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).

5/30/2008

Friday tips

It looks like a video from the 80s or something that Pete Doherty would post on his youtube channel... but it's not. It's the official video for DPT's upcoming single "Tired of England". Check it out.
DPT also gave an interesting interview to The Independent (here) and have started a "mobile blog" where they're supposed to tell stories from their tours and post videos taken with their mobiles (as you can see, there is one Didz snoozing on the bus and a very blurred hand belonging to Gary Powell). Stached Didz also posted a new entry to the much neglected band diary at the band's official site.
Since Carlos claims he needs "more books" to improve his writing, he might be interested in "Babyshambles: The Official Story", by Spencer Honnibal, due in October 2008, 256 pages long. You can pre-order it here.
Babyshambles are playing tonight at the Brixton Mass. Don't know about special guests, but I hope Pizza has had enough of female teenagers (and of course I'm not talking about Dot, nor Carlos).
Anyway, Carlos is probably djing in Leeds tonight.
Re-anyway, if you just want to have a look at Peter playing drums for Coco Sumner... go here. As you can see the thing occurred at the Jazz After Dark, Wednesday night at 2.00, and with such a gorgeous father I expected Coco to be prettier. But after all, who cares? Enough with Friday gossip. LATER!!!

5/29/2008

Gig Junkie

"CAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRLL!!!"

Gig Junkie is the title of a photographic book soon to be published by NME photographer Sarah Thompson. The tome features over 200 photographs of bands including Babyshambles, Bloc Party, Morrissey, Paul Weller, Ian Brown and more.

The photo above was taken at a Babyshambles gig at The Underground, Stoke, in April 2004. Sarah Thompson explains: "This photo of Pete Doherty was taken at one of the maddest gigs ever. Carl Barat unexpectedly joined Pete onstage and the crowd went crazy. This shot shows Pete shouting 'Carl!' and I think it really captures a moment."

Check out Sarah's beautiful pictures at her website.

5/28/2008

Dirty Pretty Things can only get better



Very good show last night at the London Astoria for Carl Barat's combo (yeah yeah shoot me, DPT are four people, they are a tight band, yadda yadda yadda, whatever, loads of bollocks). Although I've been slightly puzzled by their recent output, I'm still convinced this band can put up one of the best live shows in the world at the moment (well... in Europe). And of course the greatest credits go to their leader/singer/axeman. When he's on form Carl is a very good performer and an exciting frontman, and when I say on form I don't mean sober, quite the other way around. BUT. I don't hang around backstage doors once a gig is over and I don't have photos taken with my fave musicians (I did that with Moz once but hey I was a teen and fucking hell it was Morrissey) so I can only tell about the gig. The band played well, the best I have seen them in a long time (to be clear: forget last year's Glastonbury) and the crowd for once was both responsive and collaborative. I only hate when fangirlies shriek Deadwood's chorus into my fucking ears but I actually I hate everything fangirlies do (thank God there weren't too many by my side). Carl, as I've said, was on form. Even the new songs were played well and I almost enjoyed half of Hippy Son (which is a top compliment).

Now read this review from This is London:
At its best, The Libertines’ music could be explosive. In comparison, Pete Doherty’s and Carl Barat’s initial post-split songs were largely damp squibs destined to be overshadowed by their erstwhile partnership. However, Babyshambles’ autumn comeback suggested Doherty hadn’t entirely lost his way. Perhaps it spurred on Barat, who led a confident and combustible Dirty Pretty Things performance including half a dozen new songs. Their second album, Romance at Short Notice, is released on 30 June and this set showed a move away from the obvious ramshackle rock of their debut. Barat’s influences haven’t changed too much, though, judging by the opening post-punk clatter of Buzzards and Crows. There were also shades of The Kinks on the new single Tired of England, a supremely tuneful effort with lyrics about the “Queen of England” and “bingo cards”. Bassist Didz Hammond and guitarist Anthony Rossomando joined in on vocals throughout and the friendly jostling on stage during another new song, Chinese Dogs, gave the impression of a close-knit gang. The crowd responded noisily, especially during old favourites such as Deadwood, and Barat had to dodge an excitable fan’s white trainer whose flight narrowly missed his head. Dirty Pretty Things’ debut album was a top three success but, crucially, at the Astoria they sounded like themselves rather than merely an alternative Libertines. The combination of growling, sweaty rock and cooing harmonies on Hippy Son was compelling, while Plastic Hearts had a simple, singalong chorus worthy of Chas & Dave. Of course, Dirty Pretty Things are still a noisy indie-rock band, so the appearance of a keyboard in the encore was about as experimental as it got. Nevertheless, this was a convincing return with an emphatic finale: Barat diving into the crowd during a frantic, raucous version of their signature anthem Bang Bang You’re Dead.


While the Mighty Carlos was working his ass off at the Astoria, his pal Pete Doherty was entertaining a small crowd at the Brixton Mass for the second night. I'm told Dot Allison joined this time too, and they played Don't look back into the sun together. Sigh. Besides, Peter sang France and dedicated it to "my old mucker Carl". Resigh. It seems Peter even dragged his kittens on the stage!!! The cute wanker!

5/27/2008

Peter at the Brixton Mass

Memories of summer 2004 last night at the first of the two solo gigs Peter is playing at the Brixton Mass. Our man was joined on the stage by his old friend Dot Allison, who sang a few songs with him (yes, those songs, those we wonder if the are aver going to see the light of the day!). Mik was also of the gang. Peter was looking relaxed and in good spirits and took requests from the crowd, and after the show he also chatted with the fans and signed autographs.
From NME.com:
Pete Doherty played a 23-song solo 'request' set last night (May 26) at the Brixton Mass club in south London. The singer performed a mix of songs by his current band Babyshambles, his former group The Libertines and several unreleased solo efforts.Taking the stage at around 9:40pm (BST), Doherty played with just an electric guitar and microphone, and was joined later in the set by his Babyshambles bandmate Mick Whitnall and then by singer Dot Allison.Fans were given the opportunity to make song requests as they entered the venue, a converted church crypt. The singer/guitarist was passed a list by venue staff at the beginning of the gig before deciding which songs to play. Before playing The Libertines' 'Music When The Lights Go Out', Doherty donned a harmonica strap, but soon abandoned it as it comically flopped around in his face. Instead, Babyshambles guitarist Whitnall came onstage and played the instrument for the song and the following 'Albion'. During the aforementioned 'Albion', Doherty namechecked towns and cities as the 200-strong crowd shouted out locations, including Peterborough, Watford, Stepford, Slough, Queen's Park, Newcastle and Sidcup. During 'Sheepskin Tearaway', the Babyshambles man was joined onstage by Dot Allison. Allison, who co-wrote the song with Doherty, joined him on vocals. Later in the set, Doherty read from the fan request list, joking, "'Breck Road Lover' for Charlie? Does that mean I get some Charlie if I play it?" He then went outside for a cigarette break, before returning to complete the set. Pete Doherty plays another show at the same venue tonight (May 27). He plays at Mass again on Friday night (May 30) with his band, Babyshambles.
Pete Doherty played: 'Never Never' - 'The Ballad Of Grimaldi' - 'Tell The King''Music When The Lights Go Out''Albion' - 'Salome' - 'The Whole World Is Our Playground' - 'The Delaney' - 'Death On The Stairs' - 'Sheepskin Tearaway' - 'Don't Look Back Into The Sun' - 'Clemantine' - 'Hooray For The 21st Century' - 'Can't Stand Me Now' - 'East Of Eden' - 'For Lovers' - 'Breck Road Lover' - 'At The Flophouse' - 'There She Goes' - 'Cyclops' - 'In Love With A Feeling' - 'I Don't Want To Break Your Heart' - 'What A Waster'.

