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Shane MacGowan is probably not aware of how the four days when he and his backing band The Popes toured Norway, shocked the Norwegians.
Stavanger, Feb.22nd: Shane and his gang arrives in Stavanger by boat. few minutes later, they notice that their banjo-player didn't manage to get off the boat in time. The result is he has to be sent from Haugesund (nearest town) by boat. He arrives just in time for the soundcheck.
Bergen, Feb. 23rd: Apparently no big scandals in Bergen.
Oslo, Feb. 24th: Shane and the Popes have a soundcheck for 4,5 hours! Shane is present the last two hours, complaining about the sound. ("Loudah! Loudah!"). He says "it will be a cold day in hell before we play here again". Shane's soundcheck world record attempt, leads to that the supportband Rovers has to cancel their show. After the concert, Shane and the band went to the pub "Skillingsborgen" where the Oslo-band Texas Flood played. They drank beer and wine , met the locals, and went on stage for three folklpunk songs, including a version of Them/Van Morrisons "Gloria" .
Trondheim, Feb.25th: According to reliable sources, Shane drinks spirits for 800 NKR, (about £80) on his own. The band doesn't go on stage before 1.15. a.m, because the drummer has gone back to the hotel to sleep (rumours are he thought he'd already played!!!). After the gig, the band joins a nachspiel at the venue. Around 4-5 a.m, a guard asks Shane and one of the band members to stop smoking their "rock 'n' roll" cigarettes. The bandmember headbutts the guard, Shane and his friends are thrown out. A few hours later they leave Norway.