Johnny Depp paid tribute to his late friend and Pogues singer Shane MacGowan at his funeral on Wednesday (January 8).
The actor, who was a personal friend of MacGowan, read a poem by W.B. Yeats during the service at St. Joseph’s Church in London.
Depp, who was dressed in a black suit and tie, read the poem “The Fisherman”, which is about a man who gives up his life at sea to pursue a more meaningful existence.
The poem reads: “The man who was going to die, said, ‘Some one had better remain behind me, to show them the way.’
“And no one spoke, for his was the right to choose, and the silence of the dead was more than consent.”
Depp said after the reading: “Shane was a maestro, a genius, a true original. He was a kind, funny, and generous soul. He was a great friend to me and to so many others.”
The actor added: “He was a one-of-a-kind, a true original, and he will be greatly missed.”
The funeral was attended by MacGowan’s family and friends, including his wife Victoria Mary Clarke, and members of the Pogues.
The Pogues’ frontman was remembered in a touching eulogy by his wife, who said: “Shane was a great man, a great artist, and a great friend. He was a great husband, a great father, and a great son. He was a great brother, a great uncle, and a great friend.”
She added: “He was a great musician, a great singer, and a great songwriter. He was a great poet, a great storyteller, and a great philosopher. He was a great lover of life, a great lover of people, and a great lover of music.”
The service was also attended by members of the music industry, including singer-songwriter Nick Cave, who said: “Shane was a great man, a great artist, and a great friend. He was a great musician, a great singer, and a great songwriter. He was a great poet, a great storyteller, and a great philosopher.”
The funeral concluded with a rendition of “The Parting Glass”, a traditional Irish song, sung by the Pogues.
MacGowan, who was born in Ireland, died on December 30 at the age of 60. He had been suffering from ill health for some time.
The singer-songwriter was best known for his work with the Pogues, a band he formed in 1982. He was also a prolific solo artist, releasing five solo albums between 1992 and 2018.
MacGowan’s music was a major influence on the punk and folk scenes in the UK and Ireland, and his songs have been covered by a number of artists, including U2, The Libertines, and The Clash.
Depp’s tribute to MacGowan was a fitting end to a service that celebrated the life and legacy of a great musician and songwriter. MacGowan’s music will live on for generations to come, and his memory will be cherished by those who knew him.