Our friend Powemonkey kindly uploaded an mp3 of Pete and Dot's duet, you can download it here.

5/23/2008

Bilo and Biggles at work

DPT in Coventry (photo by Emertont)

Not together (not yet). But. Let's start with Dirty Pretty Things. The Mighty Carlos and his mates played in Coventry last night and today are hitting Liverpool. The Coventry gig went ahead despite Carl being slightly ill, but it looks like it's nothing serious, just some puke here and there.
Libertines fans are splitting up! "Three years and half after the band's break-up, their fans follow in their footsteps" (no link, I'm making it up). Well, that could happen in a few days. On the same night Biggles is playing at the London Astoria, Bilo is taking over the Brixton Mass. From NME.com: Pete Doherty has announced details of three London club shows set to take place next week (starting May 26). Doherty will play two solo acoustic shows at the Brixton Mass venue, on May 26 and 27. He will then play a show with his band, Babyshambles, on May 30 at the same venue. Tickets for the shows will be available on the door. Stage time for the gigs is 9pm (BST), with fans advised to arrive early. Overlapping? Hard choice? Not really. I'm seeing Bilo on the 26th and Biggles on the 27th and suggest everybody do the same.

But, hey, listen to this: Biggles is supporting prisoners! From Gigwise: Dirty Pretty Things, Billy Bragg and the Bluetones will join forces on the final night of this years Glastonbury Festival in support of prisoner rehabilitation project, Jail Guitar Doors. The initiative was set up by Bragg to put guitars and other musical instruments into prisoners in memory of the late Joe Strummer. The event on the Left Field stage on June 29th will also raise awareness for Real Fits, a scheme that encourages prisoners to get involved in journalism and creative writing. Mark Donne, from Real Fits, said: “Guitar based music is one of the very few conduits still open to working class people seeking to enter the cultural arena.” The special collaboration at Glastonbury will be preceded by a concert at The Round Chapel in Hackney on June 20th with Dirty Pretty Things and Reverend and the Makers.

The Mighty Biggles, sorry, Carlos, has also given a short interview to London daily "Metro". Read on:
Romance at short notice was originally due out last year. Why the delay?
We spent a long time in L.A. not really getting everything done that we wanted to. Then we fell out quite alot, and when we missed another deadline, we all came back to England and pulled our socks up.
What was the cause of in-fighting within the band while you were recording in L.A.?
We didn't like the studio and there were a lot of very late nights. That, plus not really being able to get much recorded because of the [studio] set-up, led to alot of frustration and quite a few fall-outs. But we did manage to let off steam in the desert and Venice Beach.
Did you have any other working titles for the album?
We were going to call it Porn and Guns, but it sounded a bit like a silly Goldie Lookin Chain title.
What are some of the strangest gifts that fans have given you?
We've had digital cameras and used pants in the past. That's rather minging, actually, isn't it? Lots of random things get thrown onstage.
Do you think that you and Pete Doherty will ever make music together again?
Yeah, probably. We both have a love for each other and for the songs, so I'm sure that one day we might do something or other. I'm still wishing him well and I hear he's doing good at the minute.

And with this virtual Bilo & Biggles hug... goodbye.

5/22/2008

Rankin and Dirty Pretty Things 'Destroy' for Youth Music

Youth Music is the UK’s largest children’s music charity, set up in 1999 to promote and support music making opportunities and to provide advice to children from birth - 18 with the least access, including some of the UK’s most disadvantaged young people. Youth Music works alongside the formal and community-based sectors to support music-making and training.
In this video you see Rankin chattin to Carl and the boys for his Destroy project, supporting Youth Music's 10th Anniversary www.youthmusic.org.uk


5/21/2008

And of course you all should see this

DPT Press

  • The M.E.N. reviews last night's Manchester gig: POOR little Carl Barât: always the consummate professional but constantly the runner-up to his former band mate, Pete Doherty, in the popularity stakes. If Pete was John Lennon, Carl would be… well… Ringo. And yet, his post-Libertines band, Dirty Pretty Things, can still pack them in on a night when the inexplicably popular Pigeon Detectives begin their two-night assault on Manchester. Which is good news, especially when you’re pushing that difficult sophomore record. You could put the petit frontman in your top pocket, but Barât packs confidence like Pavarotti packed pounds. And so he doesn’t shy away from the challenge of something new, surging on stage to Buzzards And Crows - one of Romance At Short Notice’s biggest rule breakers with its Captain Beefheart angularity.
    The shrieking high-camp of Hippy Son and chunky, Kooks-like country rhythms of Plastic Hearts set the tone for the new record loudest, as well as the rehashing of vitriolic b-side Chinese Dogs.
    But they also outline the dichotomy of this band. In the studio, the quartet have always sounded like well-mannered London geezers, knitting a few nice riffs together for the weekend knees up. Live, the only suggestion of gentility is Barât’s Wildean locks. Equipment Guitarist Anthony Rossomondo is deliciously badly behaved, sending his equipment hurling into the crowd, while drummer Gary Powell spiritedly takes it out on his kit and bassist Didz 'The Moustache' Hammond howls his harmonies with preacher-like enthusiasm. On stage is where you get the chance to really fall in love with the Dirty Pretty Things, then: the artful dodger cheekiness of The Wondering, the Libertines hang-over of Doctors & Dealers, the Cockney overtures of Last Of The Small Town Playboys and the Wire-esque disjointedness of The Enemy all find their energy here. Their delivery – with business-like accuracy, but one that ends in the trashing of the boardroom and someone eating the flip charts - even dwarf big singles Deadwood and Bang Bang (You’re Dead). Which speaks volumes about the band’s live credentials, but could leave Romance At Short Notice sounding a little sterile by comparison.
  • And the Daily Star (FFS!!!) reviews Romance:
    OUR track by track guide to the band’s second album, out June 30 - a love song to Britain in all its grim and gritty glory.
    BUZZARDS AND CROWS: Opener paints a grisly scene of city life.
    HIPPY’S SON: Swaggering guitars, shouty verses and made-for-radio chorus. PLASTIC HEARTS: Singalong quality of an Oasis classic. Next single? TIRED OF ENGLAND: The first single and stuffed with trademark horns and jaunty guitars. COME CLOSER: Swoonsome ballad so romantic it should come with a free red rose. FAULT LINES: Acoustic number about a relationship going down the pan. KICKS OR CONSUMPTION: The love child of Franz Ferdinand and Klaxons as raised by DPT. BEST FACE: Bounce-defying barnstormer about a gal with “the best face in the place, the lip gloss and the grace”. TRUTH BEGINS: Chanty middle eight that’ll go down well at festivals. CHINESE DOGS: Rowdy, booze-sodden anthem. THE NORTH: Delicate, string-laced ballad. BLOOD ON MY SHOES: “You reach for the sedative but it’s never enough” and “There’s blood on my shoes because of you”. Is that an ode to Pete and Amy?
A few comments on both articles on my behalf:
  1. If I hear another journo calling Carl Barat "poor little Carl" I scream. Carlos is neither poor neither little. I wish I was poor and little as he is.
  2. And the Beatles comparison is utterly stupid. Ringo has never done anything on his own, apart from some silly songs written by other people soon after the breakup. If I were Carlos I would be terribly offended. Peter = John, Carl = Ringo? Jesus, give the man at least some George Harrison credibility, if anything.
  3. Ouch. All the songs listed as "love inspiring" are from Waterloo.
  4. Which leads us to the last sentence. I'm afraid "sterile" was the first word that came to my mind when I heard both Tired of England and Hippy Son. But there are other 10 songs that I haven't heard yet (in the final version). I hope they are less "sterile". I hope.
  5. As for the other article... no, I don't comment stuff from The Daily Star. Sorry.

