This is a site dedicated to the Libertines and their offspring. News, interviews, reviews, articles, pictures, videos and exclusives right here from the troubled world of the Babyshambles and Dirty Pretty Things (and, why not, Yeti).

12/26/2007

How was it for you? Pete Doherty's 2007


Here we are, it's Peter's turn! A quite active year for Peter and Babyshambles, but also a pretty messy one (are you surprised?). There have been some good and some bad times, the release of an album and a so-called "arena tour" (I was not sure whether that fitted the Top or Bottom so I left it out!). But, as in Carl's case, I think the best moment has still to be that memorbale night of April...

Peter's Top Ten
10. Releasing Shotters Nation
9. Getting rid of some horrible people
8. Organizing the exhibition of his blood paintings
7. Scoring two goals at the Celebrity Soccer Six Event
6. Meeting Paul McCartney
5. Recording A Day In The Life with Carl
4. Playing some awesome surprise gigs
3. Being brilliant at Glastonbury
2. Joining LMHR campaign
1. Playing with Carl at the Hackney Empire
Peter's Bottom Ten
10. Releasing Shotters Nation
9. Not turning up at a few gigs
8. Turning up at the EMAs
7. Being crap at T In The Park
6. Not making up with Pat Walden
5. Still bitching a bit about the Libertines
4. Shooting the KP Nuts video. Too much is too much, Pete
3. Releasing crap b-sides
2. Still making a permanent exhibition of his life for the massified idiocy
1. Going mainstream. They don't deserve you, Pete (and viceversa).

12/21/2007

How was it for you? Carl Barat's 2007


2007 is wrapping up and it’s time for recaps.
Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Official Breck Road Lovers’ 2007 Top Ten and Bottom Ten Charts.
Today it’s Carl Barat’s turn. Carl and Dirty Pretty Things have had a rather quiet year (at least, compared to 2006) but our man has been through his regular ups-and-downs.

Carl ‘s Top Ten

10. Showing his terror of wasps without fear of being branded as a sissy
9. Getting through the year without breaking his bones
8. Being able to brag about the new album for a whole year without telling anything at all
7. Becoming Gene Vincent “just for one day”
6. Writing two long posts to the DPT’s official site “Diary”
5. Writing 9 Lives
4. Recording A Day In The Life with Peter
3. Being brilliant at Get Loaded In The Park
2. Joining LMHR campaign
1. Joining Peter’s solo gig at the Hackney Empire


Carl’s Bottom Ten

10. Trying to become a boring teetotal farter at the beginning of the year. Teetotallers stink.
9. Opening for Muse and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Fuck rock dinosaurs.
8. Bragging about the new album for a whole year without telling anything at all
7. Getting a crap haircut
6. Writing only two posts to the DPT’s official site “Diary”
5. Getting involved in silly and unworthy activities to promote McGee’s other (unworthy) acts
4. Reforming the Chavs. Yawn.
3. Being crap at Glastonbury.
2. Keeping McGee as manager
1. Hiding himself away for four months (and making up stupid excuses for that)

Stay tuned for Peter’s Top and Bottom Chart in the next days!

12/19/2007

Carl and Didz back from the dead

Bulletin from DPT’s myspace:
We’re Back! Well some of us are anyway! To celebrate our return to the UK, we are heading down to Rochester this Saturday, 22nd December, to DJ at the launch night of our good friend Dean Fragile’s new club night - Totally Wired (see site). Cheap drinks and a DPT DJ set - what better way to start the festivities! See you there!
(Carl and Didz doing the honours)

Not a single word about the album yet. But hey, welcome back fellas.

