Johnny Depp and Imelda May have collaborated on a new tribute track for Shane MacGowan. The song, titled ‘Haunted’, is a reworked version of MacGowan’s original. It serves as the second single from the upcoming tribute album ’20th Century Paddy – The Songs of Shane MacGowan’.
The track follows a previous tribute by Bruce Springsteen, who covered ‘A Rainy Night in Soho’. ‘Haunted’ is best known as a duet between MacGowan and Sinéad O’Connor, recorded in 1995. The original song was written for the ‘Sid and Nancy’ soundtrack.
Depp expressed that recording the track felt like “more than just” a collaboration. He described it as an opportunity to honor two artists who have been truthful in their art. Depp praised MacGowan, calling him “one of the greatest poets of his generation.”
Depp remarked on the profound impact of MacGowan’s words, saying, “they have a way of cutting right through you.” He also highlighted Sinéad O’Connor’s unique talent, stating, “there was simply nobody like her.” Depp emphasized the rarity of experiencing such talent, saying, “you only experience talent like that once in a lifetime, if you’re lucky.”