5/20/2008

Glasgow

Peter arrived in Glasgow on time yesterday, and played his show at the Barrolwlands as expected. Unfortunately his gear (I mean "instrumental gear") did not follow him up and huge sound problems disturbed the show, mainly for the lead guitars.

Here's a review from The Daily Record.

And here's what our friend QPR1974 said about the gig:
"With a crowd half full of idiots expecting a full on, rocking Babyshambles gig, it didn't bode too well to begin with. Peter arrived five minutes after approximated stage time, i.e 9.35. Looking slightly nervy, he swaggered onstage with a crate and a guitar, a bottle of whiskey in hand. He played little to none Babyshambles song. setlist, as far as I can remember, in no order Never never What Katie Did Albion Pipedown Music when the lights go out There She Goes Cant stand me now Time For Heroes Pipey Mcgraw Unbilotitled Dont look back into the sun Tell the king France The Good old days Last post on the bugle/ Delivery Probably more, but the gig was all one passing blur for me. A nice performance for our lad. Sadly had to pick and choose where we stood as the crowd was very raucous, several fights. Lots of pints chucked. Peter had trouble with a guitar lead and had to go off for a small period, at which a lot of people thought he had actually gone for good".
"Whilst I'm lucky to have heard all these songs live (Last of the English Roses and Pipey McGraw/Monkey Casino being two of my absolute favourites)" says don'tneedthesunrise "I couldn't help but feel that the Barrowlands was NOT the venue. As has been previously stated, the crowd were there for a raucous, full blown riot of a gig and well...it just wasn't. It wasn't supposed to be. And I missed the band. But for what it was, Peter played a great collection of songs...very Libertines-centered but it seems to me that he knew the crowd he was playing to and suited their needs. (Personally would've liked to have had few more Shambles tracks but it's not really a time to be greedy.). We were also treated to a lovely cover of "Whatever" by Oasis which was jolly".

5/19/2008

Culture Club

  • The BBC is to launch a TV campaign promoting the new series of The Culture Show and its 101st episode, featuring personalities including Boris Johnson, Nigel Havers, Carl Barat and Adrian Chiles discussing cultural issues including EastEnders, sex, coffee, football and binge drinking. Watch the promovideo (featuring Carlos at the pub together with a doggy dressed like a man and someone looking like a cross between Alan McGee and Phil Mitchell in the background) here.
  • Still on DPT: read a review of last night's gig here.
  • The thing you see above is the artwork for DPT's upcoming single.
  • DPT are playing tonight in Sheffield, one of the soldout gigs of the tour.
  • For people worried about Peter's tonight gig in Glasgow, cheer up: as I said in the other post, Adrian sorted it out immediately.

Panic on the street to Glasgow

"Oh shit where's everybody gone? I have to catch a fucking train!!!"

Tragicomedy a few hours earlier at French Dog Blues. Peter missed his connection to Scotland and went on the forum asking for a lift... until he decided to solve the matter his own way (sorry, not divulging!). As I write I think Adrian has already caught up with him so hopefully everything's going to be fine.

As for the footie, the Shambles lost to Faithless 2-3 in the final game. Peter spoke about the tournament and some other stuff to Gigwise. You can also see a short interview here.
Dirty Pretty Things played in Newcastle last night and this is the setlist (courtesy Alicepooh):
Buzzards and Crows Wondering Doctors and Dealers Tired of England Gin and Milk Last of the Small Town Playboys Chinese Dogs The Gentry Cove The Enemy Hippy’s Son Plastik Hearts Deadwood Bloodthirsty Bastards You Fucking Love it - Fag Break - This is Where the Truth Begins BURMA Bang Bang.

Later with the GLAS-DRAMA update!

5/18/2008

Peter's Manchester gig and the footie

Photo by Shirlaine

Review from Mike Caulfied (MEN):
WHILE tonight isn’t exactly the welcome-at-the-prison-gates, freedom gig it’s being billed as (having been a free man again for over a week now), this rare solo excursion this far up north for the redtop-mainstay and sometime Babyshambles man Pete Doherty still holds the promise of being something special and intoxicating.The lank figure of Doherty- fully suited up with trademark trilby-it would seem still has a cult-like command over his followers, apparent from the volume swell that greets the haphazard striking of the first few chords of opener ‘East Of Eden’, which despite only appearing as a B-side begins the evenings many communal sing-alongs.Followed with a stumbling run of early Libertines glories ‘Up The Bracket’, ‘Last Post On The Bugle’, and ‘What a Waster’- each is a shining example as to why most here first fell for the notorious frontmans poetic charms.Though Doherty’s habit of indiscriminately slowing and changing passages rarely for the better (his inner meter has never been one to set your watch to anyway!), whilst stumbling and mumbling away his more heartfelt sentiments, soon begins to irritate.Even for someone famous and celebrated for such sloppy vocal and six-string deliveries- much to the annoyance of the few producers whose job it’s been to rein in such quirks- tonight it feels far too contrive, with much loved numbers ‘What Katie Did’, ‘La Belle Et Al Bête’, and an abandoned run-through of ‘Albion’ suffering most. Soaring versions of ‘Time For Heroes’- still heralded by many as his greatest moment- and ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’ have the room in full voice, but even for the most die-hard there are plenty of moments of frustration felt tonight. If it’s true that Doherty has turned a corner in his personal life maybe it’s about time his performances caught up too.