Babyshambles at the Rhythm Factory - Night 2

Disastrous second night of the Shambles at the Rhythm Factory. Peter had the "cat flu" and after 8 songs and a bit of puking and passing out he left the venue. The poor fellas who had forked out 30 quid or so to see the band rocking out were left deeply disappointed, but at least they can boast around they have seen Peter throwing up. Kidding, I'm very sorry for them.
By the way, this is the NME report:
Pete Doherty was taken ill halfway through at a Babyshambles gig in London last night (December 19). The singer was forced to abandon the show at Rhythm Factory in the early hours of the morning.Doherty passed out briefly and vomited backstage before being rushed home to recuperate. His bandmates continued the set with fans on vocal duties as they did at the Shockwaves NME Awards Launch Party, before the frustrations led guitarist Mick Whitnall into an altercation with security guards. Pete Doherty had arrived at the venue with his bandmates at 11:40pm GMT, looking sober though tired and wearing two coats for warmth, following a long late-night set with Babyshambles the previous night at the venue (December 17), and a solo show on Sunday (December 16) night.“I’ve got cat flu!” the singer had joked to NME.COM as he arrived, adding that after playing two vigorous gigs in a row he felt “pretty rough”. The band took the stage shortly afterwards to rapturous applause form hardcore Babyshambles fans who had been lucky enough to bag tickets, opening with ‘Killamangiro’. The band continued to play an energetic, tight set including fan favourites 'UnStookietitled’, ‘Delivery’ and ‘Beg, Steal Or Borrow’. After playing ‘Side Of The Road’, the eighth song of the night, Doherty suddenly rushed backstage and was shortly followed by his bandmates.
After a brief interval Babyshambles, minus Doherty, returned to the side of the stage where bassist Drew McConnell told NME.COM: “He’s [Doherty] vomiting, he’s passed out on the sofa now." McConnell added: “It’s his complex, it’s the same thing that meant he couldn’t go to the NME Awards show the other night." “The poor sod,” McConnell said. “It’s not his fault at all. And poor them [the fans].” Taking the stage again, Whitnall performed ‘I Wish’ solo, before he was joined by McConnell and Ficek. McConnell then announced: “We are really sorry. We don’t like this any more than you, it’s embarrassing.” Doherty’s manager then invited fans to come forward and take vocal duties. The trio, went on to play ‘Delivery’, ‘Albion’ and ‘Fuck Forever’ with a different fan chosen from the audience to sing each song. “Thanks for humouring Babyshambles karaoke,” McConnell laughed during ‘Fuck Forever’. As ‘Fuck Forever’ ended, the frustrations of the evening seemed to get to Whitnall, who began hitting his guitar against the monitors amps, causing security guards to step in an escort him backstage. A brief shouting match between Whitnall and venue staff then took place, before both sides calmed down and made their peace. It was then confirmed by the Babyshambles camp that Doherty had been driven home to recuperate. Doherty had been sober and coherent throughout the performance until being taken ill, as he had during the previous two nights at the venue. A spokesperson for Doherty told NME.COM later that the singer had "seen a doctor and was fine, but exhausted".

12/18/2007

Babyshambles at the Rhythm Factory - Night 1

(photo by Benmatthewreyes for Flickr)

Following Peter's solo gig of Sunday, last night Babyshambles came back in full at the legendary Rhythm Factory club. In spite of numerous technical problems the band was on top form and the night was highly successful. No more arenas, guys!
From NME.com:
Babyshambles played a chaotic set at London’s Rhythm Factory venue in the early hours of this morning (December 18) that thrilled fans who had managed to bag a much sought-after ticket. The show was part of a three-night residency of sorts, with frontman Pete Doherty playing a solo show the previous night (December 17) and Babyshambles playing a second set at the venue tonight (December 18). The band were 45 minutes late for their scheduled start, with bassist Drew McConnell having to find a replacement bass guitar after his broke down. With fans rushing to get close to the band, the hyperactive atmosphere continued as the band opened with ‘Side Of The Road’ with the house lights failing. Doherty’s manager had to create makeshift lighting for the band, shining a torch on them so fans could see the action. As the band played ‘UnBilotitled’ the lights were activated again, but the set was punctuated with equipment failing, with the band having to swap instruments regularly. During recent single ‘Delivery’ Doherty leaped into the crowd where he crowdsurfed while singing, returning with his shoes and socks removed. He returned to the crowd again during the following ‘Pipedown’, and was hauled back from the sea of fans by four security guards. Babyshambles played a number of new songs during the set, including the recently debuted ‘Pretty Sue’, a -esque, melodic mid-paced song. After playing ‘Killamangiro’, Doherty was given a Christmas present by a fan in the crowd. He unwrapped it to reveal a frame containing photos from his solo set the previous night and a ticket stub with the message “Thanks for a fantastic performance”, which he read to the crowd, much to the fan's delight. Babyshambles closed their set with ‘Fuck Forever’ before heading backstage to cool off, Doherty downing two bottles of cold water. “I don’t know anything about that gig – it was nothing to do with me!” Doherty joked to NME.COM as he cooled down, referring to the technical problems the band had to battle through. “Ha, ha, it was a fucking disgrace! Nothing worked!”. “It’s the best gig we’ve ever done, actually!” laughed guitarist Mik Whitnall, while bassist Drew McConnell adding: “Hey, it’s The Rhythm Factory. But it was fun!”.

