The Pogues have remembered their ‘remarkable and fantastically talented’ late bandmate Philip Chevron with an emotional statement issued to NME.
“The news of Philip’s death on Tuesday morning, from complications brought about by throat cancer, has hurt us terribly,” the statement reads. “Philip was first diagnosed with the disease in 2006 and after a gruelling period of chemotherapy which he had fought with such dignity, strength and heroism, he was declared to be in remission.”
“But in a tragic stroke last August he returned from visiting his oncologist with the harrowing news that his cancer had returned, and that this time it was inoperable. It has been no consolation that we have all had months to prepare for the worst; when the worst came yesterday morning, the preparations we had made turned out to be futile, and the impact has been felt very deeply.”
The Pogues’ first live outings since the death of their bandmate, who increasingly became the public face of the group during recent years, will arrive in December when they perform their 1985 second album ‘Run, Sodomy and The Lash‘ in its entirety during a UK tour. The LP was the first Pogues release to feature Chevron.
“The hole that his death has left will be huge,” the statement continues. “He was a remarkable and fantastically talented colleague, but most of all a friend. Our thoughts go out to his fans, who loved him unanimously. But above all, our thoughts are now with his family, with those he held dear and who have held him dear. Philip will be missed terribly and will always be in our hearts.”