Irish punk bands: a field guide

The Popes

Founded in: 1992

Hometown: London

Claim to fame: After the rest of the Pogues fired him in 1991 for his heavy drinking and erratic behavior, Shane MacGowan assembled a new group of musicians called the Popes. MacGowan and his new band released two well-received albums of Celtic-influenced folk-rock before breaking up in the late ‘90s. MacGowan eventually returned to the Pogues, while his former bandmates carried on without him. They’re due to release their third post-MacGowan studio album, “Outlaw Heaven,” later this year.

Did you know? The Popes’ 1994 debut album features contributions from Sinead O’Connor and Johnny Depp, who played lead guitar on the song “That Woman’s Got Me Drinking.”