And a report from FDB's official reporter Alicepooh:
I’m not quite sure when stopping in Manchester on our way to Cumbria to see Peter Doherty became the sensible thing to do, but somehow in the past week we’d ordered tickets and this afternoon struggled with M6 traffic and Manchester directions to arrive at the University’s Academy to see the first of a series of solo shows. Peter has created a problem for himself. Having worked incredibly hard over the past year to consolidate Babyshambles’ reputation as an amazing live band, he’s now decided to do some larger solo gigs. Clearly he’s had a penchant for playing small, impromptu solo shows for a long time, but aside from the Hackney Empire shows last April, the biggest audiences he’s played alone have been at the Rhythm Factory – home territory. The Manchester Academy is a big venue – not Brixton Academy big, but probably in the region of 2000 capacity. The audience seemed to be a typical ‘Shambles crowd – a bit quieter than the normal Manchester rowdy, but nonetheless, chanting, Pete, Pete and singing the intro to ‘I Wish’ whilst waiting for him to appear. Due to come on at 9pm, it was about quarter past when he strode onto the stage, dark suit, broad-brimmed hat, dark shirt, slightly less than too much bling… and a cup of tea. Pausing to open one of several envelopes which had been thrown on stage, and greeting the crowd with a cheery, ‘Hello Manchester’, he launched into ‘East of Eden’. We were delighted with this opener, but few in the crowd appeared to know the song, which seemed to unsettle Peter, a feeling which lasted most of the evening. Peter was clearly nervous, and became more so as the crowd failed to respond positively to the quieter, less well known songs. During the first part of the set, he injected a number of older Libertines songs, but valiantly returned to some of the unreleased stalwarts of his smaller solo sets, becoming more uncomfortable as the audience became restive. The effect was to make the music somewhat disjointed, and he chatted quite a bit to establish a rapport. An approximation of the set list is as follows: East of Eden Can’t Stand Me Now Up the Bracket What a Waster Dilly Boys Good Old Days Breck Road Lover Music When the Lights Go Out Ballad of Grimaldi What Katie Did Hired Gun Belle et la Bete Last Post on the Bugle/Delivery Fag Break Pipedown You Talk Albion There She Goes Time for Heroes Back From the Dead (part) There were some wonderful moments. Good Old Days, when Peter attempted to sing both Carl’s and his part in the introductory lines, a lovely version of Music When the Lights Go Out, and a ramshackle attempt at Alan Wass’ Hired Gun (someone requested it, and Peter said he’d give it a go, though he couldn’t remember it – which was pretty obvious). Pipedown got the audience really going, confirming that they were, indeed, a ‘Shambles crowd. I was particularly pleased to hear the Ballad of Grimaldi, and had just been wishing out loud that he’d play it. Clearly telepathy is one of his skills, because he did. However, it was under appreciated, and Peter had to do his, ‘shush, quiet, you’ll like this bit…’ reminiscent of Salome at the Hackney Empire, in a bid to get the audience to listen. All a bit sad, and made us want to hug Peter and thump the unappreciative crowd. Early on, two or three songs in, he said, ‘I really don’t know what to play. I had a proper good set list, all chronological and everything… ‘ He added, ‘I’ve played here before, with The Libertines and Babyshambles, but I’ve decided to do some solo shows…’ He didn’t say why he’d abandoned his ‘proper set list’ – but it seemed obvious to us – the crowd just didn’t want to hear it, and Peter didn’t feel up to ploughing on regardless. Dilly Boys went down like a lead balloon, and not many joined in when encouraged to sing ‘and she’s the sweetest girl…’ bit. Breck Road Lover was introduced with a lovely tale about writing it, ‘I want to play something now that I wrote when I was 16… 17. It’s about a girl who live in the flat above the shop opposite when I used to work in the summer at my Uncle’s Green Grocer’s in Liverpool. The shop was Ted’s Beds, and I used to dream… I didn’t really have a life. Sometimes her boyfriend would come over and they’d have a right set to. They were better than TV.’ If you find Peter’s on stage antics and chatter entertaining, you would have enjoyed the show. He tried to play harmonica using a neck-frame on Dilly Boys and one other, failing completely to make the bloody thing work – although unlike the previous times I’ve seen him fiddle around with one he actually managed to play it a bit. Grabbing a red towel to dry off his head, he mock-boxed the microphone stand, managing to knock it out and giving himself a victory salute. Someone presented him with a hand painted Union Jack with ‘Backstage?’ artfully inked on the back. ‘Isn’t this backstage?’ Peter responded, fetching his own Union Jack, tearing it in half and presenting half to the flag-maker. He chatted about tomorrow’s Soccer Six match, and was cheered when he announced that his first game was against the ‘Sun’. At the end of the first part of the set he dragged on his old friend Mairead, now manager of Florence and the Machine, the support band, informing us all that when he’d first met her she’d been in a manufactured girl band, rather like the Spice Girls. ‘You cunt’ she responded, affectionately, ‘no one knows that.’ He replaced Katie with Amy for a couple of bits of What Katie Did, and when he came back from his fag break, announced that he was sorry he was so long, but he’d been running around backstage looking for some blemish concealer. A stage invader seized the mic during You Talk and did quite a good rendition of the song, with Peter playing guitar until the guitar failed, allowing the red-sweatered fan to dominate for rather too long, and leaving Peter somewhat out of control. Most people in the audience seemed happy, and the second part ran more smoothly than the first, stage invaders and guitar failures not withstanding. There was a lovely version of There She Goes, and Time for Heroes was a punchy nearly ending. But somehow, for us, the evening was uncomfortable. With the ‘home’ crowd of the Rhythm Factory, Peter would have relaxed into the set and been able to play a combination of his selection and audience requests. But the Manchester Academy was too big for that level of informality, and clearly wanted a full band-style set. Consequently Peter fidgeted, seemed indecisive about what he was playing, and interrupted songs with chat and diversions. Perhaps he should have stuck to his plan and not pandered to the audience, or perhaps he’d be better off touring solo when he’s got a solo album to promote so that the audience is more prepared for the material and style. It just seemed a bit of a shame. Solo shows ought to be a real opportunity for him to showcase some of the wonderful songs that aren’t appropriate for a Shambles gig, and for more people to get the opportunity to experience what can be true magic – Peter being whimsical and charming and spontaneous. Whatever the right recipe for that is, tonight wasn’t it. Most of the evening we just wanted to give him a hug.

Plus! Beautiful photos by Shirlaine on Flickr.

While I'm writing, Peter and Babyshambles are supposedly about to play at the Celebrity Six Soccer match, at Millwall Football Club, together with McFly, Wombats, Twang, Noel Fielding and many others.
Later!!!

5/17/2008

Dirty Pretty Things - Fat Sams Dundee. Wondering

Early morning treat from last night's gig. The rude boys on the run!

5/16/2008

Friday tips

  • Turn on the telly: Carl Barat and Didz Hammond are on Gonzo (MTV2) in a few minutes.
  • MTV2 also describes Peter's Forum Gig as his "best gig ever" (here).
  • Two new Amy + Peter (and kittens and mice and other things) videos on Peter's youtube channel. MEOW!

5/15/2008

Spots

Photo by Jentothepowerof2
  • Dirty Pretty Things fell victims to the Rangers-mania last night in Glasgow at the opening gig of their UK tour (see photo above). The hall was only half full but the Mighty Carlos and his mates didn't seem to give a shit about it and played a solid set.
    Setlist by LiamT: Buzzards and Crows, Hippy Son, Wondering, Doctors and Dealers, Come Closer, Tired of England, Deadwood, Best Face, Gin & Milk, Faultlines, Chinese Dogs, Gentry Cove, Enemy, Plastic Hearts, Bloodthirsty Bastards, You Fucking Love It. Encore: This is Where the Truth Begins, Bang Bang. The tour goes on tonight in Aberdeen.
  • Thanks a lot to Nene for posting the NME interview with Peter to Libs Daily. Pizza has been hanging a lot with good old Wino in these days, fuelling rumors of a future collaboration. Amy has been reported as the support act at Peter's gig at the Royal Albert Hall on July 12th, but that's only another rumor. The support acts are still unknown.

5/14/2008

Peter makes grand return to the stage



A few snippets from the press and from fans.

From Dotmusic: Pete Doherty was greeted with a roaring reception when he returned to the stage after spending 29 days in prison. The troubled star and his band Babyshambles wowed fans at The Forum in Kentish Town, north London - and Doherty appeared sober and back on form. The band raced through their hits including crowd-pleasers Delivery and Kilimangiro, with the crowd singing along to every word. Doherty began the show by thanking "everyone who wrote a letter over the last month" before the band opened with 'Pipe Down'.
Doherty, 29, who wore a suit and his trademark trilby hat, told the audience he was "a bit rusty" after his spell in jail. The singer also told fans how much he was looking forward to the show but joked that he had developed a "massive spot" on his face. Fans were in an excitable mood throughout the show, which saw Babyshambles mix new songs with hits from their previous two albums. At one stage he was joined on stage by another notorious musician, Pogues singer Shane MacGowan, for a version of folk legend Ewan MacColl's Dirty Old Town.
Paul Roundhill, Doherty's self-styled literary agent, who made headlines by selling some of Doherty's "blood paintings", watched the gig and said it was good to see the singer back in action.


