The Pogues are a band of mixed Irish and English background, playing traditional Irish music with influences from the punk rock movement, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. They reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s, until MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems. They continued with first Joe Strummer, then Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996.http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/thepogues/biography The band began performing together again in 2001, though they have yet to record new music. Their politically-tinged music was influenced by The Clash,http://wm01.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0iftxqr5ldhe~T1 yet used traditional Irish instruments such as the tin whistle, banjo, cittern, mandolin, accordion, and more. In the later incarnations of the band, after the departure of Shane MacGowan, rock instruments such as the electric guitar would become more promi