The death has been announced of Shane MacGowan, aged 65. The influential Irish musician, songwriter and singer was best known as the lead singer and songwriter of The Pogues.Â
Victoria Mary Clarke, wife of the star, held fondly in the hearts of many across the world, confirmed the sad news on social media, saying:
"I don’t know how to say this, so I am just going to say it. Shane who will always be the light that I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love of my life and the most beautiful soul and beautiful angel and the sun and the moon and the start and end of everything that I hold dear has gone to be with Jesus, and Mary, and his beautiful mother Therese.
"I am blessed beyond words to have met him and to have loved him and to have been so endlessly and unconditionally loved by him and to have had so many years of life and love and joy and fun and laughter and so many adventures.
"There’s no way to describe the loss that I am feeling and the longing for just one more of his smiles that lit up my world. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you for your presence in this world, you made it so very bright and you gave so much joy to so many people with your heart and soul and your music.
"You will live in my heart forever. Rave on in the garden all wet with rain that you loved so much. You meant the world to me."