The Pogues‘ guitarist Philip Chevron died earlier today (October 8), according to reports.
The Guardian reports that the musician, 56, passed away following a battle with cancer of the head and neck since 2007. He was successfully treated and given a clean bill of health in April 2012. However, another tumour appeared in August of the same year, which doctors deemed inoperable.
Chevron joined The Pogues in 1985, after they had released their debut album ‘Red Roses For Me’. His recruitment was initially intended to only be temporary but by the time the group’s second album ‘Rum, Sodomy & The Lash’ was released later that year he had become a full-time member.
Although Shane MacGowan wrote most of The Pogues’ songs, Chevron composed one track from their ‘If I Should Fall From Grace With God’ album, ‘Thousands Are Sailing’. A version of the song later featured on the soundtrack for BBC TV show Bringing It All Back Home.
The guitarist was also the founder of one of Ireland’s first punk bands, The Radiators From Space, in 1976. The five piece released two albums – 1977’s ‘TV Tube Heart’ and 1979’s ‘Ghostown’, the latter of which was produced by Tony Visconti. After reuniting in 2004 as The Radiators (Plan 9), they released two further albums in ‘Trouble Pilgrim’ and ‘Sound City Beat’, a collection of cover songs.
Writing on their official website, The Pogues left a brief message in memory of Chevron. “After a long illness Philip passed away peacefully this morning,” it reads. “We all send our sincere condolences to his family.”