with the late Pogues’ frontman’s manager Joey Cashman telling The Irish Sun at the time: “Dylan had his people get in contact and Shane was reluctant because he wasn’t feeling well but then he decided he wanted to go, he couldn’t miss out on the chance.”
He continued, “We went to the hotel and let reception know that Shane had arrived. Bob was downstairs within ten minutes. So we had a meal in his hotel on Sunday. It turned into a late one.”
On November 30th, it will mark two years since MacGowan tragically passed away, aged just 65, due to pneumonia.
Never Miss A Tale
The Far Out Bob Dylan Newsletter
All the latest stories about Bob Dylan from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.