# Andrew Ranken
**Andrew Ranken** (13 November 1953 – 10 February 2026) was an English drummer, singer, and songwriter, best known as a founding member and drummer of the London-Irish Celtic punk band the Pogues, with whom he played from 1983 until the band's second split in 2014.[1](https://pitchfork.com/news/pogues-drummer-andrew-the-clobberer-ranken-dies-at-72/) • [2](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/the-pogues-drummer-andrew-ranken-dead-at-72) He was nicknamed "The Clobberer" after a [Shane MacGowan](https://www.edgepedia.org/shane-macgowan) song of the same name.[2](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/the-pogues-drummer-andrew-ranken-dead-at-72)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | 1953, Ladbroke Grove, London; 10 February 2026, aged 72[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/andrew-ranken-mn0000028862) • [1](https://pitchfork.com/news/pogues-drummer-andrew-the-clobberer-ranken-dies-at-72/) |
| Band role | Drummer and founding member of the Pogues; joined the band then called Pogue Mahone in March 1983, replacing original drummer Jon Hasler[4](https://www.wardlawmusic.com/andrew-ranken) • [2](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/the-pogues-drummer-andrew-ranken-dead-at-72) |
| Studio albums | Played on all seven of the band's studio albums, from *Red Roses for Me* (1984) to *Pogue Mahone* (1996)[5](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/drummers/thank-you-for-everything-for-your-friendship-your-wit-and-your-generosity-of-spirit-and-of-course-for-the-music-forever-a-true-friend-and-brother-pogues-drummer-andrew-ranken-has-died-aged-72) |
| Album title | Credited with devising the title of the 1985 album *Rum Sodomy & the Lash*[6](https://www.repubblica.it/spettacoli/musica/2026/02/11/news/morto_andrew_ranken_batterista_e_membro_fondatore_dei_pogues-425152106/) |
| Early setup | In the band's first years he played standing up behind only a floor tom and snare drum, later moving to a full kit[7](https://www.ox-fanzine.de/interview/andrew-ranken-pogues-3785) |
| Other projects | The Stickers, The Operation, Lola Cobra, The Vendettas, The Mysterious Wheels, hKippers[4](https://www.wardlawmusic.com/andrew-ranken) • [5](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/drummers/thank-you-for-everything-for-your-friendship-your-wit-and-your-generosity-of-spirit-and-of-course-for-the-music-forever-a-true-friend-and-brother-pogues-drummer-andrew-ranken-has-died-aged-72) • [1](https://pitchfork.com/news/pogues-drummer-andrew-the-clobberer-ranken-dies-at-72/) |
| Recording credits | Drums, percussion, harmonica, vocals, arranging, and composer credits across Pogues releases[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/andrew-ranken-mn0000028862) |
## Early career
Ranken was born in [Ladbroke Grove](https://www.edgepedia.org/ladbroke-grove), London, in 1953.[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/andrew-ranken-mn0000028862) He began making music at 14, drumming in school bands, and was self-taught.[7](https://www.ox-fanzine.de/interview/andrew-ranken-pogues-3785) At art college he played drums in the band Lola Cobra, which featured the singer [Lene Lovich](https://www.edgepedia.org/lene-lovich), and he spent time at Ronnie Scott's jazz club.[4](https://www.wardlawmusic.com/andrew-ranken) When that band split up he sold his drum kit to finance a hitch-hiking tour of Europe.[4](https://www.wardlawmusic.com/andrew-ranken)
Back in London he sang briefly in the pub-rock band the Stickers, then formed the Operation, an R&B and Cajun band whose line-up reached as many as 13 musicians, with Ranken as lead singer.[4](https://www.wardlawmusic.com/andrew-ranken) • [7](https://www.ox-fanzine.de/interview/andrew-ranken-pogues-3785) His musical interests at the time centered on blues and modern jazz; he cited [Charlie Watts](https://www.edgepedia.org/charlie-watts), Ginger Baker, and [Elvin Jones](https://www.edgepedia.org/elvin-jones) as influences, and spent time around London's improvising jazz clubs.[7](https://www.ox-fanzine.de/interview/andrew-ranken-pogues-3785)