Setlist: Side Of The Road, UnBiloTitled, Untitled New Song, Carry On Up The Morning, Untitled New Song, Delivery, Pipedown, I Wish, Sedative, Untitled New Song, I Love You (But You’re Green), Pretty Sue, Albion, Killamangiro, Beg, Steal Or Borrow, Baddie's Boogie, UnStookietitled, Fuck Forever.

12/17/2007

Peter's pre-Chrissie shenanigans

After the brief stint at the Chas & Dave show at the Tap'n'Tin on Saturday (see the video of Albion here), last night Peter played a proper, full-length gig at the Rhythm Factory, the first of his 3-night residency.
From NME.com:
Pete Doherty played a solo show at London’s Rhythm Factory venue last night (December 16), running through a variety of Babyshambles and songs. The evening had got off to a chaotic start before Doherty’s arrival. During support band the Television Personalities’ set, Alan Wass, former singer of -associated band Left Hand, invaded the stage. Standing at the front of the stage looking highly intoxicated, Wass refused to leave the frontman position, despite the band’s continued aggressive calls for him to leave. Eventually five security guards bundled Wass from the stage, allowing the Television Personalities to continue.
Later in the evening, at 11:55pm GMT, Doherty took the stage wearing a suit, baggy white shirt and necklace, performing opener ‘Fuck Forever’ with just electric guitar. After performing ‘Carry On Up The Morning’ Doherty defied the smoking ban by puffing on a lit cigarette. Then before playing ‘UnBiloTitled’, the Babyshambles man chanted “Rangers ‘til I die”, a reference to his favourite football club, Queen’s Park Rangers.
In the middle of the set, just before performing ‘You’re My Waterloo’, a fan threw a plastic cup at the stage, prompting Doherty to laugh and say, “What was that – a Christmas present?”. The jovial tone took a darker edge slightly later on, however, as during the last song of the main set, ‘Music When The Lights Go Out’, a female fan in the front row passed out due to dehydration and had to be carried backstage by security, where she came to. Following a short break Doherty returned for a three-song encore then left the stage to rapturous applause.“It went alright!” Doherty told NME.COM as he left the stage. “There were a few songs I haven’t played there in fucking years!“. The last time I did a solo set for that length of time was at Hackney Empire,” he continued, referring to the gigs he played in April this year. It was great!”
Pete Doherty plays again at the venue tonight and tomorrow (December 17 and 18) with Babyshambles.
Setlist: 'Fuck Forever', 'Pay The Lay', 'Don't Look Back Into The Sun', 'Carry On Up The Morning', 'The Delaney', 'Death On The Stairs', 'UnBiloTitled', 'Never Never', 'La Belle Et La Bette''Tell The King', 'You're My Waterloo', 'For Lovers', 'What A Waster''Can't Stand Me Now', 'Lady Don't You Fall Backwards', 'Bollywood To Battersea', 'Time For Heroes', 'Dilly Boys', 'The Blinding', 'Bucket Shop', 'Through The Looking Glass', 'Up The Bracket', 'Music When The Lights Go Out', 'I Wish', 'You Talk', 'What Katy Did'.

12/15/2007

Photo of the month



Let's resurrect the nostalgia corner. Three things I want from 2008: a beautiful Peter solo album, a beautiful DPT second album, and the return of the band pictured above.

Oh, and a pair of jeans just like Peter's.

12/13/2007

The NME and Benicassim


As much as I hate it I have to keep quoting it. It's the NME, of course. The new issue of the bollockers has a full page about the Peterless and Mikless "Babyshambles" show at the Shockwaves launch night of last week (above).