From The Times: Say what you like about Pete Doherty, he knows how to make a dramatic entrance. Fresh out of jail for the umpteenth time, Britain’s most sybaritic singer played a rowdy sell-out show. In Rat Pack suit and dapper trilby, Doherty appeared in rude health and good spirits. The overall mood of the evening was celebratory, even during the minor bout of booing that punctuated the cheers. In theory, all is going swimmingly for Babyshambles. Their second album, Shotter’s Nation, was favourably reviewed, their arena shows were the best received of their career, and Doherty has finally kicked his drug addiction, or so he claims. Of course, this louche literary lout has cried Virginia Woolf many times before, so any boasts about a clean bill of health come with a health warning of their own. All the same, he gave an energetic performance last night, rattling through ramshackle crowd-pleasers including Pipedown, Delivery and Kilimangiro. To his champions, Doherty is a guttersnipe sage and icon of dissolute cool. To his detractors he is an overhyped mockney Artful Dodger, a third division talent with a premier league profile. To agnostics like this reviewer, the singer has hit the occasional peak in a mostly underwhelming career. This show only confirmed that Doherty is still more reliant on charisma than musical talent. When he hauled the ex-Pogues singer Shane MacGowan up to sing Dirty Old Town, the gravel- throated old gargoyle effortlessly exposed the younger singer’s feeble voice and scrappy songwriting. Doherty may be more Shane Richie than Shane MacGowan, but he is clearly not a pop emperor entirely without clothes. The Albion of his lyrics and journals is a rich literary landscape incorporating everyone from Charles Dickens to Chas and Dave, Thomas de Quincey to Tony Hancock, William Blake to Blakey from On The Buses. Unfortunately, too much of this richness gets lost in translation from page to stage. There was plenty of excitement at this show, but too much of it was generated by the crowd. For a band who draw on such an ambitious range of inspirations, Babyshambles spent too much of their set sounding like pub-rock amateurs. After a dozen soundalike plodders their low-rent charm began to wear very thin indeed. His Albion may look magnificent if you are pumped full of chemicals, but it feels a little threadbare and grubby to those sober enough to stand up straight.

From French Dog Writtler Alicepooh: Due to come on at 9:15, we stood near the front and waited to see the recently jail-sprung Doherty celebrate with his band his regained freedom. Being on time didn’t seem to be one of the things that incarceration brought. Perhaps, we wondered, they were putting the final touches on the songs they had apparently been working on over the past week. After about fifteen minutes, to huge cheers, they took the stage. Peter was clearly delighted to be there, in front of an audience, and was very chatty. He thanked everyone for coming and people who’d sent him letters when he’d been in jail, and told us they’d be playing some new songs. ‘You know when you’re really excited about something and you get up in the morning and you’ve got a really big spot on your face. I borrowed some of Mik’s girlfriend’s make up but it doesn’t really work.’ He added, ‘I’m really bricking it.’ And then the music started. Eighteen songs, by our count, performed with exuberance. The audience was as glad to see him back as he was to be performing again. Pushy, bouncy, but good natured, singing along, jumping up and down, with a lot of crowd surfing and numerous stage invaders. Peter held firmly onto his hat every time someone arrived on stage – clearly didn’t want to lose this hat. He struggled with his braces throughout, eventually hoiking the offending side with it’s loose clip over the other shoulder, ending the gig with both braces on one side. We’ve done an approximation of the set list… Pipedown – wonderful opener, got us all going, Beg Steal or Borrow Delivery – beginning with Peter going over to the drum rise and saying ‘Adam, I don’t remember the first chord to this one’ New One – including the lyric, ‘it’s not a monkey it’s a gibbon’ – quite dark, but still bounce-able to, sounding nice. Carry on Up the Morning Unbilotitled Shane McGowan – Dirty Old Town – Peter announced ‘it’s Shane McGowan’ and bounced across the stage, clearly very excited. I Wish – Peter announced that he wanted to dedicate a song to his son who’s four, said he lived nearby and said ruefully that it’d probably mean Astile would end up being an Arsenal supporter. He nattered on for a bit, trying to decide what song would be appropriate, someone shouted out ‘Fuck Forever’ and he responded ‘his mother’s in the audience’. A shambolic rendition of Cool for Cats – with Peter and Drew trying to work out how it goes, and not really managing to remember, so they sang part of it. Side of the Road Stone Roses Song – sang a bit of it and tried to get us to sing along, and then launched into Maybelline – informing us that ‘this is going to be a hit’ Baddie’s Boogie – Mik said he taught him this song and Peter couldn’t even play guitar, in response to which Peter did little ‘cat claws’ and recited ‘lousy life with a washed up wife and a permanently plastered pissed off bastard’ before actually playing it. Killamanjiro – an extended version with lots of ad lib lyrics. New One – not many words Crumb Begging Baghead Then they disappeared for a fag-length break. Returning, Peter came on with a cigarette on stage, and Adrian darted over, tapped Peter on the shoulder and plucked it out of his mouth. The audience booed and threw cigarettes onto the stage. Peter then took out another cigarette and lit it, and picked one up off the floor and lit that and chucked his original cigarette into the audience. Albion – As Peter and Mik played the introduction, Luca and Drew waltzed by the side of the drum rise – Luca played keyboards – flag waving, made Drew be the bull as in bullfighting. Despite the antics, it was a rather piecemeal version of the song, Peter started half way into the first chorus, and it never quite caught its own momentum. Back from the Dead – the longest extended version ever – actually stopped in the middle before they continued with the ending. Fuck Forever – a totally amazing ten minute version – absolutely wild – during it one of the early stage invaders, a guy in a suit, managed to get on the stage for a second time. As the guy was scrum-tackled by a hoard of bouncers, Peter observed, ‘it’s you again’ and opened a tin of Red Stripe beer and from the height of the drum rise poured it over the stage invader – who seemed to quite enjoy the whole experience. Part chaos, part unbridled joy, a delighted band, a tipsy and charming front-man. The sound quality wasn’t brilliant, but the gig certainly was.
There's also a video of Maybelline (by TheGizzard)
Thanks to everybody! I'm jetting off to London in a few hours. See you tomorrow.

5/13/2008

NME preview and other goodies

From NME.com:
Pete Doherty was released from Wormwood Scrubs last week stepping straight from prison into NME’s car. We’ve got his only interview plus private images from his prison diary. We also find out what’s next regarding new songs, Babyshambles and staying clean - all exclusively in our spanking new-look magazine.
Babybear gives us a tip for tonight's aftershow: Me and Adam, djing at aftershow. Zensai, 16 Inverness St, Camden Town. Entry with your ticket stub. Enjoy.
DPT played last night at that competition thingy. According to reports the crappiest band won. This is the setlist (of Dirty Pretty Things, not of that crappiest band!):
Buzzards and Crows - Hippy’s Son - Come Closer - Wondering - This is Where the Truth Begins - Deadwood - Chinese Dogs - Gentry Cove - Tired of England - Blood Thirsty Bastards - You Fucking Love it - Gin and Milk - Best Face - The Enemy - Plastic Hearts - Bang Bang.
Don't forget to tune in to Zane Lowe's show on Radio 1 tonight between 7pm and 9pm to hear the first play of Dirty Pretty Things' brand new single, 'Tired of England'. You can listen to Zane's show online - go to the Radio 1 website for more details.
That's all folks. On with the show.


