Pogues Drummer Andrew "The Clobberer" Ranken Dies at 72

"Andrew Ranken, the drummer and occasional singer and songwriter of the Pogues, died Tuesday, February 10. The band announced the news on Instagram, describing the musician, known as the Clobberer, as a founding member and "heartbeat of the Pogues." In her own post, Victoria Mary Clarke, the wife of late bandleader Shane MacGowan, said Ranken had died after a "long and brave battle with illness," though no cause of death was given. He was 72 years old."

"Native Londoner Ranken joined MacGowan, Peter "Spider" Stacy, and Jem Finer, in the band then known as Pogue Mahone, in 1983. He played on every record through the band's first phase of infamy, including the classic 1985 album Rum Sodomy & The Lash, which he named as such because, he said, "it seemed to sum up life in our band.""

"In her tribute, Clarke commended Ranken for "braving all the beer-swilling, pogo-jumping, underground illegal drinking joints the fledgling band played and developing his own unique style of a warrior drumbeat. Without him the Pogues could never have developed their battle-ready rhythm and sound.""

Andrew Ranken, known as the Clobberer, died on February 10 at age 72 after a long and brave battle with illness. The band described him as a founding member and the heartbeat of the Pogues. A native Londoner, he joined the group, then called Pogue Mahone, in 1983 and played on every record during the band's initial rise, including the 1985 album Rum Sodomy & The Lash, which he named because it seemed to sum up life in the band. Ranken remained active in music after the 1996 breakup, reunited with band members between 2001 and 2014, and played in projects such as the Mysterious Wheels and hKippers. Victoria Mary Clarke praised his warrior drumbeat and his role in shaping the Pogues' battle-ready rhythm and sound.

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