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From left to right, actor Woody Harrelson, Shane MacGowan, and musician Paul Simon

Music icon Paul Simon got on the phone to Liveline to pay tribute to his friend Shane MacGowan

The acclaimed singer-songwriter today remembered his ‘charismatic friend’ Shane MacGowan.

LEGENDARY MUSICIAN PAUL Simon has paid tribute to his friend Shane MacGowan after his death yesterday at the age of 65.

The Pogues issued a statement on X, formerly Twitter, confirming their former singer died at 3am yesterday morning with his wife and family by his side.

Paul Simon spoke to RTÉ’s Liveline over the phone from Manhattan about his relationship with MacGowan, revealing how they met in Dublin after a concert Simon performed at.

Simon had invited him to the concert and afterwards asked if MacGowan would like to meet him.

“I already liked what I heard of him,” said Simon. “It was a very striking day in my life when I met him.”

Simon said that MacGowan was often “insightful” during their conversations and spoke about the letters they would send to each other.

Simon read from one letter, which he had since framed, which was penned after Simon gifted MacGowan a set of speakers.

“Thanks for the friendly visit, it was great, and thanks for the lovely speaker, it has made a great difference to our listening pleasure,” wrote MacGowan.

Simon said the pair had been friends for over a decade and he introduced MacGowan to his children the last time he was in Dublin.

Simon said they would speak about the poet Seamus Heaney, the Nobel Prize awardee for literature, but that most of their conversations revolved around music.

“He liked to laugh,” added Simon of MacGowan.

He told Liveline that Shane’s wife Victoria had been keeping him up to date on MacGowan’s health and revealed that the pair were due to perform a duet, but a health-related incident meant MacGowan wasn’t able for this.

Simon said he “wished he had known” MacGowan for longer and described him as “charismatic” and as his “vision of what Ireland was at a certain point”.

Simon added that he feels he has a “strong connection” with Ireland and that he’s “sorry” he’s never lived here.

Reflecting on MacGowan’s passing, Simon said MacGowan was the type of “artist who needed to burn very, very brightly and intensely”.

“They produce work that we treasure, but they pay for it with their health, and that was Shane.”

Simon also spoke about his own future in music, saying he “has no plans to perform anywhere” and that he just takes it “one step at a time”.

He added that he might do half-hour gigs for philanthropic reasons in the future.

Simon spoke about his experience of Long-Covid and said he has “taste issues” and has been “beat up and battered around in the last year and a half”.

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    Mute RIP
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    Dec 1st 2023, 5:12 PM

    Lovely to hear Paul Simon on with Joe Duffy today, obviously a fan of his.

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    Mute Eamon
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    Dec 1st 2023, 5:49 PM

    @RIP: Paul Simon a fan of Joe Duffy or Joe Duffy a fan of Paul Simon or Paul Simon a fan of Shane McGowan? I need to know.

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Dec 1st 2023, 6:18 PM

    @Jimmy Wallace: Let’s wait and see, it’s valid…

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    Mute Pól Pot
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    Dec 1st 2023, 7:56 PM

    Paul needed a photo-opportunity for a shot at redemption. Doesn’t want to end up a cartoon in a cartoon graveyard.

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    Dec 1st 2023, 5:51 PM

    And we have simon from clontarff on the line….

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    Mute AnthonyK
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    Dec 1st 2023, 7:02 PM

    Paul Simon is also a great lyricist. Great to hear the way two modern troubadours interacted.

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    Mute Feargal De Cantuin
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    Dec 1st 2023, 8:44 PM

    Pleased for them but Genocide resumes in Gaza and comments are closed. Journal check your moral compass! Or better yet rebrand as ears closed

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    Mute Marcus Maher - Triskellion Films
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    Dec 2nd 2023, 8:50 AM

    @Peter Murray: Yeah, and it’ll come for you soon Paul.

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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    Dec 4th 2023, 12:18 PM

    @Feargal De Cantuin: Im actually glad the comments are closed, there is enough utter shite being said by people like yourself probably who dont know enough and cant do anything so whats the point? its helpful to nobody talking about it on here.

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    Mute sleepy joe
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    Dec 1st 2023, 8:29 PM

    That joe duffy lad needs to be sacked

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    Mute Paul Gorry
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    Dec 1st 2023, 6:11 PM

    Do you vape yourself Paul? As a matter of fact, yes I do Joe, right OK, who’ve we got on the line now? Joe I think vaping should be banned because I like smoking instead

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    Mute Éanna o Sca
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    Dec 2nd 2023, 11:48 PM

    @Paul Gorry:

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    Mute Éanna o Sca
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    Dec 2nd 2023, 11:48 PM

    @Paul Gorry: and you’re still here!!!

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    Mute Padraig O'Brien
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    Dec 1st 2023, 7:01 PM

    I met Shene and we talked about music. Can I go on the programme with you Joe?

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Dec 1st 2023, 5:52 PM

    Lol! Puff-Sqaud!

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    Mute JP
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    Dec 1st 2023, 7:57 PM

    The journal has become a refuge for smart asses…

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    Mute Derek Poutch
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    Dec 2nd 2023, 2:08 PM

    @JP: Leave Beyoncé out of this.

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    Mute Ann Nugent
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    Dec 2nd 2023, 4:12 PM

    Nice of Paul Simon to pay tribute.

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