Philip Chevron

Philip Chevron
File:Philip chevron.jpg Philip Chevron, Milk club, Moscow, August 2010 with the Pogues
Background information
Birth name	Philip Ryan
Born	(1957-06-17)17 June 1957 Dublin, Ireland
Died	Dublin, Ireland
Genres	Folk rock, folk punk, Celtic rock, Celtic punk
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer
Instruments	Guitar, banjo, mandolin
Years active	1976–2013
Associated acts	The Pogues, The Radiators

Philip Ryan (17 June 1957 – 8 October 2013), professionally known as Philip Chevron, was an Irish singer-songwriter and guitarist, best known as a member of The Pogues. He was regarded as one of the most influential figures in Irish punk music.

Career

Chevron grew up in Santry, a suburb of Dublin. Beginning in the late 1970s, he was lead singer and co-founder of the punk rock group The Radiators from Space, receiving some critical acclaim but little widespread popularity or financial success. Following a temporary breakup of the band in 1981, he lived in London for a while, meeting and befriending Shane MacGowan through time spent working together at a record shop. Following the release of the Pogues' 1984 debut album Red Roses For Me, he was invited to join the band on a short-term basis as cover for banjo player Jem Finer's paternity leave. He took over as guitarist following MacGowan's decision to concentrate on singing—thereby becoming a full-time member of the band in time for the recording of its second album, Rum, Sodomy and the Lash.

Chevron proved himself as a singer-songwriter, writing the songs "Thousands Are Sailing" and "Lorelei" among others. He left The Pogues in 1994 following problems with drugs and alcohol. In 2003, he reformed The Radiators (Plan 9) with ex-Pogues bassist Cait O'Riordan. They released the album Trouble Pilgrim in 2006.

In later years, he became The Pogues' unofficial spokesperson and resident expert on the reclusive MacGowan – frequently visiting online fora and directly answering questions from fans. In 2004, he personally oversaw the remastering and re-release of The Pogues' entire back catalogue on CD. He toured regularly with The Pogues, who reunited after a successful reunion tour in 2001.

Illness and death

In June 2007, The Pogues' website announced that Chevron had been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer. In early 2008, the website announced that Chevron had recovered, and to his surprise and joy, his hearing had returned to almost pre-treatment levels. He embarked on the March 2008 tour of the United States and managed to sing "Thousands Are Sailing" at each performance. By 2009, Chevron had apparently recovered from the cancer.

However, in May 2013, it was announced that the cancer had returned and it was "lethal". Chevron died on 8 October 2013 in Dublin at age 56. His last public appearance was at the Olympia Theatre for a fundraiser in August of the same year.

Discography

See also The Pogues and The Radiators From Space

Solo

• Songs From Bills Dance Hall (1981, Mosa Records); 12" 45 rpm EP
• The Captains and The Kings (b/w Faithful Departed) (1983, Chapel/Demon Records); 7" 45 rpm

Compilations, Anthologies

• For The Children (1990, Alias Records); Includes Philip Chevron on lead vocals on title song.
• Life in the Folk Lane (1992, Demon Records); Includes 1983 recording of "The Captains and The Kings"
• Life in the Folk Lane Vol. 2 (1995, Demon Records); Includes 1983 recording of "Faithful Departed"
• Bringing It All Back Home Vol. 3 (2000, Valley Entertainment); Includes a new recording of "Thousands Are Sailing"

Producer

• The Atrix – The Moon Is Puce (single – 1979), Procession (1981) (Partial – She Moves, + ?)
• Agnes Bernelle – on Brecht and... (1977), Father's Lying Dead on the Ironing Board (1985)
• Shocking Stockings
• Tall Boys – Fun Time
• The Prisoners – The Wisermiserdemelza And 7 (1983)
• Lash Lariat and the Long Riders – Bitter Tears (1985); Dole Queue Blues (single – 1985)
• The Pogues – b-sides Muirshin Durkin, Whiskey You're The Devil (1984), "The Parting Glass", Pistol for Paddy Garcia (1985)
• Straight To Hell (soundtrack – 1987)
• Men They Couldn't Hang – Night of a Thousand Candles (1985) (partial: Green Fields Of France, Ironmasters, Scarlet Ribbons, Johnny Come Home, The Men They Couldn't Hang)
• The Peelers
• Mighty Clouds of Dust – Mr. Custer (1983)
• Niall MacMahon
• Kirsty MacColl
• The Real Wild West – The Sixties EP (1989), Produced by P Chevron & S MacGowan (One song: Under Creeping Trees)
• The Radiators
• Teresa D'Abreu
• The Yellow Chair
• Hurt and Husband
• James Taylor Quartet (unreleased)
• Ronnie Drew (unreleased)
• Lila MacMahon (unreleased)
• JJ Johnson (unreleased)
• Oscar McLennan (unreleased)
• Phantasee (unreleased)
• Sarah Jane Morris (unreleased)

External links

• The Pogues official website
• The Radiators from Space official website
• Tribute from Socialist Democracy