The rag also publishes the NME writers' "Album Of The Year" chart, and Shotters Nation is at number 14. This is the Top 5 according to the top bollockers:
1.Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future
2.Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
3.Radiohead - In Rainbows
4.Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
5.Les Savy Fav - Let’s Stay Friends




The Festival season seems as far as Jupiter at the moment but summer will be here before we know. So, beware:
My Bloody Valentine and Babyshambles have been confirmed amongst the first batch of bands for Benicassim 2008. Also joining them are The Rumble Strips will more acts to be continually announced over the coming months. Tickets for the festival go on sale tomorrow (December 14) with earlybird prices being 160 Euros for a four day pass, although this is a limited offer of 5000 tickets.

12/10/2007

Nuggets

  • Peter writes to FDB: "So meself Mickle and Adam are at Albion Towers, awaiting Drewsive (as ever). Has been a pleasant weekend. Astile and his sister are sleeping upstairs and the cats are scrapping. We are rehearsing and moaning about managerial tactics. New tunes aplenty.. nameless but with class. alright!". Alright Peter. Exhaustion my ass.
  • The Rhythm Factory gigs are all sold out.
  • Rumor has it that Peter is going to be one of the special guests at the Chas and Dave show at the Tap'n'Tin next Saturday (15th).
  • You Talk entered the... Top 60 singles chart at no. 54. Ahem.
  • Pat Walden's new band, Big Dave, are performing at the Time For Heroes Christams Party on Dec 22nd (at Club 19, Trent Park - opposite Oakwood Tube st).
  • If you reckon Peter, Drew or Carl are the sexiest boys alive (or at least sexier than fuckin Matt Bellamy) go to the NME Awards site and vote (can't be arsed to give the proper link).

12/09/2007

Future gigs

Who:
Pete Doherty:
Sun Dec 16th - A special one-off solo acoustic show from PETER DOHERTY (with guests)

Babyshambles:
Mon Dec 17th - BABYSHAMBLES with special guests
Tue Dec 18th - BABYSHAMBLES with special guests

Where:
RHYTHM FACTORY16-18 Whitechapel Rd.London E1-1EW
Tel : 020 7375 3774
Email: info@rhythmfactory.co.uk

12/07/2007

DREW, ADAM and JOSH AT THE NME PARTY


Peter didn’t turn up at the NME Shockwaves Awards launch party of last night, but it seems the lovely Drusillo and the sweet Adam put up a beautiful show the same, with the help of the ever available Josh Hubbard from the Paddingtons (remember? He was the guy who took guitar duties in Dirty Pretty Things when Carl Barat smashed his collarbone during the summer of 2006), plus a guy from the crowd named Jamie Bell.

Drew was elusive about the reason of Peter’s absence, he only said Peter was “ill” (cold? Consequences of Sunday’s beating? Soloalbum-itis? Fuck the NME-itis? I can’t be bothered to leave my beautiful new house in Wiltshire to play three songs at a stupid party in London and who’s going to feed the cat tonight-itis?) but Drew was also quick to add that “it’s got nothing to do with drugs” (why, did anybody ask?).

Well, since my current relationship with the NME has just sunk to a new all time low after what they have done to the greatest artist alive… I’m kinda glad Peter figuratively fucked their silly party, whatever the reason might be.
Rant over.


REVIEWS!!!
NME
Dot Music
Uncut

And last but not least, Shambled from FDB: "Just got back from the gig. Drew and Adam are fuckin legends! They really were great!!!! They started with I wish, they did Janie Jones, Beg Steal or Borrow, Delivery & Fuck Forever! It was brilliant. I was so glad 2 see Drew & Adam up there it was so great of them".


12/06/2007

Babyshambles tonight at Shockwaves NME Awards launch party

Babyshambles are gearing up for the Shockwaves NME Awards launch party tonight at London's IndigO2 venue, and you can follow all the action on NME.COM.
Pete Doherty and co. will be joined by The Wombats and Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong, who will also be playing live at the bash.