## The Pogues
In March 1983 Ranken became a permanent member of Pogue Mahone, the band formed by his King's Cross neighbors Shane MacGowan and [Jem Finer](https://www.edgepedia.org/jem-finer), together with Peter "Spider" Stacy.[4](https://www.wardlawmusic.com/andrew-ranken) • [1](https://pitchfork.com/news/pogues-drummer-andrew-the-clobberer-ranken-dies-at-72/) He had first declined the invitation because of his commitments as lead singer in the Operation and his college studies, then reconsidered.[4](https://www.wardlawmusic.com/andrew-ranken) When he joined he was replacing the band's original drummer Jon Hasler, while studying media studies and sociology at Goldsmiths College in London.[2](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/the-pogues-drummer-andrew-ranken-dead-at-72)
**A deliberately stripped-down kit.** Ranken described the terms of his recruitment to Pogues biographer Carol Clerk: he had to stand up, was allowed only two drums, and was offered a saucepan to bang on as well.[2](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/the-pogues-drummer-andrew-ranken-dead-at-72) In the band's early years he played only a floor tom and snare drum, and later moved to a full drum kit.[7](https://www.ox-fanzine.de/interview/andrew-ranken-pogues-3785) Finer told Clerk: "He didn't fuck around trying to be flash. It was really exciting. It was like, Wow, this guy has really got it."[2](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/the-pogues-drummer-andrew-ranken-dead-at-72)
Ranken played on every Pogues album, beginning with *Red Roses for Me* (1984) and ending with the band's seventh and final album, *Pogue Mahone* (1996).[5](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/drummers/thank-you-for-everything-for-your-friendship-your-wit-and-your-generosity-of-spirit-and-of-course-for-the-music-forever-a-true-friend-and-brother-pogues-drummer-andrew-ranken-has-died-aged-72) • [2](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/the-pogues-drummer-andrew-ranken-dead-at-72) His credits went beyond drums: AllMusic lists him on Pogues records as drummer, percussionist, harmonica player, vocalist, arranger, and composer.[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/andrew-ranken-mn0000028862) He is credited with devising the title of the 1985 album *Rum Sodomy & the Lash*, which he later said "seemed to sum up life in our band".[6](https://www.repubblica.it/spettacoli/musica/2026/02/11/news/morto_andrew_ranken_batterista_e_membro_fondatore_dei_pogues-425152106/) • [1](https://pitchfork.com/news/pogues-drummer-andrew-the-clobberer-ranken-dies-at-72/) He also sang and wrote songs occasionally for the band.[1](https://pitchfork.com/news/pogues-drummer-andrew-the-clobberer-ranken-dies-at-72/) The Independent notes that he played on some of the group's best known songs, including "Fairytale of New York", "[Dirty Old Town](https://www.edgepedia.org/dirty-old-town)", and their rendition of "The Irish Rover" with the [Dubliners](https://www.edgepedia.org/dubliners).[8](https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/home-news/the-pogues-london-shane-macgowan-celtic-b2918341.html)
The band split in the summer of 1996 after being dropped by their record label Warners. Ranken described the experience to Clerk as soul-destroying: "I just felt like the bollocks had gone out of it... it all just became meaningless. We were going through the motions."[2](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/the-pogues-drummer-andrew-ranken-dead-at-72)
## After the Pogues
After the 1996 breakup Ranken formed the Vendettas with Stacy and bassist Darryl Hunt.[5](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/drummers/thank-you-for-everything-for-your-friendship-your-wit-and-your-generosity-of-spirit-and-of-course-for-the-music-forever-a-true-friend-and-brother-pogues-drummer-andrew-ranken-has-died-aged-72) When the Pogues reformed in 2001 he returned, performing with the band until their final gigs with Shane MacGowan in 2014.[5](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/drummers/thank-you-for-everything-for-your-friendship-your-wit-and-your-generosity-of-spirit-and-of-course-for-the-music-forever-a-true-friend-and-brother-pogues-drummer-andrew-ranken-has-died-aged-72) • [2](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/the-pogues-drummer-andrew-ranken-dead-at-72) He later led the Mysterious Wheels, a blues, country, and rock and roll band, whose album *Reach Out Hold On* was released through Ace Records; Pitchfork also records his playing in the band hKippers.[4](https://www.wardlawmusic.com/andrew-ranken) • [1](https://pitchfork.com/news/pogues-drummer-andrew-the-clobberer-ranken-dies-at-72/)
