The Pogues career) was the increasingly erratic behaviour of their vocalist and principal songwriter, Shane MacGowan. Their record label, Stiff Records, went bankrupt soon after the 1987 release of the single "The Irish Rover" (with The Dubliners). Members of the band, including O'Riordan, acted in Alex Cox's "Straight to Hell", and five songs by the band were included on the film's soundtrack album. The band remained stable enough to record "If I Should Fall from Grace with God" with its Christmas hit duet with Kirsty MacColl "Fairytale of New York". "Fairytale of New York" was released as a single in 1987 and
Shane MacGowan and Irish culture. "Shaman Shane — The Wounded Healer" by Stephan Martin brands Shane as a latter-day London-Irish spirit-raiser and exorcist. This commentary is found in the book "Myth of Return — The Paintings of Brian Whelan and Collected Commentaries". London Irish artist Brian Whelan paints Shane (for example "Boy From The County Hell"), his works are featured on Shane's official website, and is also the illustrator of The Popes "Outlaw Heaven" cover. About his future with The Pogues, in a 24 December 2015 interview with "Vice" magazine, when the interviewer asked whether the band were still active, Shane MacGowan