5/12/2008

Romance at short notice was her speciality

I don't know how many people have read this short story. Obviously, at least one guy has.
The Open Window by H. H. Munro (Saki) (1870-1916)
"My aunt will be down presently, Mr. Nuttel," said a very self-possessed young lady of fifteen; "in the meantime you must try and put up with me."
Framton Nuttel endeavored to say the correct something which should duly flatter the niece of the moment without unduly discounting the aunt that was to come. Privately he doubted more than ever whether these formal visits on a succession of total strangers would do much towards helping the nerve cure which he was supposed to be undergoing.
"I know how it will be," his sister had said when he was preparing to migrate to this rural retreat; "you will bury yourself down there and not speak to a living soul, and your nerves will be worse than ever from moping. I shall just give you letters of introduction to all the people I know there. Some of them, as far as I can remember, were quite nice."
Framton wondered whether Mrs. Sappleton, the lady to whom he was presenting one of the letters of introduction came into the nice division.
"Do you know many of the people round here?" asked the niece, when she judged that they had had sufficient silent communion.
"Hardly a soul," said Framton. "My sister was staying here, at the rectory, you know, some four years ago, and she gave me letters of introduction to some of the people here." He made the last statement in a tone of distinct regret.
"Then you know practically nothing about my aunt?" pursued the self-possessed young lady.
"Only her name and address," admitted the caller. He was wondering whether Mrs. Sappleton was in the married or widowed state. An undefinable something about the room seemed to suggest masculine habitation.
"Her great tragedy happened just three years ago," said the child; "that would be since your sister's time."
"Her tragedy?" asked Framton; somehow in this restful country spot tragedies seemed out of place.
"You may wonder why we keep that window wide open on an October afternoon," said the niece, indicating a large French window that opened on to a lawn.
"It is quite warm for the time of the year," said Framton; "but has that window got anything to do with the tragedy?"
"Out through that window, three years ago to a day, her husband and her two young brothers went off for their day's shooting. They never came back. In crossing the moor to their favorite snipe-shooting ground they were all three engulfed in a treacherous piece of bog. It had been that dreadful wet summer, you know, and places that were safe in other years gave way suddenly without warning. Their bodies were never recovered. That was the dreadful part of it." Here the child's voice lost its self-possessed note and became falteringly human.
"Poor aunt always thinks that they will come back someday, they and the little brown spaniel that was lost with them, and walk in at that window just as they used to do. That is why the window is kept open every evening till it is quite dusk. Poor dear aunt, she has often told me how they went out, her husband with his white waterproof coat over his arm, and Ronnie, her youngest brother, singing 'Bertie, why do you bound?' as he always did to tease her, because she said it got on her nerves. Do you know, sometimes on still, quiet evenings like this, I almost get a creepy feeling that they will all walk in through that window--"
She broke off with a little shudder. It was a relief to Framton when the aunt bustled into the room with a whirl of apologies for being late in making her appearance.
"I hope Vera has been amusing you?" she said. "She has been very interesting," said Framton.
"I hope you don't mind the open window," said Mrs. Sappleton briskly; "my husband and brothers will be home directly from shooting, and they always come in this way. They've been out for snipe in the marshes today, so they'll make a fine mess over my poor carpets. So like you menfolk, isn't it?" She rattled on cheerfully about the shooting and the scarcity of birds, and the prospects for duck in the winter. To Framton it was all purely horrible. He made a desperate but only partially successful effort to turn the talk on to a less ghastly topic, he was conscious that his hostess was giving him only a fragment of her attention, and her eyes were constantly straying past him to the open window and the lawn beyond. It was certainly an unfortunate coincidence that he should have paid his visit on this tragic anniversary.

"The doctors agree in ordering me complete rest, an absence of mental excitement, and avoidance of anything in the nature of violent physical exercise," announced Framton, who labored under the tolerably widespread delusion that total strangers and chance acquaintances are hungry for the least detail of one's ailments and infirmities, their cause and cure. "On the matter of diet they are not so much in agreement," he continued.
"No?" said Mrs. Sappleton, in a voice which only replaced a yawn at the last moment. Then she suddenly brightened into alert attention--but not to what Framton was saying.
"Here they are at last!" she cried. "Just in time for tea, and don't they look as if they were muddy up to the eyes!"
Framton shivered slightly and turned towards the niece with a look intended to convey sympathetic comprehension. The child was staring out through the open window with a dazed horror in her eyes. In a chill shock of nameless fear Framton swung round in his seat and looked in the same direction. In the deepening twilight three figures were walking across the lawn towards the window, they all carried guns under their arms, and one of them was additionally burdened with a white coat hung over his shoulders. A tired brown spaniel kept close at their heels. Noiselessly they neared the house, and then a hoarse young voice chanted out of the dusk: "I said, Bertie, why do you bound?"
Framton grabbed wildly at his stick and hat; the hall door, the gravel drive, and the front gate were dimly noted stages in his headlong retreat. A cyclist coming along the road had to run into the hedge to avoid imminent collision.
"Here we are, my dear," said the bearer of the white mackintosh, coming in through the window, "fairly muddy, but most of it's dry. Who was that who bolted out as we came up?"
"A most extraordinary man, a Mr. Nuttel," said Mrs. Sappleton; "could only talk about his illnesses, and dashed off without a word of goodby or apology when you arrived. One would think he had seen a ghost."
"I expect it was the spaniel," said the niece calmly; "he told me he had a horror of dogs. He was once hunted into a cemetery somewhere on the banks of the Ganges by a pack of pariah dogs, and had to spend the night in a newly dug grave with the creatures snarling and grinning and foaming just above him. Enough to make anyone lose their nerve."
Romance at short notice was her speciality.

Dirty Pretty Things are playing tonight at the Red Stripe Awards Grand Final, Kentish Town Forum.

Peter on the cover of the NME

NME journo Jamie Fullerton writes:
Hi all, Jamie here, the bloke who was in the car with Pete on Tuesday outside Wormwood Scrubs. Just wanted to give you the heads-up that Pete will be on the cover of the NME this week. Due to him being released earlier than expected on the day and the hounding he was receiving from the paps, myself and photographer James gave him a lift to somewhere quieter for his managers to pick him up from. We did an interview and some snaps, and these will appear in the new mag. Pete also gave me his prison diary and asked me to publish excerpts from it - again these will be in the new mag. Babybear kindly provided some excellent photos that he took of Peter later in the day. He donated his photographer's fee to The Cato Trust, which was ruddy nice of him I though. In the interview Pete is honest, insightful and hugely optimistic about his and Babyshambles' future. He was immensely proud of kicking drugs and was ecstatic to be out of jail and back on track with the 'Shambles. Anyway, cynical as I know a lot of you are of the NME, I'm pretty confident you'll love the issue. Pete was great company and on top form despite the early hour. What he was saying will be heartening for all Babyshambles fans. Check it out - it'll be in some shops Tuesday in London and here there and everywhere on Wednesday. JF.x

Plus, Peter's going to play Soccer Six also this year. From Uncut:
Pete Doherty has been confirmed to play this year's Celebrity Soccer Six, in aid of Samaritans, which takes place this Sunday (May 18). The Babyshambles front man will be defending his win with his bandmates against Razorlight at last year's charity event.Bandmembers from the likes of The Wombats, Faithless, Mcfly, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly and The Mighty Boosh's Noel Fielding will play alongside reality TV stars from The Apprentice, Big Brother and the X Factor. Ex-professionals Lee Sharpe, Neville Southall, Dean Saunders, Frank McAvennie, Terry Hurlock, Micky Thomas and Terry Gibson will also be taking part. The Celebrity Soccer Six tournament takes place at Millwall FC's ground, The New Den. Celebrity Soccer Six tickets are available from Ticketmaster on 0844 847 2449 and online at www.ticketmaster.co.uk Tickets are also available from Millwall FC. All prceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Samaritans(www.samaritans.org).

