Former Pogues vocalist and guitarist Phil Chevron has written a tribute to singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl for Ireland's Hot Press entertainment magazine. MacColl sang on the band's U.K. hit "Fairytale in New York," from 1987's If I Should Fall From Grace With God.

"Ummistakably, the tour bus was a classier joint with her on board," Chevron writes. "She shared our insatiable musical curiosity and our appetite for hair-brained schemes. A folk-punk opera, or an all-Pogue recording of West Side Story."

A memorial service was held for MacColl at the church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London on January 20th. U2 's Bono and Billy Bragg were among the musical friends and collaborators present. MacColl died on December 18th after being struck by a motorboat while swimming off the coast of Cozumel, Mexico.

ANDREW DANSBY
(January 24, 2001)