Shane MacGowan Irish in London and the United States, and London life in general. These influences are documented in the biography, "Rake at the Gates of Hell: Shane MacGowan in Context". MacGowan has often cited the 19th-century Irish poet James Clarence Mangan and playwright Brendan Behan as influences. Between 1985 and 1987, he co-wrote "Fairytale of New York", which he performed with Kirsty MacColl. In the coming years MacGowan and The Pogues released several albums. In 1997, MacGowan appeared on Lou Reed's "Perfect Day", covered by numerous artists in aid of Children in Need. It was the UK's number one single for
Shane MacGowan that will be an ongoing process." In 2001, MacGowan coauthored the autobiographical book "A Drink with Shane MacGowan" with Victoria Mary Clarke. In 2008, MacGowan appeared in an episode of Fair City which was shown on 28 December 2008. In 2009, he starred in the RTÉ reality show "Victoria and Shane Grow Their Own", as he and Victoria Mary Clarke endeavoured to grow their own food in their own garden. In 2010, MacGowan offered a piece of unusual art to the ISPCC (Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) - a drawing on a living-room door - to