Johnny Depp and Nick Cave are among the stars who will perform at a concert celebrating The Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan‘s 60th birthday.
The Irish–British rocker turns 60 on Christmas Day (17), and the milestone will be celebrated with a gig at Ireland’s National Concert Hall in Dublin on 15 January.
Also on the bill are former Catatonia frontwoman Cerys Matthews, Primal Scream singer Bobby Gillespie, Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols, Blondie’s Clem Burke and The Libertines rocker Carl Barat.
Shane will headline the concert himself, while his old The Pogues bandmates Cait O’Riordan, Spider Stacy, Jem Finer, Terry Woods will also perform as members of a band created specially for the event.
In addition to being a Hollywood star, Johnny is also a keen musician, and in 2015 formed supergroup the Hollywood Vampires alongside Alice Cooper and Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry.
In a 2013 interview with BBC Radio 6 Music he spoke of his admiration for Fairytale of New York singer Shane, who founded the legendary Irish punk band with Spider, Jem and James Fearnley in 1982.
“Shane MacGowan is unpredictable. He’s definitely not boring. He’s a magnificent man and species. He’s a special being,” Johnny gushed. “To me, one of the most important poets of the 20th century.”
The birthday concert will be hosted by Irish broadcaster and presenter John Kelly.
