Shane MacGowan and The Popes Denis Dowling. Violinist Dave Allen and guitarist Ian Bramble have released a Christmas song and an album with John Coghlan. The Popes drummer Will Morrison used to play in Here Be Dragons, with bassist Greg Courtney. In November 2013, Paul McGuinness suffered a serious head injury that left him hospitalized for months. As of 8 June 2014, he was still residing in the brain injury rehabilitation unit at Homerton Hospital. Shane MacGowan and The Popes The Popes are a band originally formed by Shane MacGowan (of the Pogues) and Paul "Mad Dog" McGuinness, who play a blend of rock, Irish
Shane MacGowan and The Popes band and was replaced by Greg Courtney on bass. During 2012 and 2013, this lineup of The Popes toured extensively in Europe and Australia. A new album with new material written by Paul McGuinness and the new line-up, and previous material telling the story of The Popes, was planned for 2014, although the band has been on an extended hiatus due to a brain injury suffered by McGuinness in November 2013 (see the next section below). A memorial for McManamon in March 2007 saw Bob Dowling, Andy Ireland, and Brian Kelly reunite as The Popes, joined by Miriam Kavana and