5/09/2008

More gigs

From NME.com:
Pete Doherty will play a solo show at the Glasgow Barrowlands venue on May 19.The gig will follow Doherty's date at the Manchester Academy, set to take place two nights before, on May 17.Before the two solo shows the singer/guitarist will play at the London Kentich Town Forum with his band Babyshambles on May 13.Tickets for the Glasgow show go on sale on Tuesday (May 13) at 9am (BST). To check the availability of Pete Doherty tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/GIGS now, or call 0871 230 1094.

From DPT official site:
Dirty Pretty Things will join Grammy award winning James Bond/Little Britain composer David Arnold and Bluetones frontman Mark Morris, Reverend and the Makers, the Archie Bronson Oufit, Kieran Leonard and the Good Knights and further special guests in "a gala night of Real Fits", in support of the Real Fits foundation.
In the spirit of endeavour and diversity championed by great english journalists such as Dickens, Sala, and Orwell, an evening of bunting, absinthe and even hip hop (very special collaborations to be announced) can be expected, at The Round Chapel, Hackney on 20th June, 2008.
Click here to get your tickets now!
For more info on Real Fits, check out www.realfits.org.uk

5/08/2008

Oy!

Mick and Pete today in Camden


Pete Doherty is to play his first solo show since leaving prison next week (May 17). The singer will reunite with Babyshambles in London on May 13 before heading to Manchester alone. There he will play an O2 Wireless Weekender show at Manchester Academy. Tickets go on sale on Friday (May 9) at 9am (BST). To check the availability of Pete Doherty's Wireless Weekender tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/GIGS now, or call 0871 230 1094. The gig is part of a series of O2 Wireless Weekender shows across the country.

Babyshambles drummer Adam Ficek has spoken to NME.COM about Pete Doherty's release from prison.The star was released on Tuesday (May 6) from London's Wormwood Scrubs.Ficek said: "He was raring to get back into the studio. As soon as he came out he had a meeting with the record company."I think we want to go to Marlborough and work on the new album. We've written all the song we just need to jam. We hope it will be better than the last one."

Dirty Pretty Things play on June 2 as the Heineken Green Spheres series of gigs makes its way to Dolan’s Warehouse in Limerick.
Tickets are free, but have to be applied for in advance from www.heinekengreenspheres.ie.
It’s also been announced that the band have decided to change the name of their upcoming album from This Is Where The Truth Begins to Romance At Short Notice.
Carl Barat will tell you why in an upcoming Hot Press interview.

Tired of England, the first single to be released from the band's eagerly anticipated second album, 'Romance At Short Notice', is out on 23rd June in the UK and will be available on CD single and two 7" vinyl singles. The CD features 'Holly Golightly', the first 7 includes 'The Weekenders' and the second 7" has 'Run Fatboy Run' on the B-side. All bonus songs are exclusive to this release.

5/07/2008

Carl, Adrian and Maybelline

Carl talks to the NME about the soundtrack of his life (thanks a lot to Karen for typing the interview):

My guilty pleasure...
“Greatest Hits” - Queen. “I need to make it absolutely clear that I’m not referring to volume two of the “Greatest Hits”, which has some 80’s monstrosities on it. I guess it’s uncool now because of Brian May and his musical ("We Will Rock You"). Have I seen it? What do you think?!”
Everyone should hear...
“The Moldy Peaches” - The Moldy Peaches. “I see this record as a rite of passage - it opened my eyes when The Libertines were first starting out. It’s the pinnacle of cut’n’paste music - melody, innocence, tunes. It brings music to life: sometimes it sounds like The Velvet Underground, sometimes like an ‘80s block party”.
A record by a hero is...
“Transformer” - Lou Reed. “Lou Reed is a hero because he wasn’t very good looking and dressed like a girl but it didn’t matter. I fast-forward that silly bit, “Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday...” . Any song that lists the days of the week pisses me off”.
I wish I’d made...
“Definitely Maybe” - Oasis. “Every tune is flawless, I’ve yet to hear an argument against it. I first heard it on the radio - it was the third single, “Live Forever” - and I instantly went, “I want to do this”. It cut through all the dross with a flaming sword and is the record that made me buy a guitar”.
Right now I’m loving...
“Time To Pretend” - MGMT. “I’ve been travelling around a lot recently, and this record pricks my ears up wherever I go. It’s really hip right now, of course, but I’m loving it. With all the recent stuff with Klaxons and all that, this seems to be another leap forward. They’re so unique-sounding”.
I’ve played to death...
“Rage Against The Machine” - Rage Against The Machine. “I heard it when I wsa 14 and still know every word. My mate Paul from school had it on the bus on a French exchange. We were all getting into our teenage angst and hating our parents, but my rage waned after their second album”.
The LP that’s made the biggest impression...
“The Doors” - The Doors. “Weirdly, I discovered this around the same time I was listening to Rage. When I listened to it in my bedroom I found myself forming my own entire world. I’d sit at home with joss sticks, playing it over and over again. The record suggested to me that there were options - I could have my own individuality. Back then, none of my friends were into The Doors or even knew about them at all, so it really felt like my thing. I guess it helped me form an identity - I was wearing red jeans while everyone else was listening to the Wu-Tang Clan”.
The song that makes me emotional...
“Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)” - David Bowie. “This used to scare the shit out of me when I was about three, strapped into the back seat of our car. I used to get the heebie-jeebies then but I’m getting a bit better now. I’ve got so many early memories - but people don’t usually believe me when I talk about them. We had a hire car and my mum told me this song was about scary monsters. It was on repeat, and I remember clutching the car door in fright. But if I heard it in a club now, I’d just think that the DJ was a bit lame”.
"And I also think you should...”
See…
The Orphanage. “It’s by Guillermo del Toro, who did Pan’s Labyrinth. I’ve never been so scared as I was watching this - it’s a thinking man’s scary movie, but it’s a love story too. Some films make you feel chilly, but this sent shivers down my spine”.
Buy…
The Wire boxset. “I bought this in America recently. I’ll be honest, I haven’t watched any of it yet. I bought it because everyone said it was good. I think you’ve got to go with that sometimes - have a bit of trust and go for a punt on things. That’s up next for me”.
Carry…
Moleskine pocket notebook. “I always carry one with me to note down song ideas, phrases and observations of friends’ personalities that I don’t want them to know about. The thing is, I always lose them when they’re half full and worry that people will find them and think that the stuff in them is rubbish”.

Adrian... that's a funny bloke, he posted a lot of beautiful photos (on Flickr) of Peter and himself taken outside Peter's house in Marlborough (the Albion Towers), and after a few hours he withdrew them all because... just because. Or maybe there's a reason he cannot spread around. Cough. I managed to save them and after watching them under the microscope I uncovered the secret.... oooooohhhhh.
Kidding.
Anyway, since Adrian don't want to see the photos published, I'm not publishing them. OK?


Adam Ficek said he went to see Pizza yesterday and they wrote something together.


And Peter has re-posted the old "I'll kill him" video on his Youtube channel adding a new soundtrack, which is Maybelline.


That's all for now folks. Au revoir.

Three on the run

Peter reschedules RAH gig (here).

DPT choose their album title (here).

Drew and Peter protest against BNP (here).

LATER!!!