As an actor he appeared in *Straight to Hell* (1987) as Lance McMahon, and he was credited on the soundtracks of films including *The Banshees of Inisherin* (2022) and *Roadside Prophets* (1992).[9](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0710225/)
## Death
Ranken died on 10 February 2026, aged 72.[1](https://pitchfork.com/news/pogues-drummer-andrew-the-clobberer-ranken-dies-at-72/) The surviving founder members Stacy, James Fearnley, and Jem Finer announced his death on the band's social media, calling him "drummer, founding member, and heartbeat of The Pogues".[5](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/drummers/thank-you-for-everything-for-your-friendship-your-wit-and-your-generosity-of-spirit-and-of-course-for-the-music-forever-a-true-friend-and-brother-pogues-drummer-andrew-ranken-has-died-aged-72) No cause of death was announced, though he was thought to have been in ill health in recent years with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.[5](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/drummers/thank-you-for-everything-for-your-friendship-your-wit-and-your-generosity-of-spirit-and-of-course-for-the-music-forever-a-true-friend-and-brother-pogues-drummer-andrew-ranken-has-died-aged-72) [Victoria Mary Clarke](https://www.edgepedia.org/victoria-mary-clarke), MacGowan's widow, wrote that without him the Pogues "could never have developed their battle-ready rhythm and sound".[1](https://pitchfork.com/news/pogues-drummer-andrew-the-clobberer-ranken-dies-at-72/) Ranken was the fourth member of the band to die, following guitarist Philip Chevron (2013), bassist Darryl Hunt (2022), and frontman Shane MacGowan (November 2023).[5](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/drummers/thank-you-for-everything-for-your-friendship-your-wit-and-your-generosity-of-spirit-and-of-course-for-the-music-forever-a-true-friend-and-brother-pogues-drummer-andrew-ranken-has-died-aged-72)
## A note on names
Andrew Ranken is distinct from the Scottish accordionist and dance band leader **Andrew Rankine** of Torry, Aberdeenshire, and from the American lawyer **Andrew Rankin** of Dentons, neither of whom is connected to the Pogues drummer.[10](https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/hall-of-fame/andrew-rankine/) • [11](https://www.dentons.com/en/andrew-rankin)
## References
1. [Pogues Drummer Andrew "The Clobberer" Ranken Dies at 72, Pitchfork](https://pitchfork.com/news/pogues-drummer-andrew-the-clobberer-ranken-dies-at-72/)
2. [The Pogues drummer Andrew Ranken dead at 72, LouderSound](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/the-pogues-drummer-andrew-ranken-dead-at-72)
3. [Andrew Ranken — Biography, Discography, Albums & Expert Reviews, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/andrew-ranken-mn0000028862)
4. [Andrew Ranken, Wardlaw Music](https://www.wardlawmusic.com/andrew-ranken)
5. [Pogues drummer Andrew Ranken has died, aged 72, MusicRadar](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/drummers/thank-you-for-everything-for-your-friendship-your-wit-and-your-generosity-of-spirit-and-of-course-for-the-music-forever-a-true-friend-and-brother-pogues-drummer-andrew-ranken-has-died-aged-72)
6. [Morto Andrew Ranken, batterista e membro fondatore dei Pogues, la Repubblica](https://www.repubblica.it/spettacoli/musica/2026/02/11/news/morto_andrew_ranken_batterista_e_membro_fondatore_dei_pogues-425152106/)
7. [Interview: Andrew Ranken / Pogues, Ox Fanzine #91](https://www.ox-fanzine.de/interview/andrew-ranken-pogues-3785)
8. [The Pogues announce death of drummer Andrew Ranken with 'deep sadness', The Independent](https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/home-news/the-pogues-london-shane-macgowan-celtic-b2918341.html)
9. [Andrew Ranken, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0710225/)
10. [Andrew Rankine, Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame](https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/hall-of-fame/andrew-rankine/)
11. [Andrew Rankin, Dentons](https://www.dentons.com/en/andrew-rankin)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Rock, metal, and popular-band musicians › Punk rock › First-wave punk pioneers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license