Birth of Kirsty MacColl - 10th October 1959

British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, best known for the songs “There’s a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis”, “A New England”,  “Days”, “They Don’t Know”, and “Fairytale of New York” (with The Pogues) was born on this day 65 years ago.

Kirsty MacColl was a talented British singer-songwriter known for her distinctive voice and sharp lyrical wit. Born on October 8, 1961, in Croydon, London, she was the daughter of the famous folk musician Ewan MacColl and the textile designer Jean Newlove. 

MacColl began her career in the late 1970s and gained prominence in the 1980s. Her cover of “They Don’t Know” in 1983 became a major hit in the UK, reaching the top of the charts. 

Kirsty MacColl is perhaps best remembered for her collaboration with The Pogues on the 1987 hit “Fairytale of New York.” The song has since become a Christmas classic, and MacColl's duet with Shane MacGowan remains iconic. 

Throughout her career, she released several albums, including “Kite” (1989), “Electric Landlady” (1991), and the stunning “Tropical Brainstorm” (2000), which featured her unique blend of pop and world music influences.

Known for her strong and independent spirit, she was married to producer and musician Steve Lillywhite and had two children, but they divorced in 1995. She later had a long-term partner, journalist and broadcaster, Nick Jones.

Sadly, Kirsty MacColl’s life was cut short on December 18, 2000, when she was killed in a boating accident in Cozumel, Mexico. She was 41 years old. 

Despite her untimely death, Kirsty MacColl's influence endures. She is remembered not only for her distinctive voice and clever songwriting, but also for her contributions to music as a whole.