12/05/2007

Babyshambles new song on line

Babyshambles have posted a brand new song online. 'Pretty Sue', in its early demo stage, was recorded by the band between tour dates on their recent arena tour.The song is available to hear now on the MySpace site for Roses, Kings, Castles: Babyshambles drummer Adam Ficek's musical project site. In a MySpace bulletin, Ficek has explained that the band plan to post two further new songs, '1939' and 'Mouse In The House', online soon.Ficek also revealed that the band plan to play "some small shows for Xmas" - which may mean more of Babyshambles' famed secret pub gigs are on the cards.

Source: NME.com (FUCK THEM)

MOJO's Greatest Pics: Babyshambles, 2005

Death on the stairs revisited

Something to look at! A collection of beautiful Babyshambles pictures taken by Mattia Zoppellaro in 2005. Browse here.

Article by Ross Bennett:

As the Pipe Down tour-party stumbled across the UK, MOJO’s Mattia Zoppellaro was on hand to capture Pete Doherty and his motley band of merry musicians hit new levels of chaotic abandon.
“The original idea was to spend a week on the road with the band,” explains Zoppollaro. “Then the (alleged) Kate Moss cocaine scandal appeared in the papers. The atmosphere around the group was quite tense to say the least and it was very difficult to grab Pete for any amount of time at all. But I was quite surprised to find the rest of the group focused and really trying to keep everything on track.”
With access becoming increasingly tight, it wasn’t until the final night of the jaunt that Doherty appeared long enough for Zoppellaro to get those crucial shots. “When we finally got to spend some time with him, he was very available. Although we only spent about 100 seconds together, I thought he was really charming. I remember him pouring me a vodka and orange and giving me a couple of tokes on a joint. And whatever I asked him to do, he did. He’s actually a very photogenic guy – really enchanting. And he never made a fuss.”
“Shooting the band live was a crazy experience,” he continues. I was quite surprised to be honest, because I’m not a big fan of Babyshambles music, but the relationship they have with their audience was captivating. I love that about them. People were reaching out and worshipping Pete. They were totally transfixed.”

12/03/2007

DPT support gig cancelled

From Dirty Pretty Things official site:

"We are very sorry to announce that Dirty Pretty Things will no longer support The Pogues at Nottingham Arena on the 14th of December as previously announced.
As the recording sessions for the second album are at a very crucial stage, the band have had to take the difficult decision to remain in LA and pull out of this gig.
The band are very disappointed as they were looking forward to returning to the UK and playing this gig very much and apologise to those of you who have purchased tickets for this cancellation. However, the album sessions must take priority and regrettably, there was no other option".
I'm very sorry for the people who had already bought a ticket but surprised I'm not.

Babyshambles interview

Backstage in Brighton (from NME.com - Interview by Michael Nolder):

There’s something about the atmosphere inside the Brighton Centre’s flush dressing room. It’s fresh, it’s clean and there’s not even one drop of alcohol in the room. Can this really be a Babyshambles gig? Apparently so - Pete is keen to make it clear that it’s a dry tour, although the pint he’s clutching at the end of his band’s set later suggests that this rule isn’t too vigorously enforced. As clean as a whistle, Pete is chatty and coherent throughout. He even attempts to do the badger dance (“Badgers Badgers Badgers MUSHROOM! MUSHROOM!), and strums along gently to the George Formby CD playing in the background. Babyshambles would appear be a band on the mend, improving with every gig they play…

What’s it like playing larger venues like this – are these the largest places you’ve played?
Adam Ficek: It’s like you were saying the other day…
Peter Doherty: Yeah, normally it’s like, we haven’t got enough leads, or the tuner’s not working, or someone spills a pint of beer on the amp. Little venues are good, but nothing ever works. The atmosphere is good but it ends up sounding shit, whereas here there’s a pretty slick atmosphere and things work.You don’t find larger gigs like this more nerve-wracking then?
Adam: I find it more nerve-wracking playing the big places, yeah. I shit myself.

Have you been down to Brighton much before?
Adam: I think this lot have before.
Peter: Last time I played here it was to about 80 people. It was an acoustic gig with Dot Alison, and then on the way home we ran over a stag.
Adam: (To Pete) Didn’t you play down here in the band as well? I think Babyshambles played down here at some point.
Peter: Yeah we did, yeah. I think we played that rectangle place with the dressing room behind the stage – it was on the front. And we played the Freebutt – I think we played there when we just got signed.
Adam: And Event 2…

So you know Brighton quite well then?
Peter: I love Brighton.
Adam: It’s brilliant, yeah.