5/06/2008

This is for real

From Babybear to French Dog Writtles:

Righto! As am man of my word here's some news and something exclusive for writtlers!
13th May 2008 Babyshambles
Plus special guests
London Kentish Town
Forum Doors 7pm
Follow this link which is active until 9 am tomorrow morning. http://www.artistticket.com/link/?s=babyshambles
After 9 am tickets go on sale to the general public.
It's a way smaller venue than we normally play.
bb p.s. Don't forget The Torriano for pre show drinks.
p.p.s. More news on shows coming soon.

Peter happy after being released



Our man is all over the press this morning. He was relased very early, around 6 am and soon afterwards he called Adrian using the mobile of one of the NME journos (see photo). He looked happy and relaxed and joked a lot with the reporters outside. Below it's the NME interview.

Please note that NO FREEDOM GIG is announced for tonight, at least for now. Don't listen to people who claim they know everything about a mysterious freedom gig and ask for money to put you in the guestlist (Jesus). As soon as Adrian tells something I will post it here.

Roll on Petey!

Pete Doherty has spoken exclusively to NME.COM on his release from prison this morning (May 6).The Babyshambles frontman had served 29 days of a 14-week jail sentence for breaching his probation at Wormwood Scrubs in London.On leaving prison Doherty admitted that his spell inside it had been tough, although he claimed that he had been off drugs during his incarceration. "I got trouble from the start, from the inmates and the guards, mainly shouting at night really," he explained. "Some people were saying 'Keep your head down', the other half were saying 'Keep your chin up'. So I was a bit like a nodding dog – I didn't know whether to keep my chin up or keep my head down. It was 18-day early release – I can't complain really."Doherty added that despite reports of his drug taking on the outside, he claimed that he had cleaned up during his stretch."I managed to stay clean. I got my certificate. I was going to Sellotape it to the wall, but they wouldn't give me any Sellotape," he said. "Did I take heroin inside? Complete rubbish. The prison didn't release statements – it's their policy to ignore it rather than acknowledge it [media reports]. "I was in segregation for the last three weeks. The call it the block. Supposedly I was in debt to loads of big time drug dealers. All I'll say to that is: chance would be a fine thing."Doherty concluded by saying he was upbeat following his release, despite his latest setback landing him in prison."I can see through anything," he declared. "If I can see through the Astoria riot [the 2004 gig which ended in violence after a Babyshambles no show], I can see through Wormwood Scrubs. It could have been a lot worse."

Peter is free

From BBC News:
Singer Pete Doherty has been released from prison after serving 29 days of a 14-week sentence for breaching the terms of his probation.
The Babyshambles frontman, who was freed from Wormwood Scrubs prison in west London, told reporters that he was glad to be out.
Doherty was sent to prison last month after missing appointments with his probation officers.
He had been given a suspended sentence for drugs and driving offences.
His supervision order required him to make regular visits to court for progress reports, as well as take part in a drug rehabilitation programme.
Doherty was forced to postpone a concert at the Royal Albert Hall, which would have been his biggest solo show yet.
The show was rescheduled and all tickets will be valid for the new date once it has been announced.
The singer would have missed his scheduled appearance at the Glastonbury Festival had he served the full sentence.
On his release from Wormwood Scrubs, Doherty said that he was looking forward to having a drink and spending some time with his pet cats.
Later with more news!!!

5/03/2008

Something random

  • Adam Ficek, who records solo material under the moniker Roses, Kings, Castles, has posted a new song online. Ficek has posted a video of him demoing a new song, 'Brass Winter', on YouTube, but as I write the video is no long available.
  • See Drew playing at Filthy McNasty on Thursday night. Great night it was, and Drew is a top dude. The whole gig was dedicated to Peter (it was before the latest news broke in).
  • NME's Mark Beaumont (yes, that of the missed interview) goes bonkers for DPT's new songs: "[...] the biggest revelation of the night [at Proud] came during Dirty Pretty Things' set. Not just the fact that they played a full electric set where we expected an acoustic evening, but the quality of the new tunes. Stirring and storming by turns they were easily the match of anything on 'Waterloo To Anywhere', and towards the end there was a frustratingly short ballad that was frankly staggering on first listen, possibly the best song Carl Barat has ever been involved with. Not having made notes I'm not exactly sure which of the set-list it was, but listen out for the big ballad on DPT's second album - it'll made statues of war heroes weep". Faultlines, Mark. Innit?
  • Carlos is all over the press today, but nothing really serious. Slagging Coldplay because they allowed a free download of their single ("Fair enough they did it, but you can’t escape the fact that big name, big money bands who release their stuff for free are harming the scene. The industry is struggling financially and this is like missile after missile. How do new bands compete?"), and announcing a job on his denture. Sorry, teeth.
  • Some other redtops announced that the beautiful Amy Winehouse (well, nearly) will join Peter in his rescheduled RAH gig. A source close to Amy, said: "Both of them think that playing at such an incredible venue will be a massive two fingers to their critics - especially in light of their traumatic personal lives." Given that the gig hasn't even been rescheduled and Peter is STILL in gaol... that sounds (and smells) like the biggest tabloid fart of the day.

5/02/2008

So, this dirty album...

Photo by Tomoko

OK, sorry about this morning, I just wasn't able to think straight. We'll have time to celebrate, and Adrian is still keeping us at bay because he doesn't want us to be disappointed, but...
Let's talk about Dirty Pretty Things, right? The Mighty Carlos has spilled the beans to the press, and now we have a nearly finished thing.
Recap:
  • DPT's second album is still untitled (phew).
  • It will be out on 30 June.
  • A single will be released one week earlier, "Tired of England".
  • Three producers have worked for this sodding album: Nik Leman, Graeme Stewart and Ben Wood.
  • The tracklist is the following: 'Buzzards And Crows', 'Hippy Son', 'Plastic Hearts', 'Tired Of England', 'Come Closer', 'Fault Lines', 'Kicks Or Consumption', 'Best Face', 'Truth Begins', 'Chinese Dogs', 'The North', 'Blood On My Shoes'.
A few comments on my behalf: I'm disappointed "9 Lives" didn't make it, but oh well... this album has been talked about and waited on for such a long time I'm almost already tired of it. Kidding. The thing is, are the guys already tired of it? Or maybe, is Carlos? Was this album worth all this wait, all this labour? Despite what many people say, I still think Waterloo to Anywhere was an excellent album. It was rushed, allright, and that was one of the reasons why I loved it. Now we seem to have an-anti Waterloo in our hands. Three producers? My God. A synthesizer? Ach. 9 months to get it done? Such a hard pregnancy. Carlos is saying the album is going to be OK. "It by far outgleams the first one and it has so much more truth in it" he teases. The band's manager says "it's going to blow us away" but nobody cares for him, or ever believes what he says. We've heard different things of course. We've heard of a band at the end of its tether. We've heard of members leaving and coming back. We've heard of the return of the black lady. But nothing of this will be talked about from now on. We have a new album to listen to, and we believe it will be good. From what I've heard Carl has written some pretty good tunes once again. Let's hope the three producers haven't destroyed them too much. As for the Truth... don't even mention it, Carlos.

FREEEEEEEEEEDOM!!!!

Yaaaaayyyyy!!! AHEM. Ssssshhhhtttt!!! Nothing, nothing. You know, still half asleep... Watch Carlos talking bollox hey. YAY!

5/01/2008

DPT at Proud

Photo by Mary

Setlist provided by Jo: Come closer, Hippy son, Chinese dogs, Deadwood, Tired of england, Plastic hearts, Truth begins, Gin and milk, Faultlines, Bang bang.
Beautiful pictures by Max Tollworthy on Flickr.
For Londoners: don't forget to vote today.