I was surprised to hear so many old Pogues songs and elated to hear Waxie's Dargle & Repeal of the Licensing Laws. How did you pick the songs?

I asked them to send me a set list and they sent one with about eighty songs on it. So I had to whittle it down a little.

Besides the tour, what else have you been up to?

Just doing normal stuff

What sorts of music have you been listening to lately?

Anybody bar the fucking Beatles. But particularly The Stooges, The Pixies, Big Youth, The Byrds, The Smiths, Tortoise, Miles Davis, Godspeed You black emperor, Johnny Thunders and Love.

Do you get out to see many live bands and if so who and how were they?

The Mckean Brothers from Boys From ... are in a band called the GC5 and we saw them. They were pretty good. On the same bill were the Tossers from Chicago. I liked them. Also there is a band called The Daycare Swindlers who supported us in DC. Back home though, I can't say I've seen any good new bands recently but we have seen fucking excellent shows from Beth Orton and the Alabama 3. Eminem was good too!

I read that you quit drinking shortly after The Pogues broke up. Do you drink much these days and if so what beverages do you enjoy?

I was drinking an awful lot a long time before the Pogues broke up, so much, in fact, that it almost killed me. And I still am, just not any alcohol.

Since this interview is for a web site I have some internet questions for you. Do you spend much time online? Doing what?

I look up Play Station cheats!

Do you visit The Pogues newsgroup at all?

I don't but my girlfriend does occasionally and she shows me stuff that's interesting.

What do you think of the many Pogues web sites out there? Anything that you really like or dislike?

It's a funny one. On the one hand I love it that people are out there discovering our stuff and talking about it, obviously I'm not going to agree with everything that is said, but it is only opinions. But on the other I don't like it when people who don't know half as much as they think they do about the band put themselves forward as authorities on our lives and careers. Your site is great though; it should be the official one!

What do you think of the online trading of Pogues bootleg CDs?

I think it's brilliant. I can't believe there is so much stuff out there.

What's going on with The Vendetta's web site?

errr.. You'd better email Keith! It's all down to Keith. Well, I tell him what I have been up to and he ignores it!

What's going on with The Vendettas?

We have started looking for management, then a deal, then the world.

Any plans to tour the sates?

As soon as possible.

Any plans for an album?

I've been trying to get it like it sounds in my head. I think we're nearly there.

Any other projects on the horizon you'd care to discuss?

I will be doing some acting, but I can't say too much about that at the moment, and I have played live with the Alabama 3 (they do the theme tune to The Sopranos) and have been asked to do some whistle on their next album. Oh yeah, and I've got to whack some guy in Jersey!

Now a brief look into the past.

I know you occasionally join Shane on stage for some gigs. Do you still keep in touch with the ex-members of The Pogues?

I'm good friends with everyone.

Have you read Shane's book?

The book...we had a look at it in a book shop. I think it is a pile of rubbish and by all accounts so does Shane. He tried to get an injunction taken out to stop it being published but Victoria was so upset that he relented. It is just the latest in a long line of Victoria's attempts to be somebody.

Which Pogues albums are your favorite and why?

Any one of the first three because...those were different times.

Which songs have been your favorite to play live?

Always The Broad Majestic Shannon and also, of course, Fairytale with Kirsty. I am so fucking proud to have been her friend.

Any that you didn't care for so much?

Pachinko, Pachinko and Pachinko (and Blue Heaven)!

Any fond memories of gigs past in Detroit or Michigan?

(The following is true) I always thought Detroit audiences were the best in the US, so I always really enjoyed playing there. I also remember playing 1969 in Ann Arbor in honour of the Stooges (as you do!)

Do you still keep in touch with Joe Strummer? I loved his latest album [Note:Rock, Art & The X-Ray Style was his latest at the time of this interview].

No, did you think that was a fantastic album?

Yeah, I thought it was great.

How about Steve Earle?

I see him when he's playing in London.

What did you think about his recent album? I thought it had moments of brilliance but was somewhat spotty and downright sappy in certain parts. I also thought he should have had you play on "Galway Girl."

I agree about the album.

Any regrets from those days or anything you might have done differently given the chance?

I could go on and on, but ultimately hindsight gets you nowhere. I wish I'd written more songs though.