Why do you think people should come and see you tonight?
Adam: We’ve already sold it out, so we don’t need convince anybody…

Dizzee Rascal is supporting you on your tour at the moment – How did this come about?
Adam: Dizzee Rascal’s amazing – he fires us up and gets us ready to play – it’s brilliant. You watch him and you just become really up for it.
Peter: We had a shared experience with him on an aeroplane when we came to Ireland. It was quite strange – like a kind of fucked-up version of Stella Street. We had us lot, Dizzee Rascal, Sinead O’Connor in a shell-suit and Brian Wilson…
Adam: He was in a shell-suit as well…
Peter: As soon as the engine of the plane started, he (Brian Wilson) started… Imagine the whole of the plane, like, silent and all of a sudden you just hear… do it Mick…
Mick Whitnall: Haaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrr!
Peter: And he’s going (puts on accent) - “Can you hear the chord?” And he’s like humming and singing in tune to the engine. And then he’s going (does accent again) “Doesn’t it feel like Christmas guys?” Then Mick offered him a sweet, and he goes “No, I shouldn’t really,” then grabs a hanky, and sort of put it in his mouth unopened… It was fucking weird. And then Dizzee said “Can I support you?”

Do you get much of a chance to try out new songs on the road?
Adam: In the sound check two minutes ago we just did two new ones - really good. We kind of do most of the stuff on the hoof, really. There’s one we’ve just done called 1939 which is really good. (To Pete) What’s 1939 about?
Peter: It’s about a bloke who gets captured behind enemy lines. He sacrificed his life for Germany, because he didn’t tread carefully behind enemy lines.
Adam: So he’s actually a German then?
Peter: Yeah. It’s one of my works of fiction.
Adam: I had a dream last night that I was a snowboarder, right. It’s weird, I was at the top of this hill just in shoes, yet I beat ‘em all. And I got to the bottom, but they said “You can’t claim the prize because you started after the buzzer.” And I’m going “Yeah, but that shouldn’t matter, because that means that they’ve got an advantage,” but she wouldn’t have it. But I was feeling really good about myself.

Have you got a favourite song you like playing live?
Adam: I like playing ‘Side Of The Road’ live ‘cos it’s fast and you can get the crowd moving.
Peter: I like playing ‘Sedative’ because it’s a lovely tune, and…
Adam: Gives us a chance for a tea break…
Peter: Yeah, you get to sit down.
Adam: You should sit in the armchair an’ have nice a cuppa tea during it.
Peter: Think I will actually tonight.
Adam: A little glass of lemon tea.

In the past you’ve often played old Libertines’ songs, but not so much on this tour – is this something you’ve enjoyed, or is it something you feel uncomfortable doing?
Adam: I like it – I think there’s a good buzz playing them. It wasn’t a conscious decision on this tour, it just didn’t really materialise.
Peter: It’s great, we should do it more really. You can feel uncomfortable about the past, but it doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable about the songs. When we do smaller gigs and were playing more, sort of, ramshackle set lists, we’ve had a crack at loads of them – ‘Time For Heroes’, ‘Horrorshow’, ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’, ‘For Lovers’, ‘What A Waster’… We do a reggae version of ‘I Get Along’. But in more formal gigs we want to do things that we know inside out, and we’ve never really bothered to learn ‘em properly.

You’re not playing any of them tonight then?
Adam: Not in the set, but you never know.

Is there anyone in the future you’d like to collaborate with?
Adam: What about Amy?
Peter: Yeah, Amy Winehouse. We were working on something last night actually. It’s called ‘You Hurt The One’s You Love’.

Who should be the next England manager?
Peter: (Sighs) It’s just depressing.
Adam: I think get Venables back.
Drew McConnell: Get Wolfman.
Adam: Hmm, I don’t know who would be a good manager actually.
Drew: Wolfman.
Adam: Yeah, but he plays a defensive game, though, doesn’t he?
Peter: You know Wolfman used to play professional football for Gillingham? But he’s in hospital at the moment on a drip from alcoholism. He’ll be all right if he stops drinking.Well he could probably apply for it then – he’s got some experience.
Adam: I reckon so, yeah. Wolfman it is.

