More tips from Carlos

The Mighty Carlos is back on the pages of this month's Q Magazine to talk about his favourite "travelling tunes" (thanks for choosing my fave Dylan song, mate).

TRAIN ROUND THE BEND - THE VELVET UNDERGROUND: It's just about moving from the country to the city, which is a journey that I made. "Hey I'm just a city boy/And really not the country kind." I'm originally from Whitechurch in Hampshire. I really identify with that line and the idea that there are people from the country that don't seem to fit in there; you move to the city and there are more people like you. It was my science teacher at school who introduced me to The Velvet Underground. He was quite young, fresh out of teacher-training school. He dealt with unruliness by getting people colour in graph paper - no two colours were allowed to connect. I spent a lot of hours colouring in graph paper. I think he sensed that I wasn't like the rest of the people in the class. He gave me a life changing tape that had Venus In Furs on it, which I listened to endlessly in my bedroom.

ON A PLAIN - NIRVANA: Not the right kind of plane to fit the theme, but there's something about this that makes me think of a journey. I was a big Nirvana fan. I was a bit startled on the morning of my 28th birthday that I hadn't died. I kind of figured that I might be part of, y'know, rock stars-dying at 27 thing, like Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison. I figured I might be cut from the same cloth. When I was a kid, I always wanted to write songs about what happened inside my head. That's what Cobain managed to do brilliantly here. "I got so high I scratched 'till I bled/I love myself better than you/ I know it's wrong, so what should I do?" It's narcissistic and self indulgent, while at the same time conveying a sense of sympathy. I could have completely misinterpreted it, but that's what it means to me.

HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED - BOB DYLAN: I like the way Bob Dylan uses biblical characters and street-talk at the same time here. "Oh God said to Abraham, Kill me a son/Abe says, Man, you must be puttin' me on." I wouldn't say that I'm religious, but the Bible is a good book. We all grow up with those stories and they become hard wired into our collective consciousness, which is why they inspire a lot of feeling. Actually, we recorded Subterranean Homesick Blues for an online session recently. Originally, we were going to do Lovefool by The Cardigans - we thought that would be ironic - but it turns out not to be a very good song, or at least, not as good as we thought. So we did Subterranean Homesick Blues instead. It's hard to sing Dylan songs without imitating his accent, but then you tend to go the other way and get a bit "oi". It's more difficult than you think.

EVERYBODY'S TALKIN' - NILSSON: I first got into this song via The Beautiful South. Some people might say they're not a very cool band, but I don't give a fuck about cool. It's about melody and lyrics. Since then, I've heard Nilsson's version. It's timeless. it's such a romantic notion , going to the city to escape. For me, hearing a good song is like finding a tenner in the street. It does lead me on a trail [to explore an artist further].

THE DAY WE CAUGHT THE TRAIN - OCEAN COLOUR SCENE: Again, people might think this is not very cool, that they're a bit Jamie Oliver, but when I was 18, this song was everywhere. What I like about it is the sense of romance journeying by train. I used to have a thing about going to the station in Whitechurch and looking at trains going to all these destinations around England. It makes me think about films like Brief Encounter and Bill Liar. Although, of course, the whole point of Billy Liar is that he doesn't catch the train.

TOUCH ME - THE DOORS: I discovered The Doors on a coach in France during an exchange trip. It was only the second time I'd been abroad. We had about three tapes, we smoked a lot of cigarettes and this was the song that we listened to more than any other. When I hear it now, it reminds me of that summer. It's one of the rare cases that led me on a journey of musical discovery. I went out and bought all their records.

ITCHYCOO PARK - SMALL FACES: Another song about the halcyon days of youth. What's more escapist than skipping school to go and hang around the park? "I feel inclined to blow my mind/Get hung up, feed the fucks with a bun/They all come out to groove about/be nice and have sun in the sun." At the moment I'm into songs about the journey that one's teenager rites of passage represent. Maybe it's something to do with me recently turning 30. It does look a bit suspicious, doesn't it?

MOVING - SUPERGRASS: This song reminds me of being on tour with Supergrass when I was in The Libertines. There were quite a few times when we nearly got kicked off - touching things we weren't supposed to touch, eating things we weren't allowed to eat, and all the rest of it. It was a bit like the kids and the grown-ups. But they're an interesting band with a real English predigree and I'm still friends with [drummer] Danny Goffrey. I don't want to kiss Mick Quinn's arse, but there's something about the way he plays the bassline here. It's like a perpetual motion machine or something. It just keeps grinding.

NUAGES - DJANGO REINHART: Nuages means "clouds" in French. I bought the sheet music because I wanted to learn to play it, but I could only manage the first four bars. I suppose this is symbolic of the journal of growing older. You have to be grown up to like songs by Belgian Gypsey guitarists with no words; to me, that suggests a little bit of maturity. I wish I had the attention span to master it, but learning a few of Django's jazz chords did help me. They were like a seed that you can grow your own plant from.

CHANGES - DAVID BOWIE: It's not my favorite Bowie song; that's Oh! You Pretty Things. But there's something very poetic about the lyrics dealing with a journey in the personal sense. It's something needs to be addressed. Like I said, I've just turned 30, so change is something that's on my mind. It's inevitable. I'm trying to embrace it. I thought it would bother me a lot more than it does. What will change? My outlook on frivolity. I want to become prolific. Stop watching crap telly. Do more stuff. The clock's ticking and I need to stop being such a lazy bastard.

To gig or not to gig?

The leaflet above can be seen at this site and is clearly advertising the opening of a new club in Liverpool, with the one ond only Pete Doherty as the main guest at the launch party. I'm not sure how much truth there is in this ad. Adam said "i dont know anything about this....not through any contacts i know so??". OK, it should be a Peter-solo gig, not Babyshambles', so it's not strange that Adam doesn't know anything. And there are people who claim they have tickets. But there's also someone who dials that number and does not get any reply. So? Where's a babybear when you need it?

Peter has been interviewed (apparently) in the last number of Loaded magazine. Major press sites are reporting what to them is the main feature of this interview, that is Peter mourning a lost love, but I'm sure he talked about many other things. For example:

He denied he set a bad example to young fans, saying: "I can't see why people call me a bad influence. I meet a lot of kids who are into music. I spend as much time as I can with them. I listen to their demos and I'm encouraging. No-one's ever asked me for a drug dealer's number. It's music, music, music. That's my influence." Doherty, who was released from jail in May where he was locked up for skipping bail after being caught with crack cocaine, heroin, ketamine and cannabis, said: "I'd have to take drugs just to get in the state of mind to deal with the probation meetings. I was constantly monitored. They've been around me since day one, but so has corduroy. Know what I mean? Drugs don't create the sound - they might just change the pitch slightly. Or make you spell a word wrong." Doherty also hit out at Conservative party leader David Cameron saying: "I was in jail during the (local) elections. I heard David Cameron on the radio and he said something like, 'And we have a loser for a Prime Minister'. He's a man who's supposed to be representing the people, not shouting insults across the Commons. He kind of makes me ill, David Cameron. I liked the old-fashioned Tory - like Winston Churchill, who had style. But Cameron's like a new breed - computer-generated. I hate it." Of course, a scan of the whole interview would be much appreciated.

One more thing, film director Guy Ritchie has been inspired by Peter for a character of his new movie. Read on (from NME.com): "Guy Ritchie's new film 'RocknRolla' has a character based on Pete Doherty. According to Empire magazine, the character Johnny Story (played by Toby Kebbell) is a shambolic musician who hides out in a London crack den.Ritchie, who also directed the 1998 hit movie 'Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels' explained that the Babyshambles singer had influenced the character. "At the time I was writing it, Pete Doherty was everywhere," he said. "I think what we all like is someone who fell and then stood up again. And that's probably the story with Pete Doherty." He added: "There seems to be an implication that people want to see him jump. But at the same time there's a desire to see the likes of him being reborn." It's not the first time Doherty has been referenced by film makers. It was recently reported that late actor Heath Ledger apparently drew inspiration from the Babyshambles singer for his portrayal of the Joker in the new Batman movie 'The Dark Knight'. 'RocknRolla' is released on September 5 in the UK".

Unreleased song "unveiled"

By who? Guess?? Oh Adam!!! Your secret didn't last long did it.

"Babyshambles drummer Adam Ficek has posted a previously unreleased song by the band on his MySpace page.The song, 'Arcady', has appeared on several Pete Doherty demos in acoustic form, but a properly recorded full-band version has so far stayed under wraps - until now. It's thought that this version of 'Arcady' was recorded during the bands 2005 sessions for the group's debut album 'Down In Albion', which was produced by The Clash's Mick Jones and featured former guitarist Patrick Walden.To listen to the song, go to MySpace.com/roseskingscastles and select the last song, jokily titled 'sshhh'."

(Source: NME.com).

In other news, Peter didn't show up at the Barbican last night because "he couldn't get out of his car" (legs first, honey).

Carl's favourite tips

Click on the image above and enlarge it. Don't worry, you'll go blind anyway.

But before going blind see the man rambling on about his "probable" liaison with Mark Ronson (here).

Don't forget tonight Peter is playing here.

DAAAAAAAANCE!!!!

Dancing news after a dancing night!

Adrian Hunter (the Manager with the capital M) and the very sweet Adam Ficekus are starting an exciting brand new club night. Adrian writes:

"Great news folks. After being shafted by Bugbear we are back and with a new vim, zest and vitality! Welcoming a new member to the fold in the shape of Mr Adam Ficek, babybear (always lower case) returns to annoy the ears of Camden Town! It's going to be monthly at The Prince Of Wales and bound to be a blast. Frreeee Entry! Special guests (when we can be arsed) and a tithe of any money we make, goes to Teenage Cancer Trust (well mine does). Anyway, our first regular monthly is on September 6th and monthly afterwards. What more can I say? Except babybearprinceofwales@live.com". More info at babybear's facebook (incidentally, congrats to the man for getting married last week).

DPT are also back to dj-ing (at least, Didz):

Sunday 10th August - Absent Kelly Present: ’Dirty Pretty Things’ dj set
Dirty Pretty Things return to the ever more familiar Dirty South, for a filthy nasty and dirty (but pretty) dj set. Expect indie rock n’ roll to be emerging from behind the dirtiest decks in the south with Didz at the helm. Couple this with live support from hand picked bands from across the uk. Expect to party like Chinese Dog with 9 Lives! Bands: THE 85'S, THE LIABILITIES, The BIMMYS, PAPER PLANE PILOTS, NO HALF MEASURES, SHY REBEL, FLOONE, DJ’s: DIRTY PRETTY THINGS. Time:1pm - 9pmEntry: £6. More info here (incidentally, congrats to the man for shaving off his tache).

And last but not least, see Didz (still facial haired) and Carl talking to Maxim magazine.

The Ficek Gazette

From NME.com:

Babyshambles drummer Adam Ficek – who records under the alias Roses, Kings, Castles, has announced details of his next solo single. Ficek will release 'Entroubled' on September 8 on his own label, The Sycamore Club'. The single will be available on seven-inch vinyl and digital download. Ficek will be giving away 1,000 signed copies of the single to fans to sign up for the release at MySpace.com/riseskingscastles. The star will follow the single with the release of his first solo album, also titled, 'Roses, Kings, Castles', on September 22.

Video

Peter has gone back home after his adventure in court. He's still denying he's been robbed but yesterday he popped at his favorite music shop in Reading and bought 3 guitars. Bodes well for the solo album, doesn't it?

One more thing, according to the NME the participation to the Moonfest Music Festival (Friday Aug 29) is now credited to "Babyshambles" and not "Pete Doherty". Various ill informed sites reported that "the original line-up of Babyshambles will reform for an upcoming U.K. festival". I think that's a huge mistake, because I don't see neither Pat Walden neither Gemma Clarke joining Peter and Drew at the event. Probably those sites (one was Showbiz Spy) have no idea about the original line-up and are already considering Babyshambles (the Pete-Drew-Mik-Adam combo) a deceased band that needs a "reunion" to play together again.

The Libertines "Fora"

Please forgive my out of place Latinism. What I'm talking about is actually those places where fans and foes of the Libertines, or their spin-off bands, get together once or twice a day to talk about their opinions on the above mentioned bands' latest releases, adventures, gigs, gossips and bums. A lot of people are still mourning the death of the band's official site, and particularly the forum's (thelibertines.org.uk). The site's webmasters assured everybody (about 3 or 4 times) the site was coming back "in the future", but up to now it hasn't. So, people are thinking of making up something new "made by fans". The Delaney (forum only) has been going on/off for about one year but it still lacks something crucial: a great participation. The old glorious Spirit of Albion is deceased as well but in any case it was a site and didn't have a forum. Albion Arks is back with a vengeance (site and forum) but people usually go there only to discuss the (impressive) media archive. There's the infamous "org", the only place where you could witness a live discussion between Heavyhorse and Albionsolutions back in the day, the only place where Heavyhorse apologized to Albionsoultions's mom for calling her "a junkie" in the NME, and where Albionsolutions asked his cochon where the hell he had been hiding the night before in Paris... ("Calling to you jiggaboy...Can't give u a ding dong. Dam'n those montmarte sim cards and babbling operators. Got serious dts here. cant type straight, let alone think straight, or vice versa. Hope you don't mind my jealous japery. (login gave the game away). Need something to occupy mind during vigil, still, hush hush about that. Can u email me? Can't work anything. Is it true ur blighty bound for sun? May await you there or not pending progress.... Much love, de la cochon. Thats baguettes and bordeaux, not bagles and bourbon.XXX")
OK, fuck nostalgia, that forum has been going downhill since 2004 and now only losers seem to frequent, with the occasional exceptions...
There are still the side projects forums, i.e. French Dog Writtles (rather nice, and Heavyhorse is still very much on there, as well as Moderateass and of course our friend Babybear) and the DPT Official Forum (mmmm... no. It was a little boring at the start, but now it's only sycophants and vampires).
All this was said just to introduce you to... (drumroll) a new Libertines site. Sounds strange? No, what did I tell you? People were working towards that, and our friend Strychnine made it first. Here's the address: http://thelibertines.ning.com/
Will this place relive the old places' glories? It's up to you folks. Me, I'm not a great fan of "fora". But who knows, I might join too one day...

Small tips from the NME

I'm glad Peter wasn't burgled at all (or that he made up with the burglar and decided to deny the offence).
Nice interview with Drew at Benicassim (here).
The Mercury Prize shortlist is out: Shotters Nation is out too!
Anyway, if anybody's interested:
Adele - '19'
British Sea Power - 'Do You Like Rock Music?'
Burial - 'Untrue'
Elbow - 'The Seldom Seen Kid'
Estelle - 'Shine'
The Last Shadow Puppets - 'The Age..'
Laura Marling - 'Alas I Cannot Swim'
Neon Neon - 'Stainless Style'
Portico Quartet - 'Knee-Deep In The North Sea'
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – 'Raising Sand'
Radiohead - 'In Rainbows'
Rachel Unthank & The Winterset – 'The Bairns'

The burglary years

I'm very sorry that Peter got robbed of a guitar worth £ 2,000, and some of his blood paintings this last weekend, and that his house got broken into. If the police should ask me, I spotted a famous guitar player hanging in Marlborough Saturday night but when I started chasing him the morning after he was already speeding off to a seaside resort in the West Country.

K-I-D-D-I-N-G.

The Shambles participation at the Benicassim Festival was highly successful, Friday and Saturday, although the Spanish press claims the Friday gig was better. We have some beautiful photos from Saturday by a_marga on Flickr, and a video (Delivery) from youtube.

We also have a new gig looming, it's an event at the Rogue's Gallery (Barbican Hall) on 28 July, called "Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys", featuring Baby Gramps, Martha Wainwright, David Thomas, Gavin Friday, Ralph Steadman, Robyn Hitchcock, Norma Waterson, Teddy Thompson, Martin Carthy, Julie Fowlis, Eliza Carthy, Pete Doherty & more. Tickets: £15 / 20 / 25. More info here.

Dirty Pretty Things yesterday played at that seaside resort in the West Country, Weston Super Mare, as part of the "T4 on the beach" festival. Some snippets were shown on Channel Four yesterday afternoon, and if you missed them, here's the clip, showing a short interview with Carl and the boys, plus Deadwood.

That's all for now folks. Stay tuned for more news.

BE-NI-CAS-SIM!!!

ABC

El Pais

Levante

La vanguardia

El Mundo

LasProvincias

NME

Photos by Fiberfib

Photo gallery by the NME

Setlist: Heartbreak Hotel, Kilamanjiro, Delivery, Baddie's Boogie, What Katie Did, Beg Steal Borrow, Unbilotitled, Side of the Road, Unstookietitled, Albion, Pipedown, Fuck Forever.

Who's looking at John?

The other two... (photo by Anjali)

We are, and all NME readers. A huge thank you to Phillikesbeer from the Yeti Gonzales forum for typing this interview, published on the NME's last issue.

Former Libertines bassist John Hassall has revealed why he chose to record 2 'lost' Libs songs with his new band Yeti and why Pete Doherty used to call him "Jesus" on tour.

The recently released "The Legend of Yeti Gonzales" features 2 songs,'Sister Sister' and 'Merry Go Round' that Hassall wrote while he was still in the Libertines. The former was oringinally recorded during the band's 'Legs 11' demo sessions in September 2000, with Hassall on vocals. The latter was never played or recorded by Doherty and co (although Babyshambles have a song of the same title), but was written while Hassall was touring with the band in 2004. The Singer/guitarist told NME that the downbeat 'Merry go Round' was his attempt to capture the melanchonic nature of being on the road, feeling lonely despite being surrounded by people all the time.

"It was a wonderful thing, being on tour," he explained. "You feel incredibly happy but at the same time it's quite a melanchonic experience, just passing through places and never stopping. There is a sadness there."

Hassall joked that touring with Yeti is "a lot more civilised" than being on the road with his former band, and revealed that Pete Doherty and Carl Barat used to call him "Jesus" because, being a practising Buddhist, he would undertake religious chanting on the tourbus while his bandmates enjoyed raucous rock antics.

"They were very understanding about me doing it on the bus," he recalled. "They did call me 'Jesus' but it was in a funny good-natured way."

Talking about the break-up of the Libertines in 2004, after they played thier final gig in Paris without Pete Doherty, Hassall said it was a difficult time for him, but he believed that dissolving the band was the right thing to do.

"It was a sad place for us," he said, " but I think it was the end of the cycle."

He said he is on good terms with his former bandmates. "I went to see Carl and Gary play the other day" he explained "I haven't seen Peter for ages but I do communicate with him sometimes. I think of them all as really good mates."

Hassall was cagey about a possible reunion, but refuesd to rule it out. "Most importantly, we have a good friendship," he said "after that it kind of depends really....".

Where have Yeti been? Despite forming in 2004, Yeti -Hassall on bass, Mark Underwood on acoustic guitar, Andrew Deian cannes on electric guitar and Graham Blacow on drums - have only just released their debut album. What took them so long ?

"Um... I guess we came up against resistance, internally and externally," Hassall mumbled, refusing to be drawn on details - suggesting that life in Yeti could be as turbulent as it was in the Libs. "But we've grown through that - that band has changed a lot. And the second album is written already!".

From France to Spain

Babyshambles played a late night gig at the Vieilles Charrues Festival in France, only a few hours ago. I've only found this short review (in French). No photos yet.

As for my suggestion to Peter... well, I can't understand how you get a "warrant of arrest" for kicking a stupid pap's ass one year ago but that's just me. They will always try to fuck him, no matter what. Not my business anyway, so lets' go back to music.

The Benicassim Festival is starting today! Babyshambles are playing tonight on the Green Stage (Escenario Verde) and Saturday at the spin-off event "Saturday Night Fiber" in Madrid (Morrissey is headlining). That should be a blast! Let's hope everything goes fine.

People who are staying in Blighty might want to come closer to Carl Barat and DPT, who are expected (Sunday) at the T4 on the Beach event in Weston Super Mare (a gig still mysteriously ignored at the DPT's official site). It should be a great day for surfing and bodyboarding so I think I might drop. If DPT don't turn up you can still enjoy Reverend and the Makers, Zutons and Sugarbabes, sorry, Black Kids.

If you stay in town you can watch the Mighty Carlos on the telly. Tune in to MTV Two tonight at 9:30 p.m. to catch live footage of the band recorded at the 02 Wireless Festival in Hyde Park earlier this month.

So, many things to look up to this weekend. Enjoy yourself and fuck the law.

Don't go back to UK

Those assholes are trying to fuck you once again, Peter. Stay where you are.

Something more from Montreux

I've just found this article on Swiss site "Lords of Rock". It's an interview with Drew and a review of the Montreux gig. Sorry for the messy translation, I've used babelfish, but if some french people want to give a hand they're welcomed...

Montreux trembled for the arrival of Babyshambles. Or almost, because it was rather impatient of their arrival. Let us summarize: announced with 14:00, it is quite naturally that they will arrive in catimini at 19:00. Time to hear thousand and one rumours on a possible cancellation, one takes honest time to listen to Blood Red Shoes. The room is divided into two: teenagers in front of, crushed and suffocating against thirty year blasés and demanding a little further. Delivery: the star of this festival is there and well upright. Pete Doherty leaves it to her excellent companions to begin the concert. Dispatch we to look at this wandering angel, the concert will be short. Back From The Dead: one is astonished always as much in front of this superb piece melancholic person of the first album. Most beautiful moment. Shambles wiser than are envisaged. Pete does not even stagger, it is frustrating: the first thirty year ones ronchonnent and leave the places. Misfortune for them: the happy hours of the bar of in-face has just finished and Pete connects on Fuck Forever. Summit of ease. It misses however the brothel of the beers which fly and English with barechested. Montreux is wise, Montreux does not tremble. Awaited disappointment: nothing of crunching to tell concerning Pete. Fifty minutes in concert and direction cabins. The concert was rock'n'roll because impossible to interpret, short and without true fault. The continuation will be it rock' roll: rise express in the cabins not without intention. Pete returned while running to its hotel, it pèterait of them almost fires. Adam Ficek (battery) Drew McConnell (low) eat fruits on the settees whereas Mik Whitnall (guitar) made the puppet. Few media tried to collect the remarks of these déglingués. Under its surfaces of Robert de Niro in Taxi Driver, Drew invites us to join it.

Lords Of Rock'n'roll: How are you guys? Happy to be together again?

Drew: one is not really in round, one made only some festivals to tell the truth, one leaves London deux-trois days and one returns. But one is currently very happy, all does well.

Lords: Difficult to escape this media fury…

Drew: (he sighs) one does not read really the newspapers, and fortunately. One has been together for almost five years, and it was only during the first months that one found that cool. See my head in Sun is not the thing which I prefer… But I try not to too much pay attention to that.

Lords: You spoke in French with Couleur 3 previously.

Drew: Ouais, I lived 8 months in Marseilles, I also went to Spain. And I am originating in Ireland. Lords: Except the few dates, did you plan something for the future?

Drew: Not, one is enough bad to plan the things (to laugh)… Personally I have difficulties in think too far. One benefits from the present moment.

Lords: Your second album, Shotter' S Nation, is succeeded definitely more…

Drew: Yes indeed, there is a great difference in particular in the play of guitar. Mik arrived with a completely different sound. Ca passably changed the sound of the group. I had arrived in the group only two weeks before the exit of the first album, Down in Albion. It was very chaotic, one had recorded it in the worst studio of England, with the worst microphones, for practically nothing, really of the trifles (to laugh)! Now, with our recording company (EMI), there was the chance to have the models (to laugh)! And in more there were more time for recorded.

Impressed per such an amount of kindness, I withdraw myself to greet the other members of the group. Adam, the beater, benefits from it to launch some valves between two pretty girls and to propose to me to accompany them during the evening. The continuation will be chaotic and unforeseeable, between battle of grapes and methodical flight of wine bottles to the Jazz Coffee on behalf of Mik. The Shambles Babies did not die, they are detached, lucid and suited to the service. As for Pete, there will remain always unforeseeable. But three good souls take care on him and one thinks that finally, c' is well like that…

Julien Gremaud

Carl dubs with Reverend

From NME.com:

Dirty Pretty Things' Carl Barat and Reverend And The Makers' Jon 'The Reverend' McClure are working on a dub record together.Speaking to BBC 6Music, Barat confirmed the collaboration was occurring, but said that the duo felt no pressure to release the new material."I'm just making a little dub record," he said, "to see how it goes, and if it's no good then well just leave it. It's just something I want to do and something he [McClure] wants to do."

In another piece of news from the NME, Carl says he's "open" to a Libertines reunion.

Yes, Carl... keep opening.

We all came out to Montreux...

... on the Lake Geneva shoreline.

No, Peter didn't suddenly turn into some long haired brute from the 70s, but he and Babyshambles apparently were close to missing their flight yesterday, at least according to this hilarious article. Anyway, it seems the guys made it to the MontreuxFestival at last and played a gorgeous show too!

We have some very beautiful photos by Cristoph and a setlist:

Delivery, Carry on up the morning, Beg, steal and borrow, Baddie's Boogie, The whole world is our playground, Killamangiro, Sedative, Pipedown, What Katie did, There she goes, Side of the road, Back from the dead, Babyshambles, The blinding, Albion, Fuck forever.

Peter, Mongrel and more Peter

Mongrel!

Peter explains in his words what happened yesterday (here).

Mongrel, the indie super-group featuring Arctic Monkeys Matt Helders, former Monkey Andy Nicholson, Babyshambles' Drew McConnell, Reverend And The Makers' Jon McClure and Joe Moskow and rapper Lowkey – have announced details of their first UK and Irish tour. The collective – who are set to release their debut album in October – will play three live dates in Autumn plus one yet-to-be confirmed show in Lebanon. Tickets for the three shows go on sale Thursday (July 17). MONGREL will play: Dublin Academy (October 15) Sheffield Academy (16) London Hackney Empire (17). A Mongrel exclusive is expected in the next NME.

Plus, Peter talks about his solo album (here), now set for an Autumn release. Please take note: "He will honour all his booked live commitments with Babyshambles, but will not book further gigs until the solo album is finished". So, tonight the Shambles are playing the Montreux Jazz Festival, somehow confirmed by Babybear while hanging in Zurich.

Peter plays for Daniel

Things got extremely confused once again last night. I'm sorry I couldn't be of any help but I was caught in the middle of the mess as well. Anyway, this article is clearing up everything:

ROCK star Pete Doherty travelled to the North East yesterday to play a special gig in memory of a teenager who lost his battle with cancer.
The controversial Babyshambles frontman befriended 16-year-old Daniel Squires after the pair met during a gig.
The teenager, of Jarrow, South Tyneside, died in his mother Becky’s arms on Friday, July 4, after suffering from bone cancer.
Hexham-born Doherty, 28, arrived at Jarrow’s Golden Lion pub meeting Daniel’s friends and family for more than an hour during the wake last night.
The former Libertines singer took to the stage with his guitar teaming up with one of the teenager’s friends in an emotional tribute following the funeral at South Shields Crematorium.
Manager Lynette Gale said: “He was here for around an hour and a half. It went very well, there were a lot of people here. He was on the stage at the back of the pub and everyone was crowding around him.
“I think he said that he wanted to come up as a tribute and it’s such a lovely gesture. It was special.”
The star was also lined up yesterday to play at The Cluny, Newcastle, with tickets snapped up within hours but hundreds of fans were disappointed when the rock star failed to show.
Speaking to The Journal earlier this year, Daniel, of Hazel Street, said that he wanted to “build as many special memories,” for himself, his family and friends.
One of the things on his wish list was to meet Doherty. Dan said: “Pete and the band have just been absolutely amazing and hopefully I will be able to stay well enough to see them play again.”
After his death, father Mark spoke of the role Doherty played in his son’s life.
He added: “He invited Dan to a gig in Bristol and Pete dedicated a song to him. Another time, there was a fundraising gig in London for the charity Teenage Kicks. Although Pete and his band Babyshambles were touring Europe and not booked to appear, they flew back for the gig and asked organisers if they could do a set which they dedicated to Daniel. Pete also gave him his mobile phone number and told Daniel to ring him if he ever needed anything. ”
Daniel, a student at Hebburn Comprehensive School, also met Oasis star Noel Gallagher and helped to write a song for a show at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
The teenager also worked alongside Roger Daltrey, The Who’s lead singer, during a concert at The Sage Gateshead.

(source: Journal Live)

Goodbye sweet Daniel. You're a star.

THIS JUST OUT

Sorry.

THIS JUST IN

BABYSHAMBLES singer Pete Doherty has arranged a last-minute gig on Tyneside tonight, the Gazette can reveal.
The former Libertines main man is playing at The Cluny in Lime Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle.Doors open at 8pm, and Pete - famous for hits such as Kilimanjiro and Can't Stand Me Now - is due on stage at 9pm.A spokesman for The Cluny confirmed: "We've pulled off a massive coup and got a last-minute show from Pete Doherty tonight. "Tickets are £10 on the door, and are likely to sell out very early!"

Source: The Shields Gazette

Saturday night's round up

The Telegraph

The Guardian

Gigwise

This is London

Plus!

Pitchfork reviews "Oh what a lovely tour!"

End of an era and hopefully the start of another!

photo by Aurelien

That's what Baybear said this morning on FDW while people were commenting last night's gig at the Royal Albert Hall. Of course, many interpretations could be given to that statement, but when it comes from Peter's manager, that statement surely gets a lot of attention. But let's not rush things. The rescheduled "Pete Doherty solo gig at the Royal Albert Hall with many guests" first of all lacked... many guests. My bad. Apart from the opening acts (Sallon and the Thirst), who played on their own, Peter was joined on the stage by 1) Peter Wolf, 2) ... Mik Whitnall. Cough. So, whoever was expecting a second edition of the last year's first night at Hackney (of course nobody was expecting Carlos - bar a few morons) was left a bit let down. Only a bit though, because the greatest star was up there on the stage.

However, to me the major fault of the night was not the lack of relevant guests, nor Peter's not-excessively-brilliant-guitar-playing, nor the stage invasion either; it was the venue. The Royal Albert Hall might be alluring, might be suggestive, but it's not a place where I'd like to see my fave bands. If Peter's new era sees him more as a crooner than as a rock'n'roll animal, will places like that be the ideal environment for him? I don't think so.

Having said that, the show was rather fantastic. Peter was on top form. He played lots of songs from the past and only a few numbers from Shotters Nation, plus a cover of Country Joe and the Fish (I Feel Like I’m Fixing To Die Rag - a classic from the 1969 Woodstock festival). The stage invasion got a little bit out of hand but it's not something we haven't witnessed before. Adam and Paul Roundhill were seen in the crowd. Nearly all the songs can be seen on youtube.

Now, what's next? Is this really the start of a new era? And what does this imply? The end of Babyshambles? A new band? A new record? A new haircut? I reckon Peter should go back to playing small places, and as much as I love hearing Waterloo or The Good Old days or Time for Heroes once again I think there's also the need of fresh material. And maybe a new musical direction? Only time will tell.

Setlist from Alicepooh: Lady don’t fall backwards, Bollywood to Battersea, Time for Heroes, Carry on Up the Morning, Can’t Stand Me Now, East of Eden, French Dog Blues, Likely Lads, You’re My Waterloo, Tell the King, There She Goes, Ha Ha Wall, Side of the Road, Back from the Dead, Feel Like I’m Fixing To Die Rag, What a Waster, Arcady, Vertigo, Death on the Stairs, Beg Steal Borrow, For Lovers, Music When the Lights Go Out, Unstookietitled, Fuck Forever, Unstookietitled outro Suicide in the Trenches, Albion, I Wish.

A few tips

TONIGHT:

Dirty Pretty Things are this week's featured artist on XFM's Live from Leicester Square session which airs between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Friday, 11th July. Click here to be in with a chance of being in attendance. For more info on the show and to listen online, go to http://www.xfm.co.uk/

Later, Carl and Didz Hammond are expected to spin a few records at Dangerous Disco, Islington Carling Academy, together with Silvery, Revenue & Saliorette (LIVE), New Slang DJs, Devil Made Me Do It. Admission £ 8 (over 18 only).

Babyshambles are playing at Musiclac Festival, Aix-les-bains, France, from 10.40 to 11.40 pm (CET).

I would like to advertize another gig for early shambles nostalgics (i.e. me and other 5 people): Big Dave, the band of former Shambles axeman Patrick Walden, is playing tonight at Catch 22, Kingsland Road, London, from 8 pm, WITH LITTL'ANS. The gig is free.

TOMORROW:

July 12th it's Royal Albert Hall night. From 7.30 pm, Pete Doherty solo gig with many guests. JUST BE THERE.

NEXT WEEK:

July 15th: Babyshambles playing Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland, Miles Davis Hall, 8.30 pm (CET).

July 18th: Babyshambles playing Festival Internacional de Benicassim (80 km from Valencia), Escenario Verde, 9 pm (CET).

And then I think I should advertize this other night although it doesn't strictly involve neither Peter neither Carl, but still it's for Teenage Cancer Trust and so it slightly does... anyway:

This coming Thursday night July 17th and at the hour of 7 O Clock: We are proud to present a rock n roll cabaret in aid of a very good cause Trekstock - A show in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust We have in no particular order of appearence: Mighty Boosh DJ Set - Coco Summer - The New York Fund - Kieran Leonard and The Goodknights - And Very Special Guests (mandatory!!!). Tickets will go on sale today at 3pm. Tickets from www.ticketweb.co.uk Search for event Trekstock to buy tickets Advance tickets only Doors 7pm Showtime 8pm sharp.

Let's talk about Adam

Interview with Adam Ficek for Noize Makes Enemies (by Brianna Saraceno)

Adam Ficek, drummer with Mr. Doherty’s indie misfits Babyshambles has his own side project band on the go Roses Kings Castles. He was kind enough to spare a wee moment of his time for a quick Q&A to tell us a little bit more about this new venture and about the man himself

Noize: How did Roses, Kings, Castles come about?

Adam Ficek: I have always written songs, some of them don't make the shambles albums, so I wanted a way to get them out there, It was purely for selfish reasons, I just wanted to get the songs heard. I didn't expect people to be that interested...

N: Where did you come up with the name?

AF: I like those three words together, there's no real inspiration just that they fitted the music I made.

N: Who are your inspirations?

AF: I really enjoy listening to melodic indie stuff such as c86esq, Belle and Sebastian, the Housemartins, but also bands such as Blur, the Smiths, Syd Barret, but then's theres the classical and jazz influence.....it goes on and on.

N: Do you and Drew support each others’ projects outside of ‘Shambles?

AF: Yeah, Mik also, we're all planning to go on a solo tour together very soon.

N: Who did the Roses, Kings, Castles artwork you use on the myspace?

AF: Giorgia Di Lello, an aspiring young artist I met in Italy....

N: What are your aims for Roses, Kings, Castles over the next year?

AF: release two EPs, and play some small libraries and launderettes across the UK and Europe, when not Babyshambles-ing, obviously that's my band, so it takes priority. It's just nice to have something to do when we have time off.

N: What is your dream Glasto lineup?

AF: Reform the Stone Roses and the Smiths joint headline.

N: If you could collaborate with any artist in the near future, who would it be?

AF: I've written a duet for Tracy Anne Campbell from Camera Obscura but she isn't aware of it yet...

Nostalgia Corner

So come outside cause I got what you need
Stand by my fire when you've got nothing
I'll knock you down, I'll pick you up
Drag you back inside and drink from the sweet FA Cup

New collaborations on the way

Both Peter and Carlos seem to be facing a summer full of new projects and collaborations. We already know about Peter giving a hand to 17-year old Coco Sumner in the production of her debut album. Of course Peter hasn't forgotten his solo project either and last night he shouted one of his appeals on FDW (apparently from France) asking producer Jake Fior to "call him on Lucy's phone". We don't know yet if Jake has called him back though!

Besides, rumours are rife about Peter's guests at the RAH show. Peter is expected to debut some new material with a very special guest, who is definitely NOT Amy Winehouse.

The Mighty Carlos, on the other hand, seems to have a soft spot for Amy's producer becuase he's planning something "secret" with Mark Ronson. Says NME.com: Carl Barat has revealed he is set to collaborate with producer Mark Ronson on a new project.However, the Dirty Pretty Things frontman is refusing to reveal the details of the team-up.Speaking to the Daily Star, Barat said: "I'm a fan of Ronson. Who isn't? We have something coming up but it's very hush-hush. I don't want to jinx anything so my lips are sealed, but it could be brilliant."The singer/guitarist also revealed that he is collaborating on a project with Reverend And The Makers' Jon McClure, saying: "He's a busy man too. I think he's got Attention Defecit Disorder like me."

Eurockeennes and something else

Thanks a lot to Girl1nAlbion for putting up some beautiful videos from the Babyshambles gig at the Eurockeennes Festival:

Side of the road

Delivery

Maybelline

Killamangiro

Fuck Forever

As expected, DPT's last album couldn't make it higher than a 35th position in the new official UK album chart. I've already said everything I have to say about this album and the reasons why it's flopped, and I won't dwell on this any longer. Carl will rise again.

Unfortunately there's a very sad thing to say, and it's not about some stupid flop. Daniel Squires, the beautiful lad we talked about only a few weeks ago, passed away this last weekend. He was only 17 but he had something really great in his soul. If you wish to send some messages to his family go here.

News on both fronts

This is just to demonstrate that Babyshambles actually played last night at Le Deferlantes Festival at Argeles sur Mer in France, and you can clearly spot Mik in this video (sorry for the wrong title, of course it's not Carry on up the morning!), so if you read any idiocy in the press today stating that Mik Whitnall has left the band, that's the proof that he's not. He can do that tomorrow but always remember that the future is unwritten, and, as Babybear said yesterday, you gotta have faith (or maybe it was George Michael).

Babyshambles should be playing again tonight in France at the Eurockeennes de Belfort Festival (expected at 8 pm CET).

The future is unwritten for Dirty Pretty things as well. Tonight we'll know something about the chart entry of Romance. Let's hope it's a bit higher than Tired of England's.

And Carl opens his mouth once again, and words start to flow. A nearly bullshit-free interview came out today on the Sunday Mail. And you can read it here (thanks to Linna and her patience). Because a bullshit-free interview with Carl Barat in these days is rarer than gold.

We Need to Talk About Pete
Carl Barat on how he loved and lost Pete Doherty
"For me and Pete, it wasn’t too different from falling in love. It’s grotesque now. I said to him, "heroin and crack are bigger than you, mate. You’ll die or live the rest of your life like Gollum". But Peter never wanted to listen. And then the tragedy began. Right now, if Pete walked in, I’d like just to sit down and have a normal conversation with him, and not have to talk about the Libertines and all the other messy stuff. But i suppose that is impossible now. It’s a long time since anything has been normal in Pete’s life. It’s a complete horror show. It stopped being about rock n roll ages ago. It’s about newspaper headlines, and he’s good at that game. Pete is very good at knowing just how much to give away and how to push the boundaries. Or at least he thinks he’s good at it. Maybe he doesn’t realise that the most dangerous part of that game is that if your’e not careful the people you think you’re playing are going to own you. Maybe he’s at that stage already".
It’s been more than three years since Carl Barat and Pete Doherty disbanded the Libertines and went their separate ways. At the time of the split, the smart money was on Doherty to emerge as the greater star. While Doherty has become more renowned for his hellraising antics and his arrests, it’s Barat who has distinguished himself musically, with Dirty Pretty Things now accepted as one of the most vital bands of this era. With Barat on lead vocals and guitar, their emotive buzzsaw rock n roll is both critically acclaimed and commercially thriving. Indeed, the new album Romance At Short Notice has been among 2008’s most eagerly anticipated releases.
Barat pauses, takes a sip of his beer, then continues. "You can’t give Pete advice, I’ve been through all that many times before. We were in Paris writing the second Libertines album and I said to him, "heroin and crack are bigger than you, mate - much bigger. If you carry on with those drugs they’ll write their own story. Because that’s what those drugs do. If you keep doing them, there are only two scenarios. Either you’ll die or you’ll live the rest of your life like Gollum in The Lord of The Rings. Quite often I’d try to shock him by saying things like that. But Pete never wanted to listen. You have to understand that this is someone I care a lot about. There’s still a lot of love between me and Pete. At least there is from my side. So when I pick up a newspaper and read the latest instalment in his life, it makes me sad and angry. I’m relieved that I’m not part of that grotesque merry-go-round. But I wish Pete wasn’t a part of it either. Pete always knew he was going to be famous. It was the only thing that was going to happen to him. When it came he revelled in it. Now he’s maybe settled for being famous for being famous. It’s stopped being about the music. It’s about the mayhem. There’s something really tragic about that".
It’s 1 am and the night is still young for the hip west London crowd, packed into the bar area of the K West hotel. But amid the party hubbub, there’s something achingly sad about my companion, Carl Barat. This quality has been present throughout our interviews for this Live piece. (I met him first in Bristol before he took to the stage for a scintillating Dirty Pretty Things show, during which he managed to consume two bottles of whisky and somehow remain on his feet, then we hooked up at the Live photo shoot; our third meeting has stretched over the course of a long evening and seen us visit numerous drinking establishments).
Barat has the demeanour of a young man who has lost the most important thing in his world. By the conclusion of our conversations, during which love and loss are mentioned as often as Doherty’s name, it’s quite clear he has done precisely that.
Each time we meet he sports the same uniform, which doubles as his stage apparel: scruffy jeans, distressed Tshirt and leather jacket. He retains the look of a glamorous poetic waster, which has been his trademark since the early days with Doherty - together they were the Byronic Romantics of grunge pop.
He talks in a low, almost apologetic mumble and his eyes are tired. He tells me that in the next 24 hours he will turn 30. He looks a whole lot better than Doherty, which obviously isn’t saying much. He’s been without sleep or food for more than 72 hours, fuelled by "Jamesons whisky and y’know, other stuff". Catching his reflection in a mirror, he winces rather theatrically and says, "my body is in ruins".
Despite this assertion, and the occasional joke about needing to curb his party excesses, it still comes as a shock when, a week loater, Barat is rushed to hospital suffering from vomiting, nausea and severe stomach pains. Diagnosed with acute pancreatitis, he’s kept under observation for six days, undergoes further tests and is put on a morphine drip. Early indications are he’ll be unable to drink ever again.
Though Barat and Doherty communicate regularly by test, it’s now more than 12 months since they last met, reuniting to record a cover of the Beatles’ A Day In the Life for Radio 2’s 40th anniversary celebration of Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Two months prior to that, Barat had joined Doherty on stage at London’s Hackney Empire for a 13 song set that included a clutch of Libertines songs.
"I don’t cry too easily, and hardly ever in public. But there were a lot of tears at that gig. Emotionally it was colossal. It was the first time I’d played with Pete for ages without Kate Moss and the whole entourage around. It reminded me how great we were together and how much unfinished business there is. As to whether the Libertines could reform that’s a big maybe. It’s a question that follows me around constantly. I’ll be out getting a loaf of bread and some aggressive schoolkid will come up and ask "When are you getting the Libertines back together?". I deal with it politely, but I’m thinking, "Do you really think this is something I haven’t given a lot of thought to?"
Barat emerged with Dirty Pretty Things in September 2005, with bassist Didz Hammond, guitarist Anthony Rossomando and former Libertines drummer Gary Powell. Their debut album, Waterloo to Anywhere, sold 120,000 copies. Its punky guitar rock bore only a passing resemblance to the output of Barat’s former band, but at least some of the spite and anger in the lyrics ; ("Your’e a legand in your mind, but a rumour in your room") seemed to be aimed squarely at Doherty.
"I didnt kid myself that I could start with a clean slate. To some extent we were working in the shadow of the Libertines, the shadow of Pete Doherty. It was a really hard time for me. I was feeling dark and miserable. I suppose I blamed myself for everything that had gone wrong before. But I didnt want to change either. It was almost as if I felt I had to feel miserable and guilty to carry on writing songs."
Barat tells me that depression has dogged him for as long as he can remember. "I’ve never known true happiness or peace of mind" he says bleakly. "I’ve always been something of a troubled soul. Gorwing up, I had a constant feeling of "this is not my world".
Barat was born in Basingstoke, and spent his early years alternatively with his father, who worked in an armanents factory, and his mother, a hippy who finally settled in a commune in Somerset. "I was never much into music as a kid" he says. "But I drifted into it. In my early teens I’d hang around with my mates getting stoned, strumming the same guitar chord over and over. It took me years just to master the basics, but I always had a strange belief that music would be my life"
As a teenager he worked his way through a series of very odd jobs. "I did a stint on the front desk of a place where schizophrenics went if they’d missed their injections. I did the night shift in a salad factory. It was one of the tossers. My job involved tossing salad all night, removing dead or dying animals from the lettuce. The highlight for me was diswcovering half a frog. We never found the other half"
He was studying drama at Brunel Univerwsity when he befriended Pete Doherty’s older sister. By now Barat had been doing pub gigs for a couple of years, and Doherty got in touch, hoping to be taught how to play guitar. The most important relationship in Barat’s life was born.
"Even from the start we fought. There was always a spark. Pete had all the front and I was very shy. Pete craved chaos and I longed for security. Eventually that combination is going to become volatile. Something like that is always going to implode. It’s just a matter of time. Only we didn’t realise it at the time"
Barat and Doherty moved into a squalid basement flat in Camden and plotted their course. The Libertines, they decided, would be no ordinary rock group, but a force that would overthrow the musical establishment and break down the barriers between artist and audience. Their line-up completed with drummer Powell and bassist John Hassall, they began playing live wherever they could - a condemned pub, a disused factory, even a north London brothel - and quickly built up a devoted following.
"For me and Pete it was all or nothing" says Barat. "It was either the top of the world or the bottom of the canal. It wasn’t too different from falling madly in love, when you don’t even entertain the thought that it could ever end. At the start it was fun. I’de always wanted to be part of a gang. I was part of a gang of cheeky urchins who felt they could take on the world. Then heroin enterred the picture"
It was during the making of the Libertines’ debut album in the summer of 2002 that trouble first reared its head. Doherty suddenly went AWOL, forcing the band to play a gig without him. By September, with their second single Up the Bracket giving them a chart hit, it was clear that Doherty’s increasing unreliability was linked to his flirtations with heroin and crack cocaine. "The Libertines had become my whole world, and I suppose Pete was the mate I ‘d always wanted. But there was a Steptoe and Son side to it.You watch Steptoe and it’s brilliantly funny but it also makes for uncomfortable viewing, because you can always sense the tragedy of their lives. For me and Pete, the tragedy began when he started using those drugs. That’s when the dignity of the Libertines went straight out of the window. It started to become dark and squalid. Being in a band and getting messed up in order to have a good time, that’s one thing. Then there’s the kind of trouble that drugs like heroin and crack bring to the party. I didn’t want that life. It didn’t appeal to me on any level. The bottom line is that it’s boring being a junkie ***up. It probably makes for a great read of you’re not involved. Up to a point the chaos of the Libertines was enjoyable for me. Then very sinister agendas took over and it became the opposite of fun".
Following the release of the debut album, Barat opted to take a "tough love" approach with Doherty, refusing to let him record or perform with the band until he’d completely cleaned up. Doherty, his addictions now out of control, refused to take the bait. In the summer of 2003, while the band were playing dates in Japan, he burgled Barat’s London flat, making off with, among other things, a prized antique guitar.
He duly served two months in prison. Upon his release, Barat was there to welcome him with open arms and they started work on a second album. However, by the time the band reached the recording studio, their management had assigned each member a security guard in order to stop them from fighting. During this period, with active encouragement from Barat, Doherty made three attempts at rehab, including a short lived stint in a Thai monastery. He left after three days, heading to a Bangkok hotel where heroin was conveniently available via room service.
"By this point Pete had become an unstoppable train" says Barat. "Looking back, there’s nothing I could have done. I’d tried everything. I’d worked pretty damn valiantly to hold him together, to the point of complete exhaustion. The dream of the Libertines was my destiny, and I fought tooth and nail to keep it together. Even when it was a hopeless cause, it took every ounce of strength I had to pull away from it. Pete’s life had been consumed by drugs and, if that wasn’t heartbreaking enough, I also had to sacrifice the band. On a personal level, it was nothing less than devastating. It should never had come to such a tawdry end"
On the face of it, Barat has mastered the seemingly impossible art of living in the long shadow of the Libertines. He’s in a successful long term relationship with DJ girlfriend Annalisa Astarita, with whom he shares a home in Muswell Hill, north London. Against the odds, he’s survived the wreckage of the Libertines and created his own successful band.
"This band involves almost as much struggle and conflict as the Libertines ever did. There are too many egos at play. We came very close to breaking up during the making of this album. A reshuffle of members was definitely on the cards at some point - it came perilously close to sackings. There have been a few fist-fights. In that way, Dirty Pretty Things is as intense as life in the Libertines. It’s still do or die for me."
Barat rolls up his sleeve to show me the Libertine tattoo on his right bicep. "you’d be amazed how many people come up to me and show me their own copy of this" he says. "It’s touching that people remember the band for something more than the drugs and the fighting. That they still believe in the music. It reminds me that I believe in everything that I believed in when I was in the Libertines. I miss the purity of what me and Pete had together when we started out. It would be great to have that back. Pete always used to say, "imagine the songs we still have to write". That thought is always with me"

Just to let you know, Biggles: that thought is always with us too.

OH SH-U-U-U-U-U-U-T UP!| (Rik Mayall style)

"Peter doesn't turn up at gigs because he's too busy inviting Gordon Smart at his fucking house!"

"Peter doesn't care about his fans!"

"Fuck Pete Doherty!" (well, if only I could...)

"Peter is God and nobody can criticize him!"

"He's gone to the court for a hearing about the custody of his son!"

"No, he's not!"

"He was on a horse!"

"NO HE FUCKING WASN'T!"

"I mean the real animal! The Johnny Borrell lookalike!"

"Whatever people say doesn't count. He's still God!"

"And Dirty Pretty Things suck!"

"Now what's this gotta do with Peter".

"Nothing, but I felt like stating it".

"He's writing a book about his love story!!!"

"WHAT? With Carl???"

"Noooo. With Kate Moz!"

"Moss"

"Whatever"

"Are Babyshambles splitting up?"

"It's all Mik's fault!!!"

"I'm only sorry for Drew and Adam".

"I'm sorry for the fans! Nobody seems to care about them!"

"Well the kitten is really cute innit?"

"Peter is cuter! And he's God!"

"Are the Libertines reuniting?"

"No! You gotta move on mate!"

"I still think it's Mik's fault".

"What if he fucks the Royal Albert Hall gig???"

"He won't. That's in London innit".

"So? He lives in Marlborough now".

"He'll have a sleepover at Winehouse's".

"EH????"

"Dirty Pretty Things are the worst band ever".

"At least they turn up at gigs!!!"

"Peter, please, come to play at my house!"

"You're nuts"

"Peter is burnt out".

"He's writing the musical with Carlos in a secret location"

"Bollocks"

"You believe everything you read in the rags don't you???"

"Who won at Wimbledon then?"

"The final is tomorrow"

"I mean the chicks"

"Mik's the worst guitar player EVA".

"Drew's haircut is awful".

"He should care more about the fans!"

"Who, Drew?"

"Nope. Peter!"

Save me, save me, save me from this squeeze.

I got a big fat mama trying to break me.

And I love to live so pleasantly,

Live this life of luxury,

Lazing on a sunny afternoon.

In the summertime

In the summertime

In the summertime

OK, Rik. I'll shut up now.

Dirty Pretty Things Wireless 2008

Plastic Heart

Tired of England

Deadwood

I saw DPT yesterday at Wireless. I was there mainly for the headliner but it was a pleasure seeing Carl and the boys playing so well once again. The crowd was a bit cold but at least I did not see any demented fans. Oh and Carl only drank WATER. At least, it was something transparent (kidding).
LATER!!!

Unbelievable. For once I'm with him.

People who read this blog know very well I have no sympathy at all for Mr. Alan McGee, former Libertines' and now DPT's manager. I hold him responsible for a lot of ugly stuff that happended to the Libertines (he was the leader of the Gang of Gin, remember?) and I'm highly irritated by the tight control he seems to have on Carl's talent (and to some extent even his mind).

But this time I totally agree with him. Read on...

Alan McGee – the man who signed Oasis to his record label, Creation – has advised new bands not to sign to any record labels, describing them all as "rubbish". Speaking on an XFM documentary about Creation, set to air tonight (July 3) at 10pm (BST), McGee urged bands to go it alone."I'd recommend a band not to go to any record label, I think they're all fucking rubbish," he said. "You're better off doing it yourself. They're living in the past, it's like owning a tram company or something." McGee famously signed Oasis in 1993 after witnessing a gig by the band in his native Glasgow.

Well, it would be interesting to see what would happen if Carl suddenly decided to follow his suggestion and "do it himself".

Which is what apparently Peter seems determined to. Did you read the past bits about his French Dog Records label? Well of course the first release will be Roses Kings Castle, Adamski's solo album. The Ficek has given an interview to French music site "Sound of Violence" and now we have the translation (a HUGE thank you to Sweet Matilda and Daisy100 for providing it):

Q: To start with, can you tell me a little more about what you’ve been doing over the last few months? How was your side project Roses Kings Castles born?

A: I’m always very busy… lately with music, Babyshambles concerts but also my DJing and the development of Roses Kings Castles and contractual business. When I’m on tour with the band I always have lots of free time which I dedicated to writing my own songs. I thought afterwards that it would be good to put them on Myspace for other people to listen to; I did that without having a name. When I happened to find one, the idea of Roses Kings Castles was born.

Q: It is rare for a drummer to launch a solo career, is it a calling for you?

A: Everyone must know that I’m not primarily a drummer! I am a musician who likes to play the piano and other various instruments. Contrary to what a lot of people must believe, I’m not content with playing the drums on the Babyshambles albums, you need to read the information in the record sleeves to realise. Playing music is very natural for me, I have always liked to write songs in my free time, until the day when I realised that I could push my ideas a little further, and in doing so benefit other people.

Q: Roses Kings Castles is at present your own band, have you already considered integrating other members?

A: The idea of being able to work alone and to keep a complete hold on the songs pleases me a lot. In my mind I am a member of Babyshambles and I wish to stay loyal to the band, I cannot imagine putting myself in another band strictly speaking. For now I wish to work under the name Roses Kings Castles, I don’t feel ready to include other musicians. Perhaps my loyalty is also my weakness…

Q: I suppose that it is more simple to express your potential alone than within Babyshambles?

A: I wouldn’t say that, they are two very different activities. The Babyshambles songs are a mixture of the ideas of four people, whereas I am the only decision-maker for Roses Kings Castles.

Q: How do you share your time between Roses Kings Castles and Babyshambles?

A: My activity within Babyshambles leaves me lots of free time outside of recording and the tours. Our work is very instinctive, without repetition, and our management reduce interviews and the promotion of our records to a strict minimum.

Q: The internet seem to be your means of choice for communicating with your fans, is it an important factor for you?

A: It is really essential. I don’t want to feel out of reach for people who like the music of Roses Kings Castles because I feel that I have constructed a real community around myself.

Q: Can you tell me a little more about your artistic world? How did you come to play music and what are your influences?

A: I started to play music during my adolescence, mainly with a guitar and then drums in little indie or garage bands, just for enjoyment. I grew up on a council estate, in a working class environment, within which my aspiration to become a professional musician was not taken seriously. All the same, it was a kind of escape for me. After I abandoned my studies, I devoted myself to different jobs and vocational training… but all of them made me feel too depressed and I would systematically sink into a kind of sadness. I had the chance to leave the town via music training for which I was passionate. It was not the easiest route to arriving where I am today…

Q: And your influences?

A: From a spiritual point of view, my main objective was to avoid at all costs a job I wasn’t interested in. Musically, I appreciate enormously Syd Barrett, Stone Roses, Morrissey and The Smiths, Blur, Belle and Sebastian, Housemartins, The Charlatans, and more recently, the new album by Mystery Jets, Los Campesinos!, Black Kids and Vampire Weekend.

Q: Would you say that the song Sparkling Bootz, which you published on your Myspace page, is representative of your music?

A: It is a good general representation of what I try to compose, even more than the other songs you can hear on my site. I think that the influence of Babyshambles is there even if my intentions, from a musical point of view, are different. I am not sure, to be honest!

Q: I meant to talk about your intention to put out an album next, can you tell me more about that?

A: The album is ready! I’ve finished the recording and there are ten songs. Those poeple who have followed my career already know most of the demos, but the only definitive version which I have released until now is that of Sparkling Bootz. I hope to be able to release the record in August or September, but I have to settle some contractual details face-to-face with EMI, which it seems to me quite long. Everything is already ready, the songs, the artwork, the tracklisting… I have even found the time to start writing my second album, while this one isn’t released!

Q: What are your passions outside music?

A: I like to fight… but only in terms of sport because I practice a lot of martial arts to try and keep a healthy lifestyle. All the same, music is the thing which takes the most of my time and energy. More recently, I have also began a photographic collection devoted to old, abandoned buildings. I would really like to be able to publish a book on that subject one day.

Q: Coming back to Babyshambles… Pete’s escapades are the cause of a number of troubles for the band, how do you manage to always stay united in these situations? Have you never thought about separating?

A: That has never crossed my mind because, I’m going to repeat myself, I am a very loyal person. The most important thing is not to grant too much importance to all the malicious gossip.

Q: You recently started writing the band’s third album, how far are you?

A: The record is still at an embryonic stage. We are recording some demos at different times, we are experimenting with different ideas to see how the songs will build up… nothing is set for the moment. Our influences are very varied and I think this album will be more complete than the previous two. The structure of the songs will be more advanced with a lot of work on the recording, everything to go away from too much classic pop.

Q: Do you already have an idea of who’ll produce it? The sound of Shotter’s Nation was very different from that of Down In Albion…

A: No decision has been made at the moment. I really like our first two albums for different reasons, but nobody knows what will happen in our future.

Q: What are you intentions in relation to the record and the rest of your career?

A: To spend time with Babyshambles and Roses Kings Castles, but also to be able to DJ more often. I feel accomplished and happy in my life, I want to make the most of it.

Peter gets in the gallery

L-R: The Ficek, Pizza and (cough) Drew

From the local "This is Wiltshire" Gazette:

Rocker Pete Doherty stunned organisers of an art exhibition when he submitted a picture - drawn in his own blood. The We Love Marlborough group approached the Babyshambles singer, who lives in a rented house in Savernake Forest, to ask him if he would support an exhibition called Get In The Gallery. The exhibition, aimed at four to 18-year-olds, appeals for entrants to submit a painting or drawing on a postcard.
Mr Doherty was approached by WLM committee member Peter Davison, who is also chairman of Marlborough Chamber of Commerce to help publicise the exhibition.
"Without hesitation he said he would not only be delighted to support it but would also do a postcard painting for it,'' said Mr Davidson.
Mr Doherty, who is touring in Belgium with his band, said: "It's a really good idea and I'm happy to be able to do something for it.'' But the organisers were taken aback when he submitted his postcard painting showing his Babyshambles Band done in blood.

He had annotated it with musical clefts and a poem in French.
Mr Davison said: "It's clear that his knowledge of French is superb.
"The aim of the exhibition is that it's anonymous and people will only learn who the artist is if they buy a postcard,'' said Mr Davidson.
"It should be pretty to ascertain which one is Pete Doherty's because true to his style he has painted it in blood.
"I can't think we will get many postcards painted in blood, not unless one of the children had a nosebleed while doing theirs."
Other members of Babyshambles have also painted postcards for the exhibition which runs from July 8 to 10 at the Morgan Boyce Gallery in Hughenden Yard, Marlborough.

Of course, a list of many bigot comments follows.

Babyshambles are playing at Rock Werchter Festival in Belgium on July 4, Main Stage, from 15.55 to 16.55 (CET).

Rough Trade documentary tonight on Xfm

From Xfm:

It's day three of Xfm's celebration of indie record labels ahead of Independents Day this Friday, and tonight you can hear Carl Barat talk about that crucial Libertines signing, and why it nearly didn't happen.
Speaking to Xfm to ahead of tonight's documentary on Rough Trade, home to The Fall, The Smiths and The Libertines, Carl Barat exclusively revealed that he and his bandmate Pete Doherty almost ruined their chances on the day they went to sign:
"Pete [Doherty] and me missed the train and we were late, we thought they were gonna take the offer away. We were in such a hurry to get signed because we thought they were going to pull the deal off the table so we had to run from Laytmer Road and we turned up a right mess.
"In the end we went out with Geoff Travis for the night and went to see British Sea Power play and it was all good."
Carl also explained why it was so important for The Libertines to sign to an indie:
"Just the fact that in this sea of corporates they seemed to be a little island of independence and have a bit of a beating heart which is something that's often lacking."You can hear more from that interview with Carl Barat as well as never before heard interviews with The Strokes, The Super Furry Animals on tonight's Xfm's Rough Trade documentary which will be played out during the first hour of X-posure (10-11pm).
The mini-documentary forms part of a series running all this week looking at some of the most important indies of our time. Tune in on Thursday (or listen online) for the story of Creation or click here now to listen again to this week's Mute and Domino Records mini-docs which include never heard before interviews with Arctic Monkeys, Primal Scream, Franz Ferdinand and more.

Plus, DPT played a short set for charity last night at the Shoreditch House in London (here), after showcasing two songs of their new album at the NME Radio headquarters (here).

An open message to Carl Barat

Photo by Ponyrock on Flickr

In my opinion, this is one of the best reviews I’ve read so far of RASN, and it’s quite insteresting to me that it comes from a New York paper, far from London, far from strange mental fabrications, far from the MYTH. And yet, even New Yorkers can’t help it. This stuff is not up with the things Barat has done with his previous band. Harsh? Maybe a bit. But can you avoid TRUTH??? The TRUTH, that seems so dear to Carl in this record. Of course you can’t avoid it, whether you like it or not. And the truth is that this is a not-bad record, with many fillers, many average songs and two gems. Dear Carl, I didn't start listening to your stuff expecting two gems per album. You can do a lot much better than this. You can still tear my heart apart with a song like Truth Begins, just like you did in the… good old days. I don’t believe you have lost it at all. You just need an injection of self esteem. And you need a songwriting partner, who could even be yourself at this point (what happened to Good Carl/Evil Carl anyway?). Your bandmates are nice and funny, they seem to be good people. But, forgive me, THEY ARE NOT AT YOUR LEVEL. You can’t throw away a fantastic song like 9 Lives in favour of something like The North only because you want to please your bass player. I’m not advocating a break up of the band but I think your loyalty is blurring your senses. I’m very sorry, Carl, but you’ve missed the train here. Some reviews have given the record three stars, some two. I can’t go over 2 stars and half. I don’t want to give you further suggestions on what you have to do now, also because I think you know it very well. You’ve still got it, Carlos. Just get it working.
With lots of love, as usual.