What have been your highlights of your time in the band so far?
Adam: I love it when an album’s finished. The actual recording process is quite stressful, but I love it when it’s finished. You can actually sit and go, “Fucking hell, that’s great!” and all that stuff.

What about low points? Have you had many times where you’ve felt you just weren’t enjoying it?
Adam: Yeah, sometimes it’s quite troublesome – when there’s a lot of press intrusion and stuff kicking off. Like pictures in the press and that – it takes its toll, but you’ve just got to pick yourself up and keep your chin up really. It’s been hard and you think it’s gonna implode any second, but then something always just comes around the corner and kind of saves everything.

Any messages for the Brighton blog readers?
Adam: When you go to the beach, don’t leave rubbish. Very important. It annoys me, that. You know, you’re sitting on a lovely beach and you don’t want to see rubbish. Actually, I saw Blur at Sussex University here. I had to spend the night in the car park. This was when they first started to play songs like ‘Girls And Boys’ and ‘Parklife’ - it was amazing. So, yeah, Sussex University – I saw Blur there.

Later on, an impressive set is topped-off by a 25-minute encore. Pete even has time for a beautiful rendition of ‘Music When The Lights Go Out’ – perhaps an epitaph for the evening, as the crowd leave the venue singing late into the night. The tour may since have finished, but Babyshambles are back from the dead.

12/02/2007

Nottingham, Glasgow and beyond the Arena Tour

So, that's it. After two nights in Nottingham (Friday) and Glasgow (yesterday) the infamous Arena Tour is over. There's not much about the Nottingham gig. "Great to see Pete back to his best" said downinalbion.co.uk "A brilliant, professional set, with an amazing atmosphere, despite the arena not fully selling out. [...] Anthems such as Albion and Fuck Forever went down amazingly as always, and the new songs sounded even better live than they do on the album".
Thanks to Hokeystokie who put on line a few videos from the show:
The Glasgow gig got a review from the NME; and one from our friend Milly: "Shambles were ace, pulled off the secc amazingly! The sound was great and were really tight, also I liked the bit of talk between songs. Great Set list and stage, they all looked like they were really enjoying it [...] Great night, amazing gig, tightest I've seen them!".
So what's next?. It seems the guys are going separate ways in the following weeks. Adam will be launching his solo project, and so will Drew. And so will, most of all, Peter. There's a European tour looming in 2008, and of course a few surprise gigs here and there. But we cannot see Peter staying with his hands in his hands for long, and we are not sure whether his next adventure will be still under the Babyshambles name. In spite of the many rave reviews, a lot of people are highly dubious about the direction Babyshambles are taking, and they are expressing their doubts in all the web spaces dedicated to the band. You can never please everyone?
We'll talk about it in another occasion. Maybe on 32nd of December.

12/01/2007

Yeti announce 2008 UK Tour


Let's take a break from the Shambles Tour and have a look at John Hassall and his band. A UK winter tour has just been announced and dates are the following:

17 January - Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich
18 January - The Independent, Sunderland
19 January - The Arena, Middlesbourough
20 January - Cert18, York
21 January - Escobar, Wakefield
24 January - Barfly, Birmingham
25 January - Kico, Bolton
26 January - The Tavern, Wigan
27 January - Love Music Hate Racism at Abertay Student Union, Dundee
28 January - The Tunnels, Aberdeen
29 January - Cabaret Volitaire, Edinburgh
30 January - Barfly, Glasgow 31 January - Brickyard, Carlisle
1 Febuary - Carling Academy 2, Liverpool
5 Febuary - Barfly, Cardiff
6 Febuary - Cavern, Exeter
7 Febuary - Orange Box, Yeovil
8 Febuary - The Queens, Weymouth
9 Febuary - Thekla, Bristol
11 Febuary - Pressure Point, Brighton
12 Febuary - The Joiners, Southampton
19 Febuary - Approach, Nottingham
22 Febuary - Water Rats, London
26 Febuary - Soultree, Cambridge
27 Febuary - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds