Breck Road Lovers

Ho ho ho part 2

2009-12-25T18:11:00.001+01:00

There you go.

Ho Ho Ho

2009-12-24T17:15:00.001+01:00

The Libertines 2003 part 1. Stay tuned for part 2 tomorrow.

Dirty South round-up

2009-12-23T15:21:00.003+01:00

Setlist by Ollie 90:
gang of gin - babyshambles - 8 dead boys - loyalty song - the man who came to stay - up the morning - janie jones - the blinding - why did you break my heart/piracy - la belle et la bete - clementine - do you know me - black boy lane - encore: love will tear us apart - there is a light that never goes out - comfortably numb

Videos:
Fuck Forever
You Talk
Baddies Boogie
Albion

Plus!
Peter is to play an intimate gig at Camden venue The Blues Kitchen on December 28.
Doherty, who has been bailed until January following an arrest for heroin possession at Gloucester Crown Court on December 21, will play the show with tickets being sold on a first come first served basis. Doors for the venue open at 7pm (GMT) and all tickets for the gig are to be sold on the door.

(Source: NME.com)

Quick update

2009-12-22T12:29:00.002+01:00

From NME.com:

Pete Doherty has been charged with possession of heroin after being arrested just moments after a court appearance yesterday (December 21).
The Babyshambles frontman avoided jail for a driving office, but was then re-arrested by police for possessing a controlled substance.
A spokes person for the Gloucestershire Constabulary has since confirmed to NME.COM that Doherty has been charged again.
"The 30-year-old from Wiltshire who was arrested in Gloucester yesterday has been charged with possession of heroin and has been bailed to appear at Gloucester Magistrates court in January 2010," they explained.
Meanwhile, Babyshambles have announced a last minute gig in London tonight (December 22).

So it wasn't crystal meth, it was pure and simple good old smack. I guess the implant is off then. Whatever. I think we've given too much importance to this... heroic feat, even if I found it hilarious.

What counts is that tonight's gig is on. I'm not in but for those who go, please have fun!

Peter, po caridari!

2009-12-21T17:42:00.004+01:00

(expression in my original lingo to be understood only by Anto Dust and circa other 300.000 people)

Anyway, the last piece of news is that today Peter totally outdid himself and went to the Crown Court in Gloucester (where he had to be sentenced for the famous drunk driving of last summer) proudly carrying a packet of crystal meth in his coat pocket. The packet was soon found by the cops as soon as the likely lad arrived at the court and checked in at the security desk. I guess he's still in custody.

The only thing I can say about this is... that I nearly killed myself laughing.

Peter.

Peter!

PETER!!!

Here we are. I'm starting to laugh again.

Last gigs in town

2009-12-21T09:13:00.004+01:00

So, back home for Christmas and waiting to cross the pond in the new year... but that's another story. Left the snow behind me, and also the RATM vs X-Factor battle (oh what shall we do to sell more records next time). And the Babyshambles tour has come to a halt after a frenzy week. Today it's court day. Bugger. We'll talk about it later.

For now, enjoy:
a good review of the Birmingham gig (here)
another very good review with videos of the same gig (here)
slide show from Southampton
setlist from last night's gig in Nottingham (thanks to Casterplast, who described the gig as "the best i have seen Babyshambles yet!")
I wish
Delivery
There She Goes (ALH)
Carry On Up The Morning
What Katie Did
Back From The Dead
Baddie's Boogie
Side Of The Road
Sedative
Stranger In My Own Skin
Fireman
Native At The Gates Of Rome
I Wanna Be Adored
Time For Heroes
Albion
Unbilotitled
Unstookietitled
Pipedown
Beg, Steal Or Borrow
Killamangiro
Fuck Forever

Chrimbo romp at The Dirty South

2009-12-19T20:21:00.002+01:00

Babybear writes to FDW:
Xmas Beano on 22nd Dec, The Dirty South.
Babyshambles and Krakatoa.
Ho Ho Ho!
Or alternatively .....
BAH HUMBUG!

Tickets here

babyshambles-sedative 18-12-09

2009-12-19T15:49:00.001+01:00

From the Barras gig!

Adam interviewed on the road

2009-12-18T10:19:00.001+01:00

From This is Nottingham:

Babyshambles are back in the city this weekend as part of a tour to road-test new material. Drummer Adam Ficek talks to ANDREW TRENDELL about politics, progression and ignoring what the papers say.

HAVING a frontman who attracts the sort of attention that Pete Doherty has over the past few years, you can perhaps understand how the rest of the band may get frustrated.

But not so much about being in his shadow, rather that the music is ignored.

"It's always been that way," says Babyshambles drummer Adam Ficek.

"The tabloids do have that power and that potency to make or break you by how they portray you. You just have to hope that people can see through that."

Then adds: "The shame is that people don't really see through that."

Most people, that is. But there are thousands who have handed over their hard-earned cash to see Doherty's post-Libertines band play.

Ficek admits it's not always worth it.

"When we're having a good day we can be an amazing band. The way I would describe us is that we are either the best band you've ever seen or the worst."

Famed in their early days for their chaotic and messy live performances, anyone who has seen the band in the last couple of years will have seen a far more professional and finely-tuned band than the Babyshambles who stumbled on to the scene in 2004.

"I do still really like the shambolic side of things, but we do work really hard in rehearsal and when you go out there and play you just get better. I think that just comes from playing – you just naturally shape up."

Following their upcoming UK tour, the band plan to release a third album.

"The new Babyshambles album is coming along okay actually. We're thinking of releasing a new EP in the New Year.

There will be an album out next year as well but it's quite weird as there's quite a lot of pressure, in terms of time.

"There's a lot more punky stuff coming out, as well as a lot of shoe-gaze type stuff too. It's sounding a lot less angular, but more melodic. Because there are so many influences within Babyshambles, there's no real overriding style."

He adds: "You always evolve as you make new music, you don't want to go back and do the same things again so you evolve.

"It's hard to describe the evolution in that respect. As you're evolving, different influences are coming from different areas."

Typical of Doherty, Babyshambles' new tracks sound colourful and poetic.

BNP Blues is a tirade against right-wing racism. As a multicultural band, racism is an issue that's close to the heart of Babyshambles.

"It's something that we all care about," says Adam. "I'm from Eastern European stock, Drew and Pete are from Irish stock, and we're all kind of shocked and disgusted that in the UK and in London that real xenophobia still exists.

"Personally, I try to not be too political. Some people just like to escape in their music, some people like to be told what to think, whether for right or for wrong. So sometimes music can be a pretty good means of escape, but other times music can be pretty politically moving. I do think you need to be careful about how hard you push it. You don't want to seem like you're preaching."

Unlike Bono?

"Well, Bono does what he does but that's his own subjective way of doing it. Sometimes, I don't want to hear reality in music. There's enough of that nasty stuff on the news and in real life, it's hard to escape. But there are times when it's good to raise social awareness."

As a decade in music that they helped to define draws to a close, what do the band hope to achieve in the future? Adam tells us of their humble ambitions: "I'd like to keep going as long as we can make a living from it. We're not really in it to become the biggest-selling band out there or to try and win the Mercury Prize.

"That never comes to bands like us, anyway. If you're a bigger band with a lot of media backing paying a lot of money, then that's fine. I don't really see us as that sort of band.

"We're more quiet and detached and unseen. We're not really that kind of pat-on-the-back Mercury band, or any of that T4 stuff. We're more your kind of meat and potatoes band, we just want to play."

Peter + Lee?

2009-12-17T11:15:00.001+01:00

From The Liverpool Echo:

HE’S known as something of a mysterious maverick in the music world, but it seems former La’s frontman Lee Mavers could be about to take a much talked about step back into the spotlight.
Only this time it won’t necessarily be with his old Scouse bandmates, but with a new partner ... Pete Doherty.
Insider’s spies report seeing the pair keeping each other’s company quite regularly and that’s prompted speculation that they could be working together on a new project.
Mavers penned the famous La’s anthem There She Goes but then disappeared almost without trace after the band split in 1992, until they got back together to play Glastonbury in 2005.
There were rumours of a highly belated follow-up to the one and only La’s album towards the end of last year, but nothing appeared.
But Mavers was spotted in the crowd watching Babyshambles at the O2 Academy on Monday, and it’s not the first time he’s been seen with Kate Moss’ ex.
He made a surprise appearance in Birmingham in March this year, joining Doherty on stage to play La’s classics Son of a Gun and There She Goes.
Our source says: “Pete and Lee have been spotted together on Bold Street and in the Albert on Lark Lane, so hopefully they’re recording in the Motor Museum together.”

Svengali Christmas High Jinks

2009-12-16T16:43:00.004+01:00

Carl Barat is allegedly dj-ing together with Glen Matlock tonight at the Pigalle Club in Piccadilly for the Svengali Christmas party. Alan Svengali McGee in person will be there as well. More info and tickets here. Stay tuned.

Photos of Southampton gig

2009-12-16T13:47:00.002+01:00

From Getty images

And Flickr

Plus, a youtube video (a bit... crappy)

Enjoy!

McGee on Gary's new band

2009-12-15T17:01:00.003+01:00

This article has just appeared in The Guardian's site and is written , of all people, by Alan McGee, former Libertines and Dirty Pretty Things manager (other than Oasis, Charlatans and a few others). McGee is an old fox and surely knows what he's talking about. As for his real motivations... he's not someone who does nothing for nothing. But he seems to have retired from business and maybe his appreciation for The Invasion Of... is sincere. Anyway, you can judge by yourself.

In early November, I interviewed Jon Bon Jovi for the Guardian. He was cool and a total gentlemen. When Jon mentioned he didn't know who Pete Doherty was, I suggested that the Babyshambles man was well worth hearing. In my opinion, both Carl Barat and Pete Doherty of the Libertines are iconic British artists, which is why I was drawn to working with them.
Last week, Libs drummer Gary Powell sent me demos of his new band, the Invasion of … I have to confess, I wasn't expecting the material to be on a par with that of his former bandmates. After all, how many rock drummers have gone on to great things? In this case, my assumption was wrong. Gary's new band are brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
Defying the sceptics, Gary's group will soon be basking in critical acclaim. The anticipation surrounding the Invasion of ... is already building like an encroaching storm. Prepare for a heavy downpour of righteous rock'n'roll.
With the druggy fallout of the Libertines and the recent split of Dirty Pretty Things in his rear-view mirror, Powell is steadily proving his own talent for powerful, brutally honest songs. Having thrown himself into the rock'n'roll maelstrom with both of his previous bands, the Invasion of ... takes a subtler, more reflective stance. Singer Robin Coombes (aka Farma G) resembles a streetwise Sly Stone on the anthemic Invasion of Venice. Often he comes across like one of roots reggae's more philosophical singers: "And you feel like you were sinking, with your head in your hands submerged in deep thinking." It's a road less travelled by both Doherty and Barat, and one that is full of compelling moments.
Musically, the Invasion of … are full of high-energy charge and fearless experimentation. Imagine High Time-era MC5 with a heady infusion of soulful dub. As each song progresses, you hear the tap-tap-tap of the drumsticks that remind you this is the band of a world-class drummer. But The Invasion of … offer more than just rock-action antics. For all the fury of the music, the lyrics reveal poetic melancholy and stoic wisdom.
Invasion of Venice presents a troubling narrative. With steely precision, Coombes dissects the debasement and distortions of rock'n'roll fame. On other songs he is full of burning indignation as he levels the fallacies of the music industry with a mighty lyrical blow: "Now we are the talk of the town/The word on the grapevine/Is nothing but cheap lies." The Invasion of ... blend punk-rock rage with the power of soul in a way I've not heard since Drag City released the amazing debut album (and lost punk masterpiece) by Detroit band Death.
For me, this music almost constitutes a sequel to the unwritten story of Death. Who would have thought the Libertines drummer would emerge as a major songwriting talent? But it's true. Just listen.

Waiting for the great leap forward

2009-12-15T12:41:00.005+01:00

Let's look at some scattered news:

Babshambles played at the Liverpool O2 Academy last night. We have one video (the other one was too sci-fi for my taste):
Delivery (get seasick!)
Adam Ant (FDW) wrote: "jus got back. shambles certainly lived up to their name tonight, pete was a fuckin mess- fallin over,throwin mics etc. Drew looked so pissed and think he tried to stop it early at one point but pete wasnt havin it. personally i had a great time, reminded me of the old shambles so gd in that respect yet i still feel for the boys trying to make them a credible musical force, it will always be the pete doherty show when hes like this".

Drusillo will participate to an event scheduled at the Flowerpot in Kentish Town on 22 December, to mark the seventh anniversary of the death of Joe Strummer. The line up so far includes Sam Duckworth (Get Cape Wear Cape Fly!), Drew McConnell (Babyshambles and Helsinki), Ray Gange (star of Rude Boy) on the decks and the Guvnor's of Punk - Night of Treason playing the Clash classics with their customary very special guests. There will also be special showings of the Jail Guitar Doors movie, Breaking Rocks, and clips from the documentary The Last Night London Burned with unique footage of Joe's last ever London gig at Acton for the firefighters where he was reunited with Mick Jones. If you're in London, don't miss it!

If you care about Carl Barat's acting career (I'm being serious!) you will know his stage partner Miss Frost has just "started rehearsing with carl B" (from her Twitter page). To this point you have taken us, Carlos. How will I ever forgive you?

Shambles in Bath

2009-12-14T16:29:00.002+01:00

"Bath was massive" Adam twittered 13 hours ago.
And ecudortne (.org) said: "gig was really fucking good, Doherty and the band were on good form... he seemed in really good spirits, lot of banter with the crowd [...]
Kicked off with Pipedown... Time for heroes was in there... covered I wanna be Adored... obviously finished with Fuck Forever, which was a riot. Good stuff all in all. Apart from some middle-aged prick afterwards complaining that Babyshambles weren't the Libertines... get over it".

Photos by Brad Wakefield.

The Shambles tour goes on. This week we have...

Monday Dec 14: O2 Academy, Liverpool

Tuesday Dec 15: Southampton Guildhall, Southampton

Friday Dec 18: Barrowlands, Glasgow

Saturday Dec 19: O2 Academy, Birmingham

Sunday Dec 20: Rock City, Nottingham

(in the latter two dates support band will be Gaolers Daughters)

Shambles in Cardiff and DPT reunion

2009-12-13T08:48:00.005+01:00

photo by Steve Burnett

Shambolic gig in Cardiff last night, during which Babyshambles had to play together with the fire alarm. Steve Burnett was there and, beside taking fantastic pictures, he wrote in his blog:

You always know that an evening spent with Pete Doherty isn't going to be routine and tonight was no exception. Due onstage at 9pm the band fail to show and instead an unnanounced third support act, some long haired herbert, ambles on to play some aimless acoustic numbers for 20 minutes. He departs and Pete immediately appears, looking like death cooled down he signs a few autographs and then promptly disappears again for another 30 minutes. The increasingly restless crowd begin to get lairy and it is a huge relief when Babyshambles finally arrive, albeit about an hour late.
Having shot Doherty before I know that it isn't going to be much fun in the pit and, fearing for the safety of my cameras, I pray that they don't play any hits in the first three songs. Typically, they kick off with their biggest hit 'Killamangiro' and, right on cue, a monsoon of warm lager cascades over the band. That's the least of our worries though because the support band's free 7" singles are also being used as potentially deadly missiles. It's easy to criticise security at gigs for being heavy handed but the guys here tonight have to put up with absolute bloody murder. The are constantly drenched in beer and stand there and take it, carefully helping fans out over the barrier despite the bestial provocation from a minority of neanderthals in the audience. I doff my beer soaked cap to them.
Never mind the bouncers though as Pete is visibily not amused either, flicking the v's to the crowd with evident venom. The band struggle on through 'Beg, Steal or Borrow' and gradually the beer showers clear up allowing Babyshambles to finally hit their stride. As they begin the third song, however, something is clearly amiss and after many long, meaningful glances offstage the band suddenly drop their instruments and make a mad dash for the exit, with Pete rivalling Usain Bolt over 100metres.
This time it seems as though it isn't Pete's fault. Some clown has set off a fire alarm. Game over. Apparently the gig eventually resumes but it's too little too late".

Angerjas (FDW) wrote: "first three songs were: killamangiro, beg steal and borrow, baddie's boogie, then everybody was thrown out and when we were let back in, they carried on where they left off during baddie's boogie then they played pipedown, side of the road, you talk, fuck forever, delivery, there she goes, sedative, i wish, ocean or natives.., carry on up the morning, psycho killer, hooligans on e, unbilotitled, back from the dead, stranger in my own skin, albion. then it ended with a fucking awesome fuck forever encore again. those were the songs but i probably got the order they were in very wrong".

Meanwhile we had quite a funny night at The Tabernacle bar Friday night when we witnessed a curious Dirty Pretty Things reunion one year after the band's official breakup. Rumours had been rife throughout the evening of course but they verged more on the Libertines-side than DPT (why is Kieran Leonard supporting Babyshambles when he's promoting a record produced by Carl? how come Shambles' tour has a day off today? Isn't that Babybear over there? (it wasn't)". Well, everything cleared out when we saw Didz, Anthony and a very sick Gary doing a ragged soundcheck. So, instead of hearing Carl's new material we got Deadwood, Gin and Milk, Wondering, Buzzards and Crows, Bloodthirsty Bastards, Doctors and Dealers and Bang Bang You're Dead (video by Anto Dust, who played earlier).

And Carl's solo stuff? Try again, next time you'll be luckier.

Shambles in Sheffield

2009-12-11T09:17:00.002+01:00

Thanks a lot to Miss May for her speedy report and videos:

"there wasnt a strict one [setlist], pete was pretty much playing what he wanted,
man who came to stay, killamangiro, fuck forever, stranger in my own skin, there she goes (a little heartache), I wanna be adored, i wish, time for hereos, french dog blues, carry on up the morning, pipe down, albion, badies boogies, beg steal or borrow, sedative... erm thats all i can remmember for now
(edit: setlist - stookie untitled and delivery)
he was VERY drunk, threw the drum kit in the crowd, erm i cant remember got some videos"

carry on up the morning

stranger in my own skin

beg steal or borrow

and french dog blues

More snippets

2009-12-10T09:39:00.006+01:00

Something very light-hearted to get into Chrimbo spirit:

Peter's performance on MTV Germany (pre-launch of the glass) is now on youtube

The Bosh talks about Peter's desire to emulate Barry White (a few pounds more, love, and you're nearly there)

T5m rates Up The Bracket as a Top Musical Highlight of the Decade

The Bath Chronicle previews Shambles' gig of next Sunday

The Shockwaves NME Awards voting is now open. You know what to do dontcha.

Poor Jamie Fullerton twittered about having an exciting night round Carl Barat's. Of course he ended up "Predictabky drunk. Ugh,,,,,,".

Later!

Q & A with Adam Ficek

2009-12-09T15:48:00.004+01:00

From Metro:

That’s an interesting surname. What are its origins?

My heritage is from Poland, second generation. They came over and brought all the food with them.

What’s your favourite dish?

I can’t remember what it’s called now. We used to eat so much Polish food but that all stopped a long time ago when my grandma passed away.

Milton Keynes has a lot of roundabouts. What was it like growing up in a new town?

It’s a lovely place but it was quite suburban and difficult growing up there. Musically, there wasn’t much going on. As with most satellite towns, you have to go somewhere a bit more on the ball, so London always drew my attention.

You used to teach drum lessons in schools – what’s the hardest thing for an aspiring drummer to get to grips with?

You’ve got to look good. You’ve got to have a straight back, good posture. None of this American leaning forward business, you’ve got to be upright. And wear a good suit.

You play guitar in Roses Kings Castles and can also play the piano, flute, trumpet… how did you get so musical?

There was always a keyboard and a guitar in the house, it was just a case of picking them up and knocking out a little melody, which I suppose started all my composition stuff.

So you’ve been writing music for a long time?

I’ve always written ideas, for Babyshambles as well, but generally that gets overlooked in the media. It has only recently come to fruition. I listened to a lot of pop music growing up – it helps when I’m trying to write songs now.

Was it nerve-racking playing without Babyshambles?

It was, yeah. I invented the name Roses Kings Castles as something to hide behind. I didn’t want to come out all guns blazing and say: ‘Look, here I am.’ I started a MySpace page when we were doing the arena tour and the NME picked up on it.

Are the other Babyshambles members supportive?

Yeah. Everyone does their own thing – Pete [Doherty] has just released a solo album. We’re just starting to reconvene and after that I’ll do more solo stuff.

Now you’ve got a taste for it…

Yeah, it’s nice to keep creative. We’ve got a Babyshambles tour this month, a new album out in February and I’m supporting Pete on a European tour. It’s great for me to play to that many people, 2,000 to 3,000 capacity.

Obviously people associate the band with Pete and his wicked ways – is it easy to get caught up in the rock’n’roll lifestyle?

You buy into this whole myth about what it must be like but the harsh reality is it’s probably the most extreme difference you can imagine. It can get to those self-destructive ways but it depends what you’re in it for. I’m in it for the music.

How do you unwind?

I don’t have much spare time and whatever time I’ve got I’m putting it into music. I need to find something completely disconnected from music.

What style is your music?

I don’t know, that’s part of the problem. Indie-pop. I’d like to get a band behind me but it’s just been me with my guitar and I need more punch. So I use a semi-acoustic guitar now with a few pedals to make it more than one-dimensional.

What’s your best advice for young people wanting to make it in the music industry?

Practise hard. Without a doubt. There’s so many people I know out in Camden that party hard and they’re so partied out they haven’t released one record. Let your hair down every now and then but it’s not about that.

Carl is moving on up

2009-12-08T21:18:00.004+01:00

And it's got nothing to do with acting.
As you already know, he's moving his first steps as a producer:
Newcomer Kieran Leonard is to release a Carl Barât-produced track on December 31.
The song, called 'The King, My Father' was produced by Barât at Ray Davies' Konk Studios in London.
Leonard is releasing the track digitally on New Year's Eve to coincide with the final full moon of the year. He has been releasing songs digitally on previous full moons in order to allow fans to burn them onto CDs and put them in a special box set which is available to buy from Kieranleonardmusic.com.
Leonard is set to support Babyshambles on their forthcoming UK tour. He also plays a full band show at Camden's Proud Gallery on December 14.
(Source: NME.com)

And secondly, it seems his solo album is coming out fine. Carl has been working with Brian Eno's collaborator, guitarist Leo Abrahams, who commented his recent fling with The Mighty Carlos with these words:
"Last month I spent a week producing Carl Barat. We’d never met before, and as I lugged all my equipment into a studio on Hoxton square on day one, I was rather nervous. Usually there’s at least a meeting beforehand. But within an hour of his arriving, we had written a new song and had a bit of a laugh, and we managed to record 4 tracks in a massive hurry. The imposition of time limits really is condusive to getting the best performances. Carl took this idea one further, by finishing lyrics only moments before going into the vocal booth. After one such last-minute addition, he observed “putting a new verse in a song is a bit like putting a new kidney in a person – you never know if it’s going to be rejected”. Findlay Brown, who co-wrote one of the songs, came down to help out and Carl kept a fairly constant supply of interesting people coming through the studio. Some artists like a ‘closed set’, and others like it to be more social. Generally I’m in the former camp, but this time it was fun. He and his manager thanked everyone on the last day by bringing in bottles of fine whiskey".

Possible gigs of the week

2009-12-07T14:35:00.002+01:00

Babyshambles
Thursday 10 December 2009 O2 Academy, Sheffield, United Kingdom
Saturday 12 December 2009 Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
Sunday 13 December 2009 Bath Pavilion, Bath, United Kingdom

Carl Barat
Friday 11th December 2009 CHERRY COLA Christmas Party
THE TABERNACLE BAR & GRILL (soon to be McQUEEN)
55 Tabernacle Street, Old Street, EC2A 4AA London)

**LIVE/DJ ACTS...
Carl Barat (Libertines)
Didz (Dirty Pretty Things)
Joe McAdam (New York Fund)
Alan (Cherry Cola Club Night)
The Langley Sisters
The Hugs
Belakiss
Kieran Lenoard
Dirty Harry (Acoustic)
Anto Dust
Chris McCormack (Gary Numan/3 Colours Red)

**£5 Entry (please come early as will be a complete sell out!)

Review of the Two-Day Doherty

2009-12-05T16:45:00.005+01:00

While both Stockholm and Malmo gigs have been pulled allegedly due to "passport loss" (my ass) or alternatively "sickness" (my asser), Peter went to MTV Germany last night and appeared in a show called "MTV Home" with Klaas and JOKO, performing his "opium and tea" song (thanks to Sister Ray for the info).
Meanwhile, there's an interesting review (with videos) of the German dates here, for which you're granted my usual dodgy google translation:

TWO DAYS DOHERTY: WHAT REMAINS AFTER THE ANTHEM?

by Christian Ihle

So much was read into Doherty's Munich gig and the expression of those four words were scandalized, and unleashed a blitzkrieg in a teapot, it probably is inevitable that Doherty's last tour appearance in this country ended with the fronds of a flag of Germany. But more on that later.
Next: one is a little bit familiar with Doherty and his environment, so the two most commonly cited reasons for "Germany Germany contribute about everything" rather absurd. Doherty sang that neither a "Nazi anthem" nor a "Hymn to Hitler" - as newspapers said - as Mr Erk in the well yet most intelligent articles on the whole Chose beautifully presented. That it furthermore includes a certain absurdity in the argument, he implicitly Doherty vorzuwerden was) a) or b wanted the Nazis to claim omnipotence, the desire for world domination of the Germans sing affirmatively (which would be a context that would make those four words really inexcusable) should be clear to everyone with a small reflection.
The fact that Doherty is controlled to produce beautiful a minor scandals of the tour, when you have a vague knowledge of the Doherty-"management" and its Betreung (unfortunately) also deny. Throughout the rich history of events Doherty was not a single target provoked scandal there. The sad truth is much more: the man is a junkie, his entire self-chosen environment over the years as in league with drugs. Some have apparently made the jump (Carl Barat - sang about Pete "You gave me my first pipe anyway"), Others are on the London scene as crack and heroin dealer known (former (?) Manager, for example), not to mention the fellow musicians altogether. This, I fear that even a somewhat well-read and interested people like Doherty, the sensitivities and changes in the German national anthem are not known in depth, as we assume that in this country - perhaps speaking from the presupposition that knowledge and the somewhat unpleasant subtext that it everyone would be interested so much for Germany in order to know those sensitivities. The fact that Germany is still very navel of the world. I think not.
But enough about the subject of endless at this point. Eric Pfeil reported even from the Cologne concert in a way that could not be more appropriate (please read!). I attended the concert in Hamburg and Berlin to highlight its analysis. It is the very fragility, spontaneous, the desire to present themselves and their own songs completely skeletar and all the meat, all the muscles, which otherwise confer on the plates of the Libertines or Babyshambles gitarrenkrachenden the songs their force to leave out that this Appearances do so extraordinary. Basically, despite continued commercial failure Doherty is still too large to adequately present his songs to be - these songwriters, these songs, they do not belong in an airplane hangar (Berlin Festival) Or in large event space and the "evil and dangerous" in Hamburg, but in the pub next doorIn the living room of his friend.
Doherty, however, that it succeeds in drawing an unbiased audience under his spell, is neither to his guitar skills nor the Sangesperformance. Especially the latter is suffering greatly from his health problems. He croaked these days more than he sings. But precisely because he presents his songs in this openness and is not afraid, could be under attack en masse, he also shows the size of the songwriting. The fact that most of his songs just carried away even in the worst possible starting point and touch a nerve, as could almost any other songwriter from the island over the past ten years.
Doherty's concert is always wonderful in the arbitrariness of the setlist. He did not present his new album, but played out on your mood (and audience wishes) by his immense back catalog. How many great songs he has written already, it is noticeable when he can leave in Hamburg, for example, "Time For Heroes," "Albion" and "Killamangiro" - three of his best songs - or indeed even in the Berlin boiler house to "Fuck Forever" a large consensus on the song he has written up to now (and unfortunately also extended his fan base to a sometimes awkward corner) had waived. To be b-sides from old-time Libertines (Mockinbird "in Hamburg) as well as album tracks (" The Good Old Days ", Berlin and Hamburg) played or even taken old unreleased demos from the closet with the Libertines uniforms. The latter used Doherty in Hamburg, then to persist for a beautiful Diss the Munich fans who provoked him with Kettcarrufen to "Germany above all" singing ": "The next song is for those shitty Kettcarfans a couple of days ago - Hooligans On E ...".
Was the Hamburg concert well, was the Berlin of an event. In much better shape than the day before, finally appearing without a hat, Doherty was a huge joy. But he, the tabloid hysteria surrounding his "Nazi gaffe" was recorded and Germany with a flag on the stage and spontaneously slipped into a little parody of Hitler, had this been a history of sovereignty, so we could not wait.
The setlist in Berlin was written about his own songs out yet with cover versions of "April Skies (the text on his own arm and while reading off of the song) by The Jesus & Mary Chain and" Another Girl Another Planet ", the great hymn of heroin Only Ones, also bolstered. "Delivery" as the first song showed even at an example, why in Doherty solo is the secret: (video)
While the Babyshambles recorded Version was of "Delivery" is a bit too Quasicover straddle the Kinks, is his solo performance as the early demo of the song and once again underlines the vulnerability out of his text ( "Oh now what use am I to anyone / I'm fucked, forlorn, frozen beneath the summer ") But also his hope for escapism, for the better world in which we love wegfeiern all the self-doubt, and can-drink ("Where all you skins and mods you get together / Make pretend it's 1969 forever / Find a girl, have a drink, have a dance and pray"). And here, in the desire for unconditional escapism staying with him a figure of thought, lies the whole problem of Peter Doherty. The boy kicked out at the world / The world kicked back a lot fucking harder now: (video)

Clip of Carl and Kieran Leonard in the studio

2009-12-05T09:10:00.001+01:00

Carl Barat, the multifaced artist. Musician, actor and producer. Here's is the latter incarnation.
Oedipus Rex is out now on Wisewolf Records.

Berlin, 2/12

2009-12-03T10:47:00.005+01:00

The Germans are still a bit irritated but the last gigs have received goodish reviews. This is from Morgenpost:

Berlin is not easy Munich. There, the British musician Pete Doherty had recently received boos for his appearance. Not so in Berlin. Here is applauded after the Romantics has finished the Rock n 'Roll, including Germany flag and alcohol his acoustic solo appearance in the culture brewery.
They had already thought he was now clean. At the Berlin Festival last summer, Peter Doherty surprised with punctual attendance and pleasure in their presence. In the gossip columns, the English singer emerged on the other hand, increasingly rare, since the chaotic relationship with supermodel Kate Moss has ended. Of new prison stays for drug escapades, nothing has been reported. On top of surprised to be released in the spring solo album "Grace / Wastelands" with a more mature artistic expression.
DISPLAY
But now this! Doherty voted last weekend at a gig in Munich, Germany, the first line of the song and took it far beyond the borders of the Bavarian capital, also for outrage.
Through its recent misstep that was already long ago announced a solo acoustic concert in the boiler house of Kulturbrauerei even more interesting. On the morning of the first day, the competent agency reported that no cards were having. Once again, therefore, had confirmed that affronts and controversy to boost the business wonderfully.

And so that too for a while that way, does the singer also in Prenzlauer Berg is anything but tasteless. Before he ascends the stairs to the stage, he announces his coming from below with the fronds of a Germany flag, which he then puts on his guitar amplifier.
In addition, alcoholic beverages are plentiful, for nothing is the singer a greater abomination than the thought of an impending hangovers. He mumbles and attacked varies a bit, the voice seems bad. Doherty sounds like one who sings behind the next, and Bechert, although the landlord had closed the pub doors already and only have guests that are already part of the inventory.
Basically, one has expected nothing else. Doherty is among the young musicians of the last true romantics of Rock 'n' roll, his tendency to blunder makes him seem authentic. Of course, he has also written a few songs, in which there is a certain something. In "What a Waster" puts both the rebellion of the Clash as well as the sensitivity of the Smiths. With "Down In The Tube Station At Midnight", he thanked another hero, the group The Jam. Finally, of course, can not praise the missing Albion, the ancient name for England and the British Isles.
Doherty has never made any secret of the fact that it sees itself as a pop-patriot. Not even the flag of Germany does not change, which he shortly before midnight, along with the many drinks resumes backstage. In Munich he earned boos in Berlin, but he received for his eccentric sympathetic imagination much applause.

Back to music

2009-12-02T16:09:00.002+01:00

OK, forget sitcoms, forget nazis, forget apologies, forget silliness. Babyshambles third album is on the way.

From NME.com:
Babyshambles have outlined their plan to release a new album in 2010.
The band, speaking in the new issue of NME out today (November 2), said they had around 18 songs in contention for their third album, although it was still in its early stages and they have yet to book studio time or recruit a producer.
Pete Doherty said that guitarist Mik Whitnall had been working on demos in London for the foundations of the album.
"Mik spent a year on eBay buying shitloads of equipment," he explained. "He's written loads of amazing music which mostly just needs lyrics. So, one by one, they're getting turned into songs."
He added that older songs including 'Stone Me What A Life', 'Cuckoo 1440', '352 Days' and 'Tinker's Daughter' may make the album, plus 'Fixing Up To Go', 'Bonjour Trieste' and 'After He'.
Speaking of the latter song, Doherty explained: "Musically it's the perfect – I won't say rip-off – but combination of classic ska and the riff from [The Smiths' 'This Charming Man'."
For the full interview with Babyshambles see the cover feature of the new issue of NME, out now.

To celebrate the news, NME.com has also a gallery of piccies of Peter, accompanied by some of his famous quotes (argh).

Pete Doherty on Photo Sevices.mp4

2009-12-02T13:11:00.001+01:00

Peter stricken by the acting bug! As if Carl's was not enough!!! Well, anybody remember when whe announced Peter was going to star in a Swiss TV series called Photo Sevices? Here we are! Enjoy the trailer.

Shambles in the new NME

2009-12-01T15:20:00.002+01:00

New album. New tour. New Pete. So says this week's NME cover. Well, as for the new album and the new tour it's OK.

But the new Pete...

Kidding. The issue is out tomorrow.

Salome (live @ Essigfabrik, Cologne 30-11-09)

2009-12-01T13:46:00.001+01:00

Very good video from last night's gig in Cologne.

Munich part two and gigs of the week

2009-11-30T12:51:00.002+01:00

It seems last night's gig went on smoothly, at last. While all the German sites are still rife with furor after the "nazi-hymn" rendition of Saturday night, Peter played a good gig at the Backstage club in Munich.

Setlist by Niobe: the good old days - delivery - last of the english roses - a cover?? (something like nothing ever change) - hooligans on e - can't stand me now - salome - what a whaster - love reign o'er me - bucket shop - sheepskin tearaway - what katie did - fuck forever - music when the lights go out - never never - albion (with alan wass) - hired gun (with alan wass)

And now the gigs of the week:
Monday 30/11 Peter Doherty, Roses Kings Castles, Alan Wass at Essigfabrik, Köln, Germany
Tuesday 01/12 Peter Doherty, Roses Kings Castles at Uebel & Gefährlich, Hamburg, Germany
Wednesday 02/12 Peter Doherty, Roses Kings Castles at Kesselhaus, Berlin, Germany
Friday 04/12 Peter Doherty, Bad Hair Day, Adam Ficek at Debaser Medis, Stockholm, Sweden
Saturday 05/12 Peter Doherty, Bad Hair Day, Adam Ficek at Kulturbolaget, Malmö, Sweden
Sunday 06/12 Peter Doherty, Roses Kings Castles at Rockefeller, Oslo, Norway

The soundtrack of my life

2009-11-30T09:14:00.002+01:00

The Guardian asked Peter what his all-time fave songs are and here is the answer:

The first single I bought …

Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers: That's What I Like (1989)
Growing up in an army barracks I remember hearing a lot of army-related songs, mostly about Hitler's genitalia or lack of, the QM's stores and one perennial favourite, that went something along the lines of "left, right, left, right, left" , which I could hear belting out from the parade square even as I put on the turntable my first ever single purchase – Jive Bunny and The Master Mixers, 'Thats What I Like'. Hell seeing days. For me this song was the soundtrack of your second to last enclaves of upwardly mobile underclass muttering disciplined, salute-signalled obedience to the very last enclaves of bona fide [t]officer class 'Ooray 'Enries.

The song that made me smile…

Derek B: Get Down (1987)
It was the 80s, I was eight and I can clearly remember the pool of blood from where one 'army brat summer activity' javelin instructor had carelessly thrust his spike through a pal of mine's head. This song cheered me up and I sat agog for many an hour, listening repetitively to the premiere UK hit pop artistes, Derek B and Easy Q. They spoke of a far-off place called east London. The furthest east I'd been was Tottenham Court Road. They spoke of"sticking sawn-offs up the noses of guards" and more intriguingly to my once innocent ears, some female acquaintance who had "two big things like basket balls and down below was like Niagara Falls". The bloody tape recorder ate my tape, but not before a vision was born.

My awakening to lyrics…

Chas and Dave: Christmas Jamboree Bag (1981)
To the bemusement and amusement of my schoolfriends and probably my family, the 12-year-old junkie rocker in training was an obsessive listener to the Christmas Jamboree Bag. These treasures were the north London duo's mass medleys of music-hall songs, a lot of which had never even been recorded before. They were lyrical, often melancholy, littered with single entendres and always melodic. Even as my eyes were being drawn to the volumes of war poetry in a downstairs closet, I was mesmerised by Harry Was a Champion, A Big Fat Fly Flew by Fat Flo's Flat, and 'Down the Road There was a Bloomin' Riot'. One later partly popped up as a crucial verse in a popular Libertines song: "the other night I goes to a ball and they calls me Cinderella/ and upon my coat I wears a button hole and they calls me a tidy fella/ next to me comes old Mother Brown, pulling up her railway socks/ says to me come and have another dance, cos its ain't quite twelve o'clock/ so off we go, round and round, but there's gonna be some trouble I know/ cos I got no buttons on me trousers/ and me pins ain't none too strong/ hurry up Mrs Brown I can feel it coming down, and it won't take none too long".

My life changing song…

The Smiths: I Started Something I Couldn't Finish (1987)
Somewhere between the pillows and the skies, amidst the stark satanic thrills of adolescent whimsy, there's a second-hand record shop. Lets say it's in Nuneaton. Let's imagine a wonky-fringed 15-year-old striding purposefully towards it with his paper round money in his hand. The week before he'd seen a strange apparition, a call to arms even: some right bramah had paraded out of the same shop, wearing a T-shirt saying 'Shoplifters of the world unite'. Later that day I sat in a room bedecked with QPR memorabilia and stolen library books, a chewed-up Derek B tape and a periscope from an Iraqi tank the old man had brought back from the Gulf... and my life changed for ever. I Started Something I Couldn't Finish cranked into life and something divine occurred to me. Within six months I had officially taken up residence inside Smiths songs 'Well I Wonder', 'Jeanne', 'Real Around the Fountain', 'Nowhere Fast'. I think 'The boy with the thorn in his side' made me want to pick up the guitar. 'This Charming Man' quickly made me put it down again and then 'Rubber Ring' left me in two minds.

My introduction to dance…

The Stone Roses: Fools Gold (1989)
Moving on... It's summer 1997, I'm dossing at my Nan's flat in London NW2 working at Willesden Green cemetery. By now I'm in possession of Benny, a crappy old Spanish guitar that is causing serious rifts in the domestic politics of Nanna Doll's gaff. My cousin Lee Cassidy had a flat in an opposite block. I sat gobsmacked in his kitchen before work one morning as he told me that he'd never listened to guitar music just dance, rave, jungle etc. "Hang on though Pete, hold tight...." and Fools Gold blasted out across the room. Bloody Hell, what the fuck is this? I looked at my cousin and then at my feet. Oh, this must be dancing.

A discovery by 'chance'…

The Skatalites: Marcus Garvey (1965)
One Saturday in the summer of 1997 it was my day off and I wasn't going to sit around at Nanna's being told to shut that bloody row up. I go up west with my little guitar, I play Meet me on the Corner by Lindisfarne. I get moved on. What can you do? You go home with your latest 'purchases', one of which is a Walkman that some careless lad left on a pub bench. You come out of Kilburn tube, because the barriers are being mended, take the 16 up Shoot-up Hill, and you fancy a walk, so you cut through Gladstone Park. There's an old rusting metal railway bridge and daubed upon it for as long as I can remember are the words Dollis Hill Mods with Mods crossed out and replaced with the word Skins and then Skins crossed out again and replaced with the word Mods. You have a look at the Walkman. Quite flash. You put the Walkman on, asteroids destroy Neasden and all the bells in all the churches in London clang like no one's business. I bounce home, trying to walk like a black kid as the Skatalites blow my tiny mind. '007' by Desmond Decker 'Rudy a message to you' by Dandy Livingstone... I felt like Saint Peter just as I passed the junction of Dollis Hill Lane and Damascus Close.

A source of hope…

Billie Holiday: Good Morning Heartache (1946)
Peabody Cottages, Bruce Grove, sometime in 2001. The rain was playing havoc with my attempts to finish my novel. What with the fact that my bedroom roof had just caved in. Aside from that, my girlfriend had ended another vicious row by running down Tottenham High Road in her negligé. The car that I'd bought off a young dole-scrounging, would-be superstar Johnny Borrell didn't fancy the trip (what with it being two hundred and seventy-five quids worth of absolute shite). The phone rang, my Jobseekers Allowance key worker was calling to remind me I needed to come in today as they had concluded their investigations into my false claims and I was to be issued with a demand to repay two years worth of benefit fraud. The phone rang again. It was BT. They were cutting the line. I stubbed my toe on the sideboard and stumbled down the stairs, cracking my head on the record player and spinning it into life. 'Good Morning Heartache' sang Billy Holiday at slightly the wrong speed. I made two promises to myself. I'm gonna have that chord progression one day. And I'm never buying a used car off Johnny Borrell again.

When in Wormwood Scrubs…

The Beatles: Free as a Bird (1977/1995)
There is a corner of some skanky Victorian gaol cell that is forever Billy Bilo's and it was there thatI squashed my ear up against the crack in a cell door and listened to 'Free as a Bird' coming out of the Screw's transistor radio from the landing below. "Turn it up Guv" I begged. He turned it down. "Whats that Doherty?" "Can you turn the radio up please Guv". "Listen to him, will ya, he thinks he's at the Camden Palace, this is Scrubs mate". "It's called Koko's now you fat northern cunt" I muttered under my breath. "No," came a voice from the next cell. "It's definitely Scrubs."
In fairness, the prison guard in question did turn the radio back up, but the song was ending, being followed on the Capital Gold playlist by 'Cool for Cats' by Squeeze. Well, you can't lose them all can you?

Peter being a bit of a dick in Germany

2009-11-29T18:46:00.006+01:00

Peter and missus this morning in Munich

Nothing really serious but it seems the secret gig at the Atomic Cafe in Munich scheduled for last night didn't last much. According to Christian76 (.org): "Dohertys surprise gig yesterday night in Munich was aborted by the management of the venue cause Pete was singing "Deutschland Deutschland ueber alles" which was germanys national anthem till 1945. Half of the audience booed him off because of that and the venue did drag him off in the end. He tried to sing another song which wasn't allowed anymore so he threw his microphone at the venue manager". The offence was made even worse by the fact the show was being aired by a Bavarian radio station.

Well I don't think this will affect tonight's official performance, but please Peter... enough with nazi imagery, even if it's a pisstake. Morrissey was slaughtered for much less back in the day.

Two little snippets

2009-11-29T13:01:00.003+01:00

Digg reviews Peter's Antwerp gig (rough transalation below):

TRIX, Antwerp, November 27, 2009
"He comes, he comes, he comes good that Pete" ... Apologies, but it was Thursday when a five year old child feverishly waiting for Christmas, waiting for Peter Doherty. Only the five year old child can be sure that Santa Claus and his shots will kick back on the rooftops. But the people in the sold Hof Ter Lo / Trix waiting, but there had to guess whether their very own St. Peter would show up.
In the series with only a guitar, was first Alan Was office to wait just get a break. The wait bearable, however, he did not. Was, an old friend of Doherty, he looked like the courage of desperation trying to scramble back to the '70s, a lot permed hair and a tight, velo hours, red pants. He murmured some to go and behaved like a boy with his first guitar in an Irish pub should be doing his thing at the local open mic. A boy who his musical talents have not quite classified, but all trained hard for the mirror on how the Rock'n Rolla to hang.
"Mary, where did you go"Sang the man. We must hope for her that she was hit far enough ...
Adam Ficek, Doherty's Babyshambles drummers in size, it already did a lot better off. He has toured for a year under the name Roses Kings Castles and even though his album bearing the greatest bells and whistles, but now he was completely rid of extras and just take the guitar.
He immediately kicked off with a cover of The Ramones, "Sheena is a Punk Rocker" and made an almost miraculous intimate number.
Ficek is a man with his charm disarmed his songs have a long way helps. He needs to concentrate on the narratives in his songs when listening "Stupid Little Shut Your Mouth" and dedicated to his dead horse 'Horses for Courses ", but at the end of his set, he still managed to give a funky twist "Entroubled. And so disappeared the last and only sober man of the stage.
Peter Doherty failed to materialize, like a real rock star and as befits his reputation even though he has managed to make diets. There were occasional already slightly nervous shuffling observed when Mr. Doherty for his infamous face fourth ten still had not shown.
But eventually, after some palaver, and under mild constraint, so we may hear later, pushed on stage.
There he stood, like a true but very drunken dandy in the rather dingy stage of TRIX. The gray, perfectly tailored suit stood him very well, but the beige hat and hung with gold arms and neck, gave him more the air of a poshy british lad.
"Feels like being a stand-up comedian. Does any one want to hear a song?". Certainly. The audience hung on the man's lips before he had released only one note, but increasingly on the podium, the more he is a stand-up comedian turned out, one that the humor of the situation must have . If you post any stories of people who pick him earlier that night completely drunk in a restaurant have this condition go beyond, one would think that his drunkenness was a kind of pose that he holds himself to feel less lonely on stage.
But not so, he allows even the Duvel and wine eagerly claim, although he always shares with the first row of neat.
Yet he knows some way to keep songs, thanks to the public that a large part of the lyrics from him know to take over. At the moment they get the chance to course, because he lets his numbers are slipping in a gepluk his guitar under the guise of an inimitable guitar solo. He stretched his number so happy to.
If he was completely sober have assisted, it would have been a piece of stripped down songs from the entire back catalog of The Libertines and Babyshambles.
He took almost no songs from his own solo repertoire, but controlled himself among the public about the Lall gum blowing bubbles, drawing-boards of The Libertines and receive sausige letters to his address, from songs like 'Dilly Boys', 'Shotter Nation' and 'Time for Heroes ".
To fill the stage, he also brought along two ballet dancers, who bluntly skipped across the stage. Even the surrealism of David Lynch had two ladies in a colorful outfit who were dancing like they were auditioning for the Russian State Ballet at the forefront of a zwalpende Doherty, not his films stopped.
His encores were deployed under a light force, but he still conjured "What Katy Did" and especially "Down in Albion The" out of his beige hat. For that last song was his colleague Alan Was (nowadays also nice to look in the Duvel glass) are meetoeteren on his harmonica, but not without occasionally from the spotlight to be pushed away by Peter himself when his position for wanted to claim back the microphone.
Hopefully he can that position behind the microphone far maintained. Up slightly less drunk.

And Carl says his solo album will be "the best thing he's ever made" (video interview here).

Carl to debut on the stage in January

2009-11-27T10:56:00.007+01:00

OK Carlos, I think I can give you support for this thing, also because there's Sam Shepard involved. And as long as it doesn't interfere with your musical output I can cope with it.

Read on:
Sadie Frost will return to the stage in the new year to star opposite ex-Libertines musician Carl Barat, making his theatrical debut, in a new production of Sam Shepard’s 1980 play Fool for Love at west London’s Riverside Studios.
Fool for Love, which opens on 28 January 2010 (previews from 25 January), is the first production in a repertory season from theatre company Love&Madness. The season continues until 21 March with two more productions joining the rep: Shakespeare’s Richard III (opening 4 February), featuring Frost as Lady Anne, and a devised piece called Demi Monde, inspired by the designer and socialist William Morris.
Shepard’s 90-minute Fool for Love recounts a painful love story. In a seedy motel room in southern California, May (Frost) and Eddie (Barat) go back beyond their adult lives, back to the legacy of their parents and their parents before. As they challenge each other's versions of events, what emerges through broken images and scraps of remembered colours is a childhood which defines the rest of their lives.
The play was last revived in the West End in 2006 in a Lindsay Posner production led by Hollywood film stars Juliette Lewis (who, like Barat, also has a second career in rock) and Martin Henderson.
Frost returned to the stage earlier this year, for the first time since the beginning of her career, to star in the one-woman play Touched at Trafalgar Studios. Barat is best known as the former co-frontman, with Pete Doherty, and lead guitarist of the Libertines. His subsequent band, Dirty Pretty Things, broke up in 2008.
Commenting on his change of career direction, Barat said: “I have always wanted to act, so when Sadie and Neil (Sheppeck, artistic director of Love&Madness) offered me this I was very much up for it. It's certainly one hell of a challenge, but I'm really enjoying the process of collaboration.”
Frost said: “It has been amazing to have been asked to work with Neil Sheppeck and Love&Madness and I have loved the fact that, as a performer, I have been given the rare opportunity to be an integral part of the company’s creative process.” Sheppeck said that, with Frost and Barat, the company, founded in 2000, hoped to “attract a whole new audience into the theatre for the first time”.

by Terri Paddock

Irish dates rescheduled

2009-11-26T20:07:00.003+01:00

Babybear posts to FDW:

It's my pleasure to announce that the Irish shows have been re-scheduled.
January 20: DUBLIN, The Academy
January 21: GALWAY, Heineken Green Spheres show at Roisin Dubh
January 22: BELFAST, Mandela Hall

Vote the Rockstar of the Decade

2009-11-26T10:25:00.001+01:00

Oh come on. I know you want to.

Vote Peter
Vote Carlos

Rotterdam and Eindhoven

2009-11-25T10:41:00.004+01:00

See Peter playing pool and hanging on the streets of Eindhoven (here)!

The man is currently wowing Dutch fans, with the only support of the faithful Ficek and the Superinnas.

Thanks to Frits for the review of last night's gig:

"I went to the Eindhoven gig yesterday, it was fantastic! The atmosphere was good, the crowd was not too bad and Peter was in great condition.
After 3 opening acts: a female rapper (awful), Alan Wass (drunk, but good) and Roses Kings Castles, it was time for Peter and the ballerinas. He played for almost 2 hours, talked to the crowd between songs and gave some kisses to some girls who stormed the stage. It was a great evening!
Here is some sort of setlist(songs I remember him playing, not in the right order):
Hooligans on E
East of Eden
The Modern Age(The Strokes cover)(he began with the intro of Unstookie Titled, but it seemed like he couldn't remember all of the chords)
Gang Of Gin
Delivery
Can't Stand Me Now
Forever Blowing Bubbles
What Katie Did
There She Goes
Music When The Lights Go Out
Love Reign O'er Me
Smashing
For Lovers
Don't Look Back Into The Sun
What a Waster
Arcady(dedicated to Graham Coxon)
Salome
Sheepskin Tearaway
Psycho Killer
Needle and Damage
Hired Gun (with Alan Wass on guitar)
Albion (with Alan Wass on the harmonica)"

We also have a review of the Rotterdam gig (here) in Dutch, but easily convertible in English with a google translator, and two videos: Billie Jean and Last of the English Roses.

Today is off and next stop is tomorrow in Antwerp (Belgium).

Stay tuned.

Rotterdam and the new NME

2009-11-24T13:33:00.002+01:00

photo by William Veerbeek

"Well here we are in rotterdam" Adam twittered yesterday "it's raining, my hair's too fluffy but I'm dealing with it". Whatever, I can't find any review of the Rotterdam gig, neither in the press neither in forums. The only thing I found is the photo above, taken by William Veerbeek. There are also beautiful photos of the Utrecht gig on Flickr, by Rianne Groen (here) and Bellerebelle (here).
But! The new issue of the NME is out tomorrow and features an interview with Peter (boasting the rather sensationalist headline "Pete Doherty on life support!") where he tells us about his recent visit at the Swindon hospital and the upcoming Babyshambles tour.

That's all for now.

Gigopoulos

2009-11-23T16:10:00.002+01:00

PETER
Nov 23 2009 8:00P - Watt Rotterdam, Netherlands
Nov 24 2009 8:00P - Effenaar Eindhoven, Netherlands
Nov 26 2009 8:00P - Trix Hall Antwerp, Belgium
Nov 29 2009 8:00P - Backstage Werk Munich, Germany

CARLOS (dj set)
Friday 27th November - Northern Lights CLUB NIRVANA, Clarence Yard, Wigan
Doors 10.00pm
£5 entry

Utrecht, 22/11/09

2009-11-23T15:41:00.002+01:00

Norbert Pek doesn't talk about the gig but tells us of Peter's dj set (here, with video).

Rough transaltion:

For being Pete Doherty he looks pretty good. A blooming face. Meaning in life. When I walk past his locker room with my CD-case he's on the couch with a beautiful girl. In the large Tivoli room I put the first tracks for the approximately two hundred people who come immediately. Then walk a great figure in the dj-hutch. Pete Doherty. He scans the CD-carrying case, while everyone in the room to the loft stand and take photos and movies. Pete quickly turns into: Blue of Elastica. Someone put us down for beer. Then Pete has an idea. He does throw his hat and fifty euro. Pete: "We're doing a game, man. Who the first person to win the dancing gets fifty dollars. "I'll throw in fifty million, including cash Pete puts hat back on, and the match began. Pete runs No More Heroes by The Stranglers. Nobody dances. I turn This Charming Man by The Smiths. The hall continued to breathlessly to see Pete. He puts Stoned Love by The Supremes and someone starts to dance. That is a friend of Pete. That does not count.
Only when I All Day And All Of The Night The Kinks front design of a girl begins to move. "You know what they doing?" I tell Pete. I get a smile, a handshake, and all crumpled euro banknotes. At the end of his act Pete announces to me from the stage: "That's a good dj. Come on, save me. "I turn Set Me Free of, again, The Kinks. And what does Pete do? Dance.

A crush on Peter

2009-11-21T13:17:00.004+01:00

From This is local London:

Pete Doherty causes crush at Kingston's McClusky's
9:20am Saturday 21st November 2009

By Louise Robertson

Pete Doherty reminded fans of his rock star credentials by lighting a cigarette on stage at McClusky’s on Thursday night.
The troubled star created a storm when he rocked up to the Kingston club with Babyshambles, after a previous gig there was cancelled through illness.
Fans reported being crushed against the stage barrier as clubbers went wild for the act. One girl was spotted shouting she could not breathe and begging security to help.
Despite the pushing and shoving, and someone trying to throw a shoe on to the stage, the mood was positive and Pete took time to shake hands with those dedicated enough to push their way to the front.
At one point he tried to light a cigarette with a fan’s mobile phone, before realising it was not a lighter.
Queues to the gig snaked around TK Maxx, as there were only 100 tickets available on the door for the night, organised by New Slang.
Superfans Francesca Galluzzo, both 24, got there at 6pm to secure their place at the front of the queue, despite Babyshambles being scheduled for a 10.30pm start.
Miss Galluzzo said: “I can’t explain how excited we are. It’s not even a situation where we’re fans, it’s beyond that. I’ve lost count of how many gigs we’ve been to.”
Richmond teenager Sam Fryer also got there early and said he was “freaked out” when he heard his hero was playing so close to his home.
The 19-year-old said: “I just love the romance of it all. At first it was all about the Libertines before the Pete and Carl Barat bust up. I just love the poetry of it all and how they so loved each other but hated each other at the same time.
“When I was younger I was literally addicted, I just could not stop listening to them.”

Francesca, if you're there speak up! We want to hear from you!

Shambles in Kingston

2009-11-20T12:56:00.003+01:00

NME.com has a short review of last night's gig:

"Babyshambles played a club gig at the Kingston McClusky's venue last night (November 19) – playing a cover of Happy Mondays' 'Kinky Afro' to open their set.
As well as the cover, Pete Doherty and his band included new songs 'Fireman' and 'Stranger In My Own Skin' in the setlist, plus another untitled new number later.
The four-piece also played crowd favourites including 'Delivery', 'Killamangiro' and set-closer 'Fuck Forever' – with fans crowd-surfing towards the stage as the set ended.
Doherty now heads to Europe for a solo tour".

Khalim12 says: "Was a great gig, crowd was ok, some pricks though. Pete looked really disheartened when no one reacted to stranger in my own skin, I really like it. Fireman is really good as well. Sometimes I get the impression pete gets bored by it all. Fuck Forever was amazing... Overall I thought it was really good".

Shambles freshman Buk tells us about his experience: "Last night at Kingston was the second gig I've managed to get to so far, although I have tickets for upcoming ones already booked. The first time was at The Roundhouse in Camden and I was mesmerised. I thought he had absolute control of the songs, the band and the audience. Last night was a very different experience - at times both he and the band were superb and his rapport with the audience is really good, but the venue was truly awful. The security procedures to get in were a real pain, the majority of the audience seemed more interested in getting pissed and the sightlines were frankly shit. It was just hard to hear or see anything. I think Pete did his best - throwing in some of the great songs to keep us happy and the momentum going, as well as testing new material. Overall I enjoyed it, but I hope the next time I see him and Babyshambles, they've sorted the technical stuff out and that the audience are there for the music, not the cheap booze".

Setlist:
'Kinky Afro'
'Carry On Up The Morning'
'Delivery'
'Beg, Steal Or Borrow'
'Fireman'
'Side Of The Road'
'There She Goes (A Little Heartbreak)'
'Stranger In My Own Skin'
'Pipedown'
'I Wish'
'Pipey Magraw'
'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles'
'UnBilotitled'
'Killamangiro'
'Time For Heroes'
'Unstookietitled'
Untitled new song
'Baddie's Boogie'
'Albion'
'Fuck Forever'

Now YOU vote!

2009-11-19T09:53:00.002+01:00

Normally I don't do these things, I know these charts are generally useless and after all it's only a matter of taste, but I'm totally fucked with the idiot comments I've read yesterday in the press about the NME "Best album of the decade" chart. You know, the "Up the Bracket of the Libertines, former band of the junkie rocker Pete Doherty...", the "Pete Doherty has 3 best albums of the decade!" (excuse me???), the "Arthritic Monkeys are the best band ever, not those drugged losers!" (yeah I read that too).

So please guys, get voting.

Here for Up The Bracket
Here for The Libertines

Vote for the junkies, for the losers, for the tossers! Whatever. But vote!

Carl comments the NME chart

2009-11-18T15:34:00.003+01:00

Lack of sleep??? Mmmmm...

Thanks a lot to Carmine for the (witty) transcription!

NME 'The Libertines emerged at the start of the decade - hazy days?'
CBeebies (haha): 'I just remember the excitement of the routine of recording 'Up the Bracket.' Fallinmg asleep recording 'Radio America' - banging my head on the microphone because i was that battered. Mick [Jones, producer] stopping the sessions to watch Eastenders and us all sitting around the dinner table every night.'
NME 'Then it all got a bit more intense...'
Crazy Bat: 'Later all our lives changed and everyone got a bit wilder, in a bad way. The second album was a blur. It was an intense time, all sorts of emotions going round I didn't understand at the time - now i can look back and maybe think that it might just have been due to lack of sleep, some of the...Spinal Tappings.'
NME 'What Do you remember from that time?'
Carlos Whisper: 'Having a bodyguard each was a bit weird. When we first went in on the first day we almost had a massive ruck. We managed to break away from our guardians and flew at each other.'
NME: 'What do you think of the album now?'
Chewable Bottom: 'I didn't feel this at the time, but... you write lyrics and you only realise what you're writing about afterwards. If we'd set out to write honestly what was going on at the time I don't think it would have had the same effect. It's like the Velvet's album, some people say they heard it and then started a band - I couldn't ask for anything more.'

The printed interview is traceable in the new issue of the New Musical Express, out today.

Up the Bracket is the best British album of the decade

2009-11-17T09:42:00.003+01:00

At last the truth has been restored! The NME's chart of the 50 best album of the last decade is out, and the Strokes' "Is This It" tops the chart, followed by the Libertines' first album at number 2. "The Libertines" is also in the chart (at number 24) and so is "Down in Albion", Babyshambles' first effort, at number 35.

You can see the whole chart here.

It's a great achievement for the guys, and maybe it will help to give them a little perspective of their real value.

Peter, Carl, John, Gary, you were the best musical thing of the last 10 years.

We want you back.

Together.

Gigs of the week

2009-11-16T18:05:00.002+01:00

BABYSHAMBLES
Thursday 19 November
New Slang at McCluskys, Bishops Hall, Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom

PETER
Sunday 22 November
Tivoli Oudegracht, Utrecht, The Netherlands (Roses Kings Castles supporting)

And now a tip: MatteoAlbion (Pete Doherty Italia Forum) met The Ficek in Italy last week and he said a new Shambles EP will be probably released in February, with the full CD expected in Spring.

Last days recap

2009-11-16T12:05:00.004+01:00

Been easyjetting again, so I think I need a quick recap of the last things:
1. The Ashton-under-Lyme gig. Totally ignored by the Lancashire press, Peter's last gig at the Underground Live (sans Babyshambles) was mildly appreciated by the buffs. The only review comes from the old libertines.org, particularly a guy who calls himself "skagskagskag". Read on:
"was actualluy a really great gig.
turned up early on time and was totally with it.
played for the best part of two hours, me and my mates put together a setlist of what we can remember, no particluar order:
cant stand me now
delivery
man who would be king
tell the king
death on the stairs
last of the english roses
albion
fuck forever
beg steal borrow
dont look back into the sun
time for heroes
what a waster
ha ha wall
hooligans on e
for lovers
gang of gin!!!!!!!
whole world is our playground
music when the lights go out
and a shit load of covers:
someday - strokes
half the world away - oasis
ask - smiths
only fools and horses theme tune
mr postman
i wanna be adored - stone roses
waterfall stone roses
another girl another planet
sure ive missed a few but he was great. grabbed a spliff from someone in the crowd aswell which was quite funny.
was also a incident where he punched some kid for trying to steal his hat, the guy was being a twat though. some kid from the first band on, The Fayre, came and played drums on the last few songs also. he was insanely good, absolutely nailed fuck forever. pete was buzzin of him. his own band were pretty ace aswell when they played earlier on. didnt rate the other two".

2. Saturday night. Peter kindly turned up at the tribute for Dale Massey (the unforgettable ProperBo of FDW who died a few months ago) scheduled at 126 on Saturday night. Unfortunately, and certainly not by his fault, his semi-announced presence attracted a lot of people who had never known Dale and clearly didn't care for him, but went there only to see Peter (who in any case didn't perform). That's fame innit.

3. Adam was dj-ing in Italy last week, namely in Arezzo (Tuscany). He easyjetted back too on Saturday (not in my same plane).

4. I don't know if I should talk about Carl Barat's latest bizarre activities. This is a blog strictly related to music so stage acting is not contemplated. oooooo. Jokes aside, since I know many people also care for him in general, I'll try to give some shallow updates:

Carl has apparently suspended work on his solo album to dedicate himself to acting. He's got two things going on at the moment: one is a movie directed by his pal Jon McClure, taken from the latter's recent book, a "big rant" entitled "Lies". "It'll have Howard Marks in it" said McClure "a wrestler, some other friends. Carl Barat has said he wants to be in it. I'm beating them off now, I tell you. Brad Pitt will be next..." (for Jon's complete interview, featuring other Carlos-related rants) go here.

Carl has also been working with actress and producer (and professional ligger) Sadie Frost on a mysterious play which probably will premiere in some West End theatre early next year. The only thing I know is that last week a poster has been shot for the play by the legendary snapper Roger Sargent. So, good luck to Barat for this new adventure, with the hope he will get back to rock'n'roll as soon as he can.

The Dirty South gig

2009-11-13T15:15:00.003+01:00

Beautiful photos by Silentalibi.

"Brilliant gig" said Kutschi "band was on form and the crowd was mental".

pat_fish86 wrote instead: "The performance could've been worse but the set was pure shit". Pat didn't like the new songs.

And Decembers didn't like the crowd:
"I'm truly disappointed by some of Babyshambles' "fans" though" he wrote "I could hear that Sunderland girl shouting "I LOVE PETE, HE GAVE ME HIS BOTTLE! HE SPOKE TO ME!!! AAHHHH!!! THERE'S ADAM!!!!!" (it was drew) from the bus stop. They were running around barefoot from door to door looking through the windows to see who they could hassle next. i felt rather sorry for the guys...I would have stayed in there all night if I saw that outside!
But then i was stupid to think it would be another Halo gig, y'know, where I could stand somewhere other than the stage without getting elbowed in the face".

Rutherina has the setlist:
"Was v. good tonight. Crowd were a bit unfortunate in patches but nevertheless lively and good humoured. Boys on good form and I reckon the new stuff sounded better tonight than it did at proud or halo.

They played:
Delivery
Fireman
Forever blowing bubbles
Baddies
Back from the dead
Barbarians/Natives at the gates of thingy
There she goes - featuring some of the lyrics from Love Cats
Beg steal
Happy Birthday
I Wish
Pipedown
Sedative
Then shambles went off and we had the skuzzies for a bit. Then they came back and we had:
Georgia on my mind
The 'I'll take the former' one... don't know what it's called. I've got all muddled with the new ones and their titles.
Albion
She loves you
Fuck forever

Oh and NME.com reviewed the gig too.

Babyshambles thrill Cricklade fans

2009-11-12T11:37:00.004+01:00

Photo by Marcus Bond

Report of last night's gig from Swindon Advertiser:

FANS of Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty packed Cricklade’s Vale Hotel Inn for a glimpse of their hero as he made his way onto the stage.
The modest venue was packed to its 110 capacity with excited punters who travelled from all over the country, queued for hours and stumped up the £15 entrance fee for the gig, which was not announced until Monday evening.
Two support acts, Napoleon in Rags and 15-year-old Theo Altieri, warmed the crowd up to near hysteria. And the main attraction took to the stage at shortly before 11pm sporting his trademark trilby, complete with cigarettes in the hatband – yelling “Hello Cricklade!”
Fan Ben Brown, 21, a business studies student from West Swindon said: “I would have travelled any distance to see Pete and I’m ready for an epic night.”
And Zoe Mead, 21, a local musician from Grange Park, Swindon said: “This is a huge encouragement for local musicians. I can’t believe they’re here.”
Pub owner, Mike Ingle said: “It’s a great thing for the local community in Cricklade and for the music scene.”

Shalco (FDW) said: "Fantastic gig. Great new songs. Played for about an hour and a half, in excellent form".
Shalco also took a bunch of excellent pictures (here).

And Adam twittered: "just got back from cricklade, very messy and far too much sweat. next stop - London...am knackered".

Peter duetting with Anto

2009-11-11T17:58:00.002+01:00

Peter was in Paris yesterday, and he popped up at the show of Italian singer Anto Dust at the Motel, duetting with her for a couple of songs, including Can't Stand Me Now and She Loves You.
(thanks to Anjali for the info and the pic).

Preview of the Swindon gig

2009-11-11T11:17:00.002+01:00

From Swindon Advertiser:

Pete Doherty to perform in Cricklade pub
10:00am Wednesday 11th November 2009

ROCK wildman Pete Doherty is set to perform in Cricklade tonight.
The Babyshambles frontman is due to appear with his entire band at the Vale Hotel in Cricklade High Street.
The band will be supported by Fred Hot Chilli Peppers (who????).
Vale Hotel owner Mark Ingle said: “It is the biggest thing to hit Cricklade. It is fantastic and incredible to get such a celebrity.
“Pete is a very talented guy and I have a lot of time for him. I can’t wait.
“The support from the Cricklade community has been great. A guy rang from London and wanted to buy 100 tickets. But it is first come first served.”
Gig organiser Robert Baker arranged the performance in 48 hours. He said: “I think it will be mostly local people from Cricklade and Swindon there. It will be a chilled out affair with some good music. Babyshambles gigs happen quite often at the last minute in London.”
Mr Baker said Babyshambles is expected to perform new tracks from an upcoming album next year as well as old classics.
Doors open at 7.30pm and entry is £15.

Gigs: Update

2009-11-10T17:04:00.004+01:00

BABYSHAMBLES SHOW CONFIRMED THURSDAY - DIRTY SOUTH - LONDON - LEWISHAM.
expect more new songs and the chance to drink liquid.
(twittered by Adam)

Dirty South
162 Lee High Road
Lewisham
London SE13 5PR
Tel: 020 8852 1267
website: http://dirtysouthlondon.com/
Tickets here
£12.50 advance or £15.00 on the door.

Plus! There's still this to be clarified (but unlikely to happen at the mo).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Babybear's recap:

Swindon 100%
The Dirty South 100%
London show .... not 100% until they explain their shoddy advertisement and apologise profusely for it.
Ashton Under Lyme 100%
Babyshambles working their socks off 100%

Later!

Can't Stand Me Now song of the decade?

2009-11-10T12:08:00.004+01:00

Yeah, for Russell Brand.

Read on (from Xfm.com):
Russell Brand has taken a stand in our search for Song Of The Decade. The comedian, broadcaster and squeeze of Katy Perry has nominated ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’ as the best song of the last ten years.
Brand was effusive in his praise of one of The Libertines’ best known songs.
“I like it because of the romance of The Libertines as a group”, he said. “This song is like the zenith and nadir of [Karl and Pete’s] relationship. It’s perhaps their best creative achievement and also a beautiful hymn to the demise of their friendship”.
You can hear Russell’s full comments here.

Well, I would have said Time for Heroes. But it's ok somebody still remembers how great the Libertines were. All you seem to get in these "decade" charts nowadays is that Muse are the greatest band ever and Alex Turner the hottest hearthrob (ew).

Gigs of the week

2009-11-09T16:38:00.002+01:00

Wednesday 11th November
The Vale, Cricklade, Swindon
Babyshambles gig
Doors at 7.30
£15 on the door.

Friday 13 November 2009 at 8:00pm
Underground Live
Ashton-Under-Lyne, Manchester
United Kingdom
Live sets from Pete Doherty plus support from Rum Diamond, Mutineers + The Fayrewith DJ sets taking you through to the early hours!
18+ only

Plus, some knees up for Mik's birthday on Thursday!
Stay tuned!!!

Babyshambles - Black Boy Lane @ The Halo, 06/11/2009

2009-11-08T11:12:00.001+01:00

Thanks to Silentalibi!

The Halo gig

2009-11-07T16:33:00.003+01:00

photo by Silentalibi

Babyshambles in full (plus exes) for The Halo gig last night, though it was initially credited to Peter only. According to many people the show was much better than Thursday night's, and the crowd was better too.

Word to Mrs Cravat (FDW): "Not sure where to start with this really. The night got off to a slightly ropey start with he who must not be named opening the gig with some poetry. He also filmed the entire gig on his laptop. I think lipstick melodies were next who can be a bit hit and miss sometimes but I really enjoyed their set last night. Scuzzies were next and peter joined them for a couple of songs. Then the general and aoc who were joined by members of both the other support bands and peter popped on stage again for a couple of songs. Again really enjoyed that. Finally shambles were on spectacular form joined by pat for pipedown and blackboy lane and a'rebours. Mik then joined them and played I wish, stone me what a life (always a surreal experience for me since it inspired my username ), delivery, back from the dead, beg steal or borrow, pipey mcgraw, bollywood to battersea, albion, dlbits and a good few new ones with perhaps a cover or two. The entire band was on amazing form from start to finish. Peter was in a very mischievious mood. One of the bouncers was clearly not impressed and peter pretended to collape so he rushed over and as he did peter strummed the guitar. He was also extremely reluctant to leave the stage when they tried to impose the curfew and I the bouncer seemed a bit intimidated by the resounding rendition of albion from the crowd when he got hold of an acoustic at the end. I was absolutely blown away by this gig. I love woodberry gigs anyway and it was like a giant woodberry gig. It reminded me why I love this band so much and what better than to share all this with some of the best mates anyone could have who loved it just as much as I did. Now for the bad news. Phone battery let me down again but I might just break my own rule and upload incomplete snippets so that you can see how truly immense this night really was. So worth 20 quid the debate over the admission was almost laughable".

The beautiful photo above comes from this gallery. Other pictures and a brief review can be found here.

Setlist:

Pipedown (with Pat)
Black boy lane (with Pat)
Arebours (with Pat)
I wish
Stone me
Stranger in my own skin
Back from the dead
Delivery
Fireman
BNP blues
Monkey casino
New song
Beg, steal or borrow
New song
Billie jean
Bollywood to Battersea
Dont look back ito the sun
Im forever blowing bubbles
Albion

Shambles at Proud

2009-11-06T12:51:00.006+01:00

Reports from last night gig are controversial. Ronnie Joice twittered as soon as the show was over: "Babyshambles just went off. A terrific show. Absolute mayhem here now. Pete-mania at it's best".
Other people weren't so sure. Sampy (Pete Doherty Italia Forum) said: "I didn't understand a fucking thing tonight".
And Pat-fish86 (FDW) said: "Disappointing. I didn't think this was a very good show at all. I think they've run out of ideas when it comes to songwriting and the performance wasn't anything to write home about! It wasn't a 'great old shambolic gig' at all! and people who use Ronnie Joice's opinion as an indication of what's going on need to get a grip!"

Anyway... From NME.com:
Babyshambles played six new songs at a London club show last night (November 5) – including a new anti-British National Party song, 'The BNP Blues'.
Pete Doherty's band were headlining the Smash And Grab clubnight at Camden Proud Gallery. However, their set was almost shut down due to fans surging forward, with the crowd eventually spilling onto the stage near the end of the show.
They opened with new song 'Fireman', which Doherty introduced as, "About a junkie in Portugal – the only country England have never been at war with. Unless you count Australia".
'The BNP Blues', played later in the set, showcased a frenetic Sex Pistols-esque direction that typified the new material.
The set also included covers of two UK Number One singles from the '80s - Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean' and Pet Shop Boys' 'West End Girls'.
The show ended with a mass crowd invasion as the band ended with 'Time For Heroes' and 'Fuck Forever', following pleas from venue staff for fans to move backwards – Doherty instead urging them to surge forwards.

Babyshambles played:
'Fireman'
'Delivery'
'Beg, Steal Or Borrow'
'The BNP Blues'
Untitled new song
'I Wish'
'Billie Jean'
'West End Girls'
Untitled new song
'Baddie's Boogie'
'Unstookietitled'
Untitled new song
'Killamangiro'
Untitled new song
'Time For Heroes'
'Fuck Forever'

For the gossip mongers there's a mildly amusing gallery of piccies showing Peter (who stole Carl's last year coat) with the lovely Celine at Holy Moly.

And for the MJ nostalgic, here's a video of Billie Jean:

Preview of tonight's gig

2009-11-05T12:38:00.003+01:00

Wow wow things are warming up quickly!
Adam twittered: We, meaning Babyshambles are playing in Camden tomorrow evening, look out for 6 new songs. don't wear red jeans or big trainers.
And then: full day today, rehearsals then camden giggle this evening.

Program of the night:
Support bands: The Old Romantic Killer Band, The Cheetahs
DJ set by the Queens Of Noize.
Babyshambles are expected at 11 pm

Babybear said: Proud have requested a stage time of 11 pm for Babyshambles. I have been dealing with the owner so I assume he knows what he wants and pehaps the person you spoke to hasn't been updated yet. As it stands nominal stagetime is 11pm and is unlikely to be before that.

Back to Adam, these are the dates of RKC November-December tour:
Weds 18th November - Nottingham - The Maze
Sunday 22nd November - Netherlands with Peter - Utrecht - Tivoli
Monday 23rd November - Netherlands with Peter - Rotterdam - Watt
Tuesday 24th November - Netherlands with Peter - Eindhoven - Effenaar
Thursday 26th November - Belgium with Peter - Antwerp - Trix Hall
Sunday 29th November - Germany - Munich - Backstage Werk
Monday 30th November – Germany - with Peter - Cologne - Essigfabrik
Tuesday 1st December - Germany - with Peter - Hamburg - Uebel & Gefaehrlich
Wednesday 2nd December - Berlin - Kesselhaus
Friday 4th December – Sweden - with Peter - Stockholm - Debaser Medis
Saturday 5th December - Sweden - with Peter - Malmo - KB
Sunday 6th December – Norway - with Peter - Oslo - Rockefeller
Wednesday 23rd December - Betsey Trotwood - London (not announced yet - only to you lot)

Happy Bonfire night to everyone!

Babyshambles gig tomorrow

2009-11-04T21:03:00.003+01:00

Babyshambles Live at Smash and Grab
When: 05 November 2009 19:30:00 - 02:30:00
Where: Proud Camden, Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, Camden Town, London
Cost: £8.00 per person + booking fee
Tickets here

The Invasion Of... (The Invasion Of ... Venice)

2009-11-04T17:31:00.001+01:00

The first performance of The Invasion Of ...., Gary Powell's new band live from the Water Rats Kings Cross London 2009 (thanks to OneEyed MonsterTV)

The 50 Best Albums of the Decade

2009-11-03T10:42:00.008+01:00

The first decade of the millennium is coming to an end, and people are starting to make lists of what was best and what was worst. When it comes to music of course the lists are about the best music produced in these last 10 years. To me, the best musical thing of this decade were the Libertines and their two albums, but it seems many people, and particularly the (Bristish) music press, are slowly forgetting them. "Uncut" has already published their list of the 25 best albums of the decade, with the White Stripes' first CD "White Blood Cells" topping the chart. "Up the Bracket" and "The Libertines" are nowhere to be seen. Of course there's no mention of Peter and Carl's other projects either. We might have a long discussion on this, but for the moment I'm showing you this other chart from Paste magazine, which sees Up The Bracket at n. 49:

49. Libertines: Up The Bracket [Rough Trade] (2002)
As the baffling boyband/poptart craze was finally fading into oblivion, this vile, filth-ridden, substance-addled masterpiece of a rock record was projectile-vomited onto the U.K. charts by brilliant but reckless London band The Libertines. Following in the footsteps of their classic-punk heroes (The Clash’s Mick Jones produced the record), the Libertines preferred their sound raw and their subject matter depraved. Sadly prophetic, the band’s name was derived from the Marquis de Sade’s Lusts of the Libertines. But before Pete Doherty’s infamous binges derailed what might’ve been one of the greatest bands of the modern era, he and co-frontman/songwriting partner Carl Barat (along with drummer Gary Powell and bassist John Hassall) cut this simultaneously apathetic and adrenaline-jacked speedball of a classic. Steve LaBate.

I think we'll see many other charts like that. For the record, Paste has Sufjan Stevens' Illinois topping the chart.

Carl and Didz spin records in Munich

2009-10-31T18:31:00.007+01:00

Nobody thought it was true but actually it was! Last night ex-DPT best mates Carl Barat and Didz Hammond "reunited" to perform a dj set at the MusikExpress magazine's 40th birthday party in Munich (Germany).

Our friend Kjar, who was there, writes:

"yes it was really a surprise, i was there & had a great night,they played about 2 ½ hours... personal jesus, boys don´t cry,panic, blister in the sun, walk like an egyptian, twist & shout... sorry i can not remember more songs, was very busy drinking & dancing,but from my point of view the crowd was bit lame, think i have to apologize to the both for that hicksville manners here in munich, hope my friends here in town will wake up till end of november ;)"

For a few photos from the event scroll the gallery here.

Peter writes to French Dog Writtles

2009-10-30T20:37:00.004+01:00

Peter wrote two posts to FDW a few hours ago, one entitled "by thee used disused power sta-tion, the Batter'd sea":
I know he's got his faults, but when he's off the wesleysnipe he's a warrior and he's a don. I first met him on the landing in Pentonville and he didn't stop singing . Terrifying.
It's on for the 6th..get yer tickets now cause we'll be showcasing shitloads of new songs... and it only holds about as much as a Brentford away mob.
P.D

And in reply to somebody who asked if the new songs will be performed by him and The General, Peter replied:
"£30 sobs... eh, blimey, you do you know he's just had his 9th kid. It's kinda of Bio-Jah-nows-we-need- a knees up. I guarantee it''ll be the best you've ever seen. What more can I say. I'm trying to help a mate but trust me i'll pull out all the stops. Barat? Ballerina's? Free demoof the new bumfest masterpieces....? c'mon.
No, the shitcasloaders will be the shambles who have been rehearsing at least two days a aweek".
Peter also announced he got a new implant two days ago:
"I'm 2 days back from another implant and a little fucked if at least clean for another few months. ow."

The second post was more obscure, but anyway:
"What is all this play rumy formoney and internet dating blurbs.Eek must be raking it in. Which reminds me. Adrian's sweet so stop blocking his posts or it'll all go off. the liquid kosh had me roaming portugese wards, getting into bed delerious with 90yr old women. Thinking I was an ice skater. marvelling at the way i could sleep upsidedown in the cupboard. Then they bang it in stitch you up and here i am.
sometimes you need to find a song to get you going, spark you up, make you cry. I'm trying. I need something so bad there'snothing left but st ettienne and the libershivershambles. suggestions for tear jerkers:"

Speaking of Adrian, the man posted a message in his blog, the first time we hear from him after he fell out with FDB's administrators. I hardly know what happened so I'm not taking sides whatsoever, but I'm glad Babybear is still alive and well.

Carl collaborating with Neil Hannon

2009-10-29T13:50:00.005+01:00

Photo by Gabriel Green

Nothing particularly new in the Hotpress interview with Carl Barat, Brett Anderson and Jon McClure at the JD Set, but thanks to Jo for the typing. The only thing I find interesting is that Carlos has been collaborating with the Divine Comedy's leader Neil Hannon.

Read on:
A nervous-seeming type, Barat laughingly admitted that he was initially intimidated by the New Silver Cornet Band, but broke the ice with them by pointing out that they “don’t have a cornet between them!” Although he’s made some forays into the acting world recently (“I’ll be appearing in a play next year, but I’m not allowed to talk about it just yet”), Barat stated that his main focus remained on music: “I’m making a new record, that’s my main thing. I know everybody says this, but it’s a real new departure for me, because I’m doing things I haven’t done before. I’ve got about five or six songs that I’m really happy with. “I’ve been working with a few different people recently. I did a thing with Neil Hannon in Ireland. I went over to Dublin for a couple of days. It’s great learning how other people do things – a little like playing with the old boys this morning. Just watching how people write things”.
Deaf in one ear following an operation, he looked on the bright side: “I think it helps me to sing in tune actually. But being half-deaf is still a bit rubbish!”
A few hours later in the cavernous Village Underground, the JD Birthday Set kicks off on schedule in front of an invited audience of 500 people. McClure is up first. As the Channel 4 cameras swoop and dive, he knocks the audience dead with a stunning ‘Heavyweight Champion’, a great opening round. ‘I Found Out’ wasn’t quite as punchy as during the rehearsals but it still rocked.
Given his depth of experience it’s probably not surprising that Brett Anderson’s set is the most consistently impressive, the floppily fringed pop star coming on strong and injecting real emotion into ‘Wild Ones’ in particular.
There are some odd moments during Barat’s set, and I’m amused to see him singing the lyrics to ‘Too Late, Too Late’ from a lyric sheet but he makes a fiercely squalling rock’n’roll kind of noise – it’ll be fascinating to see how that sounds on television!. The undoubted highpoint of the evening’s entertainment, however, comes when the three musicians collaborate on a superb re-working of the VU classic, ‘Venus In Furs’.
All told then, it’s a good gig that’ll undoubtedly look great and sound even better when it’s been mixed down for TV. Before we all go gently into the good night, though, there’s time for a brief happy birthday to Mr. Jack Daniel himself. See you in Lynchburg some time...

"Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather..."
This, dear readers, is quite some privilege. It’s the afternoon of Wednesday October 7 and in a mid-sized rehearsal room in Hackney, your Hot Press correspondent is witnessing a musical collaboration that’s unlikely ever to happen again.
Well, in actual fact it’ll happen in front of a live audience tomorrow night, in a gig that will be shot by Channel 4 for broadcast over the coming weeks, but right now, just a few feet away from the couch I’m sitting on, Brett Anderson (formerly of Suede), Carl Barat (formerly of The Libertines) and Jon McClure (from Reverend & The Makers) are still divvying up the verses and working out the vocal parts of a stunningly inventive cover version of Velvet Underground’s ‘Venus In Furs’.

Another similar article has appeared at the site "Thumped".

Scattered news

2009-10-28T15:56:00.003+01:00

The Ficek has written a new entry in his blog. Check out the bits on Babyshambles' third album.
The debut gig of The Invasion of... (Gary Powell's new band) last Sunday was witnessed by the other three ex-Dirty Pretty Things. Read the review here.
Gary commented: "had a great nite at the waterrats on sunday nite! am looking forward to more madness in the not too distant future!!!!"
Gary is also booked for a dee-jay set in the North on Saturday, but it's not too clear where.
One more dee-jay set for Carlos Barat on Friday 6th November at Let's Go Disco, the Foundry, Sheffield University Students Union + Heebie Jeebies live, Nicola Bear (Ibiza Rocks), Deano (Threads). Tickets at £ 5.50.
Oh nearly forgot: Hot Press has a joint interview with Carlos, Brett and Jon at the JDset. For subscribers only. Irish help needed.
According to my (and Carl's) mate Fullo (the Italian King of the Decks) Peter was seen hanging in North Italy in the last days. Can't tell you more.

I'm not too sure about this...

2009-10-26T13:39:00.002+01:00

... but anyway in the general lack of updates... oops, the General has been texting people with this message:

"PETER DOHERTY AND THE ALBION KNIGHTS
PRE XMAS PRESENTATION
CALLED INTIMACY
6TH NOVEMEBER
THE HALO 317 BATTERSEA PARK ROAD SW11.
TICKETS ONLINE THETICKETSELLERS.CO.UK.
DOORS OPEN 7.30PM. MUSIC LIVE".

Tickets are on sale here (£20.00 plus service charge)
Skuzzies are support act.

And no, I have no idea who The Albion Knights are.

Carl Barat - What Katie did

2009-10-25T11:15:00.001+01:00

Solar time video!

See the man with the stage fright

2009-10-22T16:48:00.004+02:00

While Peter has often enlightened us on the fear of climbing up a stage in front of a thousand people Carlos had never spoken about it... until now. Listen to what he thinks about stage fright in the latest episode of BBC6's The Music Week (here - Carl is at 14.30, followed by Don't look back into the sun).

The Invasion of Gary

2009-10-21T17:38:00.005+02:00

Legendary Libertines and DPT drummer Gary Powell is back! While keeping his lips sealed about any possible rebirth of his first band, Gary has been working in the shadow since DPT split up and now he is ready to introduce you his brand new project, named "The Invasion Of...". The band has a myspace page where you can hear thir first effort, an experimental affair entitled "The Invasion of Radio". The Invasion Of... describe themselves as "a juxtaposition of 5 like minded souls playing progressive, forward thinking music - born of friendship and other commonalities".

But this is not enough! If you're in London you will be able to see The Invasion Of... live at The Monto Water Rats next Sunday (25 October). Gary writes: "first show, 25th october at the Water Rats, kings cross, Londonia! if you can make it you should, it'll be a blast!!! catch you later!!!!! gary".

Other bands listed at the event are The IC1S, Sukie and The Guns Of Pig Alley, band led by guitarist Olie Barat, half-brother of the very famous Carl Barat.

All the roads lead to the Libertines in the end.

Some Babyshambles news

2009-10-21T11:15:00.004+02:00

Are Babyshambles still alive? It may look like they're not, but actually they are. Alive and kicking. Confined by press in an unspecified "Doherty's side project" land, or even seen as "Doherty's former band", they just seem to be content with the various members' solo adventures and generally supporting their leader's live appearances as an ordinary backing band. Well, we don't want Babyshambles to end up like that, and actually they won't. Babyshambles are Peter, Mik, Drew and Adam, and thank god their third album is now something to look up to.

The sweet Adam has just written a new entry in his blog, explaining:

"It’s been a while I know, I’ve been a busy bee though, what with baby birth, Peter shows, babyshambles shows, RKC shows, Adam ficek shows, DJismz, house moving, remixing, getting my lips done".

More interesting, he's giving us shambles updates on his Twitter page:

"Babyshambles rehearsals today, fluffing up some new flavours for Dec tour" he wrote on 18 October.

And: "another babyshambles praccie/writing day" (20 October)

Last night he wrote: "3 new tunes in babyshambles land, one sounds like the jam...ohhhh".

So, with a tour waiting for us in December, and a record featuring new songs (and could you ask for more than a song sounding like the Jam???) in the cards, who can talk of a deceased band?

Nobody can.

Up the Shambles.

Adam's corner

2009-10-20T09:13:00.001+02:00

Consequence of Sound reviews The Ficek's new EP:

"Roses Kings Castles, aka Adam Ficek, is mostly known for being Pete Doherty’s drummer across the pond in the U.K. He is also a DJ, which explains his interesting ability to craft songs that have two seemingly-unrelated parts and then sew them together like only a true Brit could.
His constant British colloquialisms come quite naturally, reminding me of the pleasant way that Lily Allen spews her lyrics forth with equal parts wit and venom. Ficek has an innate ear for melody, and in this aspect, there are shades of Paul McCartney present throughout his new EP, Apples and Engines.
In each of his songs, the listener is kept at strict attention due to strange and unexpected change-ups. At times, this just sounds like different snippets of different songs all pasted together, stitched up with a few rim shots and maybe an electric guitar. All the orchestral instruments give a majesty to the music, but it certainly isn’t pop — It’s not an easily-placed album, and the bombast that could serve songs with similar composition is lacking in this debut. It instead settles for being background music.
Most of the songs will start one way, perfectly happy and boring– and then jolt you awake into an entirely new and unexpected direction. For example, on “Where’s Your Life Gone?”, the second track, Ficek begins with strings, an acoustic guitar playing a nice three-chord riff, accompanied by the heavy bounce of an upright bass. As soon as you get used to this fancy little tune, it veers into a futuristic lounge song, perfect for those old 50’s sitcoms — it’s almost Jetson-esque in its creepy vibe, complete with flutes and xylophones pumping and floating. It isn’t until the final chorus that the electric guitar comes in and gives the song the extra push it needed; unfortunately, by that time, it’s already become more of a novelty.
I think the lesson here is that although the ability to do all these quirky little things is commendable, a little restraint might be in order. For example, the trumpets that end “Somethings are Better Left Unsaid” aren’t necessary. Their lines could have just as easily been played by an electric bass or guitar and probably landed the song into some radio success. But as it is, this EP is destined to lie in an artist’s closet: appreciated by few, but misunderstood by most".

Birthday bash with Peter

2009-10-19T13:38:00.002+02:00

Deano, the organizer of so many memorable nights at 126 Commercial Road writes:

Deano, Jeet and Vader's Birthday Bash
Host: 126 Midnight Lounge
Type: Party - Birthday Party
Start Time: Friday, October 23, 2009 at 7:35pm
End Time: Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 1:00am
Location: Jam Bar Street: 123 Shoreditch High Street City/Town: London, United Kingdom Description: Pete Doherty will be there too, he will playing and also Alan Wass will be acompanying Peter, it is going to be a wild birthday night to remember! So please do come along for a bit bubble and fun with me Pete and Alan! :)
Hope to see you all at my brithday..
Peace out! :)

Peter for Rock Renaissance

2009-10-16T13:23:00.001+02:00

Peter is to collaborate with Towers Of London guitarist Kristian Marr at a London art show on October 23. Doherty has been working on an acoustic set with Marr to perform at the show, which is in aid of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy charity.
The night, which is called Rock Renaissance, also features artists, including New Yorker Phil Stein, and London-based Grant Kennedy (Rockren.co.uk).

(source: NME.com)

Dear Peter, dear Carlos

2009-10-16T10:28:00.001+02:00

Dear Peter,
we hope you’re doing well. We understand you need your privacy so you don’t have to tell us anything you don’t want to. Please remember we wish you all the best, and we’ll be waiting for you to come back whenever you feel like it. Oh and that Babyshambles album…

Dear Carlos,
we hope you’ll be having a great time on the cargo ship. Remember Egyptian law is a bit strict when it comes to alcohol & substance abuse, and also partying on the docks. Also remember the Red Sea is the home of 44 species of sharks. Give a hug to Anthony.

Your very affectionate Breck Road Lovers

Anthony talks of "The Docks Film"

2009-10-15T11:21:00.004+02:00

From BBC6:

"Carl Barat has teamed up with his former bandmate Anthony Rossomando to make a film about the death of the east London docks. The film is called No Place/Good Place: The Rime of the Modern Mariner and features myths and folklore from the docks that are still told by mariners today.

Speaking to 6 Music, Rossomando said that the idea came from their "love and romantic view of the sea and east London".

Barat will narrate the film and has co-written the script with Mark Donne, a journalist from The Independent. Rossomando played guitar alongside Barat in Dirty Pretty Things, the band which split in 2008. He is writing and recording the soundtrack.

For the premiere of the film, an orchestra will perform the soundtrack live. The full line up of the orchestra has not yet been finalised, but Rossomando explained that he will be conducting: "I’m going to try and keep myself out of having to play, but for the night, maybe I’ll get Carl to play, but his gig in this is the narration."

While the former Libertine is notorious for mumbling when he speaks in interviews, Rossomando thinks people will be pleasantly surprised. "I think it will be nice for people to hear Carl speaking properly," he said. "In the studio we get a close microphone on him... you’ll be able to hear him. When he sings you can understand him, it’s just when he speaks quickly. We’ll slow him down!"

Filming has just started and the group is preparing to set off on a month long trip aboard a container ship along the Suez Canal. Rossomando told 6 Music this excursion will be very different to the long periods of time he’s spent in the recording studio with Barat: "This is way out of our element and our comfort zone. In the studio there’s always a runner who can pick up booze, fags and food. On the ship you can’t exactly run out for a few cans of Guinness and a pack of salt and vinegar!"

The film is set to premiere at St Anne’s Church, Limehouse in London during the East End Film Festival next April. It will then be screened in selected London cinemas and film festivals across Europe and America, with the dates yet to be announced".

Back to Carlos

2009-10-14T11:30:00.003+02:00

Photo by Gabriel Green

While Peter is in a "stable" condition at Swindon Hospital, Carlos is appearing on the new issue of the NME... and he's planning some extra-musical activities:

"Carl Barat has narrated and features in a documentary film about the death of the London Docks, 'No Place/Good Place: The Rime Of The Modern Mariner', set to premiere at the East End Film Festival next April.The film's score was composed by Barat's former Dirty Pretty Things bandmate, guitarist Anthony Rossomando. The premiere will take place at the St Anne’s Church in Limehouse in the UK capital, with a Rossomando-led band set to play the score live. The date of the event is yet to be revealed.

The documentary features the myths, superstitions and folklore surrounding the docks and still held by modern mariners. It will be screened in selected London cinemas plus festivals in Europe and the USA".

(Source: NME.com)

Peter cancels the Irish tour

2009-10-13T11:53:00.000+02:00

Pete Doherty has pulled the whole of his Irish tour, which was to have included visits to the Mandela Hall, Belfast (September 13); The Academy, Dublin (14); and the Roisin Dubh, Galway (15).
According to his booking agent, “Last night Peter was admitted to Swindon Hospital with exhaustion and breathing difficulties. He is currently under observation by doctors.”

Gigs of the week

2009-10-12T13:43:00.002+02:00

PETER
Tuesday 13 October: Mandela Hall Belfast
Wednesday 14 October: The Academy Dublin

CARL
Friday 16 October: Club NME at The Magnet Club, Greifswalder Str. 212-213, Berlin (DJ set)

Still on Carl...

2009-10-11T15:21:00.005+02:00

Photo by YFLI

... And still for the "WTF Carlos???" series...

"CARL BARAT and Jon McClure teamed up on stage to celebrate Jack Daniel's birthday this week - and revealed they are making a movie together.
Former Libertine Carl said: "I'll be acting in it and Jon will direct."
Carl and Reverend And The Makers frontman Jon - who have already worked together on the Instigate Debate campaign - performed along with ex-Suede man Brett Anderson and Sex Pistol Glenn Matlock at the special JD set gig at Village Underground, London onThursday".

(Source: California Chronicle)

Besides, according to some people who spoke with Carl after the JD set, the man has revealed "he has no more gigs planned". Amen.

Enjoy Truth Begins from the event, come on!

Carl Barat stripped

2009-10-09T17:44:00.004+02:00

Interview by Liz Stokes for Rivmixx:

Fri, Oct 9 2009
As one quarter of both The Libertines and Dirty Pretty Things, Carl Barât, over his decade at the forefront of British rock music, has definitely made his mark on the scene and, in turn, has gained something of a star status standing. That said, he hasn't quite displayed the same rock-diva tendencies as his former band member and old friend Pete Doherty - the drug problems, model girlfriends, headline grabbing behaviour and jail sentences. Despite that, behind the scenes, Barât does act out the somewhat erratic behaviour we have come to expect from this elite clan of musicians. Trying to pin Barât down, even for just a 20 minute chat, proves difficult. At 3pm he was in bed. At 6pm his phone was off. And these were all prior-arranged calls, with the numerous messages and call backs that you'd expect. The following week, our ever elusive rock reportee was a little more forthcoming - on a bus!

With a hurried tone and a quintessentially British accent he candidly spoke about his past and his future - yet all with an air of uncertainty and apparent awareness about how he was being perceived. Having been in one of the most noted bands of the 21st century, it's hard to believe that now - as he embarks on a solo career - nerves could be holding Barât back, but "it's really scary, really scary" he says. "I'm not going to know what to do with myself. I'm sure I'll find something." This is one of the many times during a brief talk that Barât seems distant and drifts off into silent thought. Waiting for more of a response he replies suddenly, as if he'd just come to a conclusion about how he was to tackle the nerves,"I'll try not to look like it's scary. It's very daunting, there's no one to hide behind, I've got to sing outside of my comfort zone as well. I feel like I've hidden for so long and now I can't do it."

After The Libertines split in 2004 Barât went on to form two follow up bands in the shape of Dirty Pretty Things and the lesser known Chavs. Seemingly more comfortable being surrounded by friends and instruments rather than alone on stage, the idea of Barât on a solo crusade is a renegade move. He admits that it was the strains being put on his friendships within the bands that drove him solo though, "I just didn't want to be in a band anymore because of the politics and the s**t that comes between friends. I'd rather stay friends with them - which I have done. Well I think I have, I'm not entirely sure."

Just this year Doherty, Barât, John Hassall and Gary Powel were offered a substantial amount of money to headline the Reading and Leeds festival as The Libertines again, but it was, reportedly, Barât who put a halt on things. He explained that it's not necessarily never going to happen but it's just "definitely not next year or the year after. I'm not just going to jump on the stage for a bit of quick cash and some nostalgia. A lot of people are happy to do it because they know people will come but it's not really about that for me, if we put it on I want it to be special. Next year I'm busy doing the album and I have a play and I'm just too busy. I don't want it be rushed." Talking about his famously tempestuous relationship with on/off best friend Pete Doherty - arguably, Britons most famous drug addict - he said resolutely that "he lives miles away" and they've "not really spoken for a while. It's not a conscious thing I'm just really busy, I still love Pete and I still love playing with Pete."

That statement about Doherty was, seemingly, the first time throughout the interview that Barât seemed sure of what he was saying; the genuine nature of his answer shining through the nervous disposition he was predominantly projecting. One can only think that it must be love between Doherty and Barât, especially following that 2003 incident when Pete ended up in prison after breaking into Barât's flat and stealing various personal items; Carl welcomed him back with open arms!

Despite Pete's tabloid fodder lifestyle, Barât describes himself as the former "troubled" one of the pair. Speaking about whether it was Pete's drug addiction that caused them to argue so much in the past he explained, "No, no, I think we're just complete opposites. I used to be the troubled one and he wasn't and we just switched. Any relationship in my life that's been that strong and that is based on that depth has been 'tempestuous' as you call it."

The history of The Libertines, especially Pete and Carl's relationship, has become something of a fascination for music publications and the public alike. It's this fascination we have for car crash love stories and the rock 'n' roll lifestyle that perhaps lead to the hysteria surrounding talks of a Libertines stage play. Sadly Mr Barât appears to have put that idea on the top shelf, along with the band revival, "it was just a bit silly. We thought we'd do it but, i don't know, we've got the right to change our minds. After a while it just seemed a bit silly, maybe one day though." It seems, when talking to Barât and looking back on his life (as we know it), that he doesn't like to commit himself to anything, on the surface anyway. Everything he says finishes with a "maybe" or an "I guess" or "kind of"; getting a definitive yes or no doesn't seem to happen in Carl's world. That said, though, looking at the determination and perseverance that must have gone into his career (and each band) does show evident staying power and belief - so it's in there somewhere.

Barât's career has veered into new territory of late - he's now taken to both the stage and screen. With music having been such a strong passion in the past and the new solo record ready to be recorded, the acting project has come in a little unexpected for his fans. "I just thought I might like to have that as well as the music really, kind of have it under my bonnet," he explained. "I don't wear a bonnet, that's just weird. It's not as easy as it looks. It's very intense but I'm enjoying it and enjoying the struggle. It's hard work but it's exhilarating." He also explained that Ralf Little had told him that if he "wanted to act properly" then he "should do a play." Advice that he seems to have held in high esteem - 2010 see Barât take on two plays, but he's not allowed to say what they are.

It's been a long road in a short time for Carl Barât and it doesn't seem clear, to himself even, where he'll end up. "I don't really know to be honest, just expressing. That sounds a bit w*nky when you say it like that. I see it as kind of one and the same thing really [acting and signing] it's just that expression of your voice really isn't it.

"Could you just make that last bit not sound really w*nky? I'd be really grateful," says Barât, drifting back off into his own little world on the bus....

Carl + Brett + Jon at JD set

2009-10-09T12:46:00.004+02:00

Photo by Chris Pearson

Waiting for input for those who were there, enjoy this NME review!

Ex-Libertine Carl Barat, ex-Suede singer Brett Anderson and Jon McClure of Reverend And The Makers united last night (October 8) for the JD Set gig in London.

The annual Jack Daniel's whisky-sponsored brand gig sees three musicians a year perform their own songs, covers and collaborations for a one-off gig backed by the New Silver Cornet Band – a band of veteran US musicians.

The frontmen sang The Velvet Underground's 'Venus In Furs' together at the end of the gig. Previously they had played a solo set each backed by the band, while Sex Pistols' Glen Matlock made a surprise cameo.

McClure played first, his set including his own band's songs 'Heavyweight Champion Of The World' and 'The Hidden Persuaders', plus 'This House Is Not A Motel' by Love. Matlock joined him for a rendition of Sex Pistols' 'Pretty Vacant'.

Anderson was up next, playing Suede songs including 'The Wild Ones', 'Killing Of A Flashoboy' and his set-closer 'Trash'.

Barat played The Libertines' 'The Good Old Days' and 'What Katy Did'. He also played 'Truth Begins' by his other old band, Dirty Pretty Things, plus covers, including Bertolt Becht's 'Alabama Song', famously covered in the '60s by The Doors.

Barat was then joined by McClure and Anderson on stage for their set-closing collaboration.

Plus, a snippet from The World of Que Pasa blog:

Finally it’s Carl Barat’s turn, which starts with a shambolic cover of Belle and Sebastian’s Get Me Away From Here I’m Dying before plunging into The Libertines’ What Katie Did. His cover of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill’s Alabama Song beats the odd choice of Noisette’s Wild Young Hearts. Luckily he turned things around with The Libertines’ The Good Old Days.
The bar closes after the trio cover Velvet Underground’s Shiny Boots of Leather and we head home powered by the sweet taste of American whiskey.

JD set on NME Radio

2009-10-07T15:53:00.003+02:00

Thanks a lot to Bilo & Biggles for posting the photo above (plus other two) to the Pete Doherty Italian Forum. The piccie was shot during the rehearsal for the Jack Daniel's Birthday party to be held tomorrow at The Village Underground (source: The Jack Daniels Facebook).

Meanwhile, tomorrow NME Radio will broadcast a special on the event from 3 pm: "Tune in later, meanwhile, for a very special outside broadcast from the annual JD Birthday Set gig at Village Underground in east London with Brett Anderson, Carl Barat and Jon McClure. Iain Baker will be speaking to them all from 3pm".

It will be interesting hearing Carlos talking about whisky, whereas his latest video appearance was all about wine.

The Ballad of grimaldi @ Zenith, Paris 5 octobre 2009

2009-10-06T12:48:00.001+02:00

Thanks a lot to Sebwarri. Very good video!

Gigs

2009-10-05T15:45:00.004+02:00

Thanks a lot to Anthony (or Dorian Gray) for his reports on Peter's last gigs in France, namely Toulouse (here) and Perpignan (here). Actually the gigs were largely ignored by French press.

"A concert to remember" says the report "At times serious, joyful, poignant, rock, punk. Peter is unleashed. So are his musicians. They are happy to be together and it shows. The crowd stays in control until the last two tracks: a Fuck Forever unrecognizable but terribly exciting with Peter playing the drums, chained to an apocalyptic Time for Heroes. The last notes are still echoing in the ears of an audience gasping in shock at the set Peter Doherty and his friends have just delivered. A stormy end, electric, wild. It was not BabyShambles but it was approaching.

The entire set was electric. They are six people on the stage: ¾ of the Shambles, Peter, Adam and Drew. A keyboardist on Adam's right. On both sides of the stage two guitarists, no less, Mr Stephen Street on the right, Mr Graham Coxon left. They are accompanied by a string trio which will magnify the versions of "Broken Love Song" and "New love grows on trees." They played almost the entire solo album. They played old songs from Babyshambles, "32nd December", "Bollywood and Battersea", and a chill-spinning "For lovers".

GIGS OF THE WEEK

Peter

Monday October 5: Le Zénith Paris, France (with Graham Coxon)

Carl

Wednesday October 7: Milk it! Private Party at Centro, West Central Street, London (6:00pm - 10:00pm) FOR COMPETITION WINNERS ONLY (Remember e-mail milk.it@hotmail.co.uk with your name for a chance to come!) - Hosted by Jon McClure from REVEREND & THE MAKERS. With: TREVOR FUNG, CARL BARAT (live) JAZZY M, EVIL EDDIE RICHERD, NOEL WATSON, THE ENEMY (DJ).
Thursday October 8: Jack Daniels Birthday JDset at The Village Underground, London. With: Brett Anderson, Carl Barat, Jon McClure, The New Silver Cornet Band, Jon Tiven, David Hood.

The Libertines - Don't Look Back Into The Sun

2009-10-03T08:42:00.001+02:00

Dedicated to Carl Barat.

No Libertines until 2011

2009-10-02T15:21:00.002+02:00

Errrrr... I'm not commenting this. I only hope Carl Barat knows what he's doing (because actually nobody else does).

From NME.com:

"Carl Barat has said he will not reform The Libertines until at least 2011, because he is too busy. Speaking at the premiere of the 'Breaking Rocks' film at Proud Camden in London last night (October 1), Barat told the BBC that The Libertines will not reform in 2010, adding that he doesn't want to simply regroup for money.

"I'm too busy next year. Maybe the year after that," he said. "See how it goes. When it needs to happen, it will fall into place. It's more a way of life than a band for me. I’m not going to jump up there and play the songs for some money – if it feels right then it will fall into place."Barat also stated that he hasn't spoken to Pete Doherty "for a while", though he keeps being sent text messages from fans pretending to be his old bandmate." I keep getting kids texting me pretending to be Pete, which is a bit confusing because I never know when it actually is [Doherty]," he revealed. "Without realising, I could be harming my diplomatic relations with Pete by sending reactionary texts."

In March this year, Pete Doherty told NME.COM that The Libertines have "unfinished business", and was keen to get the group back together".

Everything's OK. For now.

2009-10-01T13:38:00.004+02:00

From GIGWISE:

Pete Doherty appeared at Gloucester Crown Court this morning to plead not guilty to a dangerous driving charge.
After entering his plea, Judge William Hart told Doherty that he will stand trial shortly before Christmas on December 21.
The trial relates to an incident on June 11 when the Babyshambles star was pulled over by police shortly after a gig at the Gloucester Guildhall.
According to gloucestershire.co.uk, Judge Hart told the court that the trial should last two to three days.
Other charges of drink driving, driving without insurance and having no licence have been committed to the court and will be dealt with after the dangerous driving trial.
Defying his reputation, Pete arrived at court 20 minutes early today and signed autographs for fans outside.

Gigwise has also a gallery of beautiful Babyshambles piccies taken in Cannes last week.

Pete Doherty - Time For Heroes 30.09.09

2009-10-01T12:48:00.001+02:00

Peter did show up atThe Underground (Stoke) last night, and according to the people who were there (Babybear included) he played a smashing gig.
Now let's keep fingers crossed for the court hearing!
Oh shit, once again...

Exclusive on Barat & Green Paris gig

2009-09-30T10:30:00.002+02:00

French magazine Vox Pop has some beautiful b&n photos by Mathieu Zazzo and a video with two songs, Music when the lights go out and Friends of mine, shot at the gig the pair played at the Centre Pompidou last week (here).

"Gathered for the new edition of Stage Of The Art"says the article "Adam Green and Carl Barat offered a concert which was more a happening than a memorable live performance. Regardless, our photographers and videographers have captured a snapshot of the unique collaboration of ex-Moldy Peaches and ex-Libertines".

Southampton no-show

2009-09-30T10:13:00.002+02:00

Things were looking worrying early this morning when people heard that last night's gig had been cancelled for "serious reasons". But Babybear has just cleared everything up at FDW. This is his message:

"Sorry, I couldn't log on last night and update you guys. Thought I'd post here to calm any worries that are cropping up and to explain. "Serious" makes things sound a little grave .... what it really means is that there were very important reasons why this show couldn't take place. I am not at liberty to discuss those so I can't / won't. Suffice to say that the reasons were of a level which prevented the concert from happening. Apologies to all those who made the effort to attend and thanks to the venue for their professionalism in dealing with the situation. A problem was flagged up to the venue as soon as was possible and they worked with us while we tried to sort it out. We will do our level best to make amends in whatever way we can. I'm sure there'll be some of you for whom this won't be enough of an explanation so I'll steel myself for the brickbats in the knowledge that there are others who will have followed (with pleasure) the massive drop in 'no shows' over the last few years so much so that they rarely take place anymore and generally if they do it's with good reason. Trust me the reason why the gig couldn't take place was a very good one. Things like this are not taken lightly and are equally upsetting for Peter and those who work to make things happen for you guys. We have an important couple of days ahead and I hope / know that we / Peter have your support. Grateful for that. bb."

GIG TOMORROW ALERT!

2009-09-28T17:20:00.002+02:00

From Babybear:

You lucky chickens.

Southampton Joiners Tuesday, 29th September.

Stoke Underground on the Wednesday.

Enjoy.

A bit confused? No fear!!! Recap:

Gigs of the week

PETER

Tuesday 29 September - Peter Doherty + The Wave Machines. At: The Joiners (40th Anniversary Party), 141 St Marys Street, Southampton, UK. Doors: 19:30 - Age Limit: 14 - Tickets: £15.00 in advance, £17.00 on the door.
Wednesday 30 September - Peter Doherty + Guests. At: The Underground, Morley Street, Hanley, Stoke-On-Trent, £13 ADV.
Friday 2 October - Le Bikini, Ramonville-Saint-Agne, Tolouse, France
Saturday 3 October - El Mediator, Perpignan, France

Shambles in Cannes part 2

2009-09-27T17:21:00.002+02:00

I've found some reviews of the Babyshambles' gig in Cannes of last Friday, though most are in French.

This comes from Anysound (with photos):

The concert starts very good, Pete and this in a state almost sober, he has managed and sing and play guitar. A rarity well appreciated by the public. Or at least a minority, separate tubes on radio (Delivery, You Talk and Fuck Forever), The "fans" have stopped any reaction to the music, believe it was in form rather than in substance. The climax is full when the group resumed the collector What Katie Did of Libertines which has puzzled the small kink that we heard speak "wait what's that thing we sings?". No comment.
The concert is in full swing as Pete, full of goodwill wanted to set the mood in this sleepy public and invited the fan up on stage, about 15O responded to the call and the concert turned into a joyous riot left the key 3 security officers finding themselves overwhelmed. A massacre. The concert is threatened to be canceled but the band returns for the last two titles before making their final bow.
A concert "short" has been a set-list unfinished sound disastrous but a great atmosphere on stage and a supply of very positive group that enhances the level of the evening. In addition, a band playing the game up to sign autographs and photos taken with fans.

One more from Actualité Musicale:

A concert by Pete Doherty, with or without Babyshambles, still contains the unknown. Especially for me who went there without knowing his songs [good start...]. And even at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes. But before getting to the heart of the subject, back in the early stages. [...] And then, Peter Doherty arrived. Or rather, Pete, to his friends and the hundreds of girls Friday night dreamed of being. Intimate with him. Long before his arrival, they were screaming with excitement already before screaming with pleasure. Yet very quietly that he arrived on scene, the hesitant approach but the hat in place, making almost forgetting the presence of three other members of Babyshambles. Pete's guitar was still rather rough and mostly false until he decides to give in a few securities. But the surprise for a neophyte like myself is to discover the quality of these securities. Each song sounds like a tube and immediately seems familiar. The sound is English and is somewhere between the Stones and the Clash. Add two young dancers in tutus doing a jig around the group and you have the key surrealism that completes the picture. The atmosphere is electric in the hall and the musical quality is improving as in title.
But 15 minutes before 23h, the show goes into a black hole. A girl who managed to get on stage to shake his idol, Pete Doherty motioned to the rest of the public that can climb too. You should not say it twice: Doherty is quickly swallowed by a human tide surging across the room, including the balcony, and full service order which does not appear on the same wavelength as the singer. Pete is happy but the big guys to expel all-va. Gradually, the voice goes out, followed by guitar, bass and finally drums. Silence music and shouts of joy from the crowd on stage until the intervention of the manager. He convinces young people to take for security issues and calls for the concert can resume ... that makes two sticks of drummer! Finally the group comes on stage, cheered and resumed for two reasons. But the scene continues to be penetrated by young people who enjoy braving the security guards. So to avoid slippage, the band finally goes on ... Fuck forever. Iggy Pop after last year, Pete Doherty is the new agitator Palace this year. Whose turn next year?

Setlist by Cro:

La belle et la bete - delivery - what katie did - you talk - pipedown - unBilotitled - baddie's boogie - side of the road - Crumb begging baghead - Beg steal or Borrow - Fuck Forever

BABYSHAMBLES CANNES 25 SEPT 2009

2009-09-26T17:26:00.001+02:00

Very good video by pikaklub06! Enjoy!

Peter wants to punch Morrissey

2009-09-25T11:23:00.002+02:00

Now that would be interesting to watch! Peter entertains fantasies of revenge against his former idol Morrisey, but he would also like to work with him. Taken from an article published on German site Zeit On Line.

Waiting for a decent translation, take this googled version:

"Ah, dreams. As a teenager I knew above all what I had not expected from life. My father was in the British Army, I grew up in barracks, every day I saw barbed wire and soldiers around me, shouldered the machine guns. I swore never to become so. And crept into my room like a self-dug cave. Books filled my shelves, like a madman, I collected them in flea markets: everything from Graham Greene, Oscar Wilde, Evelyn Waugh. I even began Being and Nothingness by Jean-Paul Sartre, when I was 14.
That changed only in 1994 in Sheffield, I went into a record store, rummaging for secondhand vinyl, looked at the cover - and discovered a single, on which a woman was seen with a hat. Somehow I talked to the photo, I bought the plate, and then everything was different. It was the single I Started Something I Could not Finish by The Smiths. I heard the melodies and thought: I want to do. I heard the line "hair brushed and parted" and I felt addressed. Just as I was running around at that time: with combed and parted hair beautifully. The singer hit me right in the heart - and I knew I would write songs like him. My dream was to be Morrissey.
At 17, I came very close to him once. He gave a concert outside of London, I hitchhiked a play that went one way by train without a ticket to have - and smuggled me into the concert because I had no money for the ticket. Somehow I fought my way to the edge of the stage, Morrissey walked in my direction, I stretched out his arms to his legs, he wanted to touch - but suddenly, two men pulled me out of the security, one took me in a headlock, I resisted, then thundered I head against a pole and was thrown back into the crowd.
Years later I actually met Morrissey. Very briefly, played as my first band The Libertines for him in the opening act. We hardly talked. And then he said to the press by some very unkind things about me, concerning my drug addiction, called me a cliché, thought I'd try to do something that would have already done Sid Vicious. Honestly, with Morrissey's knowledge about drugs you can fill the back of a postage stamp. Then he did something ugly: After I was expelled from the Libertines, he replaced the New York Dolls-sticker on his lapel with Libertines motifs. He enjoyed my humiliation. I felt hurt.
When I saw Morrissey the next time I will not only come to his leg, I would punch him one. And only when he is lying on the ground, I give him my hand. I shake the dust from his clothes - and then I offer him for the reconciliation of a collaboration".

(Tracked by Ulf Lippitz)

Win Jack Daniels tickets!

2009-09-24T16:02:00.004+02:00

From The Publican:

Publican readers are in with a chance of joining in the celebrations at a gig to mark the birthday of Tennessee whiskey Jack Daniel’s.

A pair of tickets are up for grabs to the exclusive JD Birthday Set which will feature performances from former Suede singer Brett Anderson, one-time Libertine Carl Barat and Jon McClure of Reverend & The Makers.
The gig will be held at the Village Underground in London on October 8 and to be in with a chance of winning all you need to do is email your name and pub address to news@thepublican.com before Oct 2. Entrants need to be 18 and over.

Meanwhile, there's a longer version of the Carl Barat interview (that of the box full of dying wasps) at the JD website.

Glasgow

2009-09-24T12:52:00.002+02:00

Still little info on Peter's last night gig at the Barrowlands.

"Amazing gig" wrote the little one "Peter was on top form once again. Up there with the Capitol gig. Only ever seen him in Glasgow though, quite fancy a wee road trip to London or something to see him there sometime. Looking forward to the Babyshambles gig in December now. Was such a great mix of old and new songs last night. Was brilliant hearng What a Waster. Crowd went nuts! Can't fault Mr Doherty at all for his performance. Got a cool pic of him coming off stage, he looked shattered though! Only complaint is the crowd. So many idiots. Couple of girls started on us for no reason at one point and we ended up having to move, closer to the front so that was karma. Why so much trouble and aggro at an acoustic gig?".

Beautiful photos by David Wala on Flickr.

Setlist by GimmeDanger:

Delivery (crowd erupted) - Arcady - Side of the road - DLBITS - Good Old Days - At the Flophouse - Mockingbird - You Talk - The delaney - What a waster - Sheepskin Tearaway (ft Dot) - Last of the English Roses - Fuck Forever - France - New Love... - Lady Don't... - Killamangiro - Can't stand me now - What Katie did - Death on the stairs - Tell the king - The man who would be king - Music when the lights go out - Time for heroes

Pete Doherty - For Lovers - Manchester 21 September

2009-09-23T12:31:00.001+02:00

I've had very little feedback from this gig. Not even a ragged review on the Manchester Evening News. People generally said it was good and Peter was on form, and that's what counts most at the end of the day. For the moment have a look at this video of For Lovers!

It's not the right time for the Libertines

2009-09-21T21:26:00.003+02:00

Carl spoke to French journo Dominique Vidalon after the gig at the Centre Pompidou. The interview is at Reuters.

PARIS (Reuters) - British singer and guitarist Carl Barat plans to release a debut solo album next year and take his first theatrical steps on stage in January.
That leaves very little time to think about reforming his old band the Libertines.
"It's not too late, it's just not the right time. I am not ruling it out completely but next year I am doing my album and maybe acting in two plays in London in January," Barat told Reuters.
Speculation has been rife that the cult British rock act would reform, reuniting Barat, 31, with fellow frontman Peter Doherty, years after they fell out in a blaze of drugs and bruised egos.
Recently Doherty, 30, who currently fronts Babyshambles, seemed to be on a mission to reform the Libertines, telling the New Musical Express magazine that he wanted to reunite the band to play British festival slots next summer.
Barat spoke to Reuters while relaxing backstage after playing at the Paris Pompidou Center museum with ex-Moldy Peaches frontman and U.S. anti-folk singer Adam Green Friday.
One of the evening's highlights was the pair's cover of old Libertines favorite "What a Waster." The raucous performance ended with Green tying up some members of the audience with heavy tape and smashing a guitar.
Barat, looking dapper in a white shirt, black tuxedo and matching hat, and accompanied by a fiddle and cello, played a couple of new songs he has been working on.
Of the future album, he said: "It's the first time I'm being on my own and doing without guitars fighting each other. It's a bit more about the voice. A bit more naked."
He has no record deal yet, but there are discussions with labels, he said.
Barat, whose influences range from the Kinks, the Velvet Underground to jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, said he had been writing solo songs since Dirty Pretty Things, the band he formed in 2005 after the Libertines demise, split up last year.
"I'd like to release the album as soon as possible. I'm working every day. I want the songs to be completely new. I want to do something fresh," he said.
Asked how he felt about being on his own for the first time in years, he said: "It's absolutely terrifying but it has to be done. It's very hard but at the same time it's very rewarding."
"Everyone has to do what they think is right. Even if it's shit, people respect you for being brave enough."
Barat released two albums with Dirty Pretty Things: "Waterloo to Anywhere" and "Romance at Short Notice."

In recent months speculation grew of a Libertines reformation particularly as Doherty and Barat were often seen at each other gigs or even performed together.
This summer Doherty told the NME that he had already convinced former Libertines bandmates John Hassall, bass, and Gary Powell, drums, to reunite for gigs, and that as soon as Barat agreed, dates would be finalized.
Doherty went on to joke he would even consider hiring a Barat lookalike to stand in if the real one would not sign up.
"Good luck to him !" said Barat.
In March 2009, Doherty released a debut solo album "Peter Doherty: Grace/Wastelands" to critical acclaim.
In interviews Doherty insists he can juggle a solo career, his role as Babyshambles frontman and a Libertines reformation.
But for Barat The Libertines are no side-project.
"If I do the Libertines, it will be just the Libertines. If we do the Libertines, let's give them everything and be the Libertines again. Let's live that life again. It's a life and it's for a reason, for a good purpose," he said.
In July, former Clash guitarist and punk legend Mick Jones, who produced the Libertines' two albums "Up the Bracket" and "The Libertines" was quoted by music website The Quietus as saying he would be keen to see the pair get back in studio.
"I'm sure we'd have a lot more fun...We love Mick of course," Barat said, adding he had not seen Jones for a while.

Parallel lines

2009-09-21T16:49:00.002+02:00

First of all, Peter played at Leamington Spa last night, and according to many people this gig was much better than the Roundhouse.

"Peter seemed on good form" Poggy says "and was up for a bit of banter with the crowd....at a couple of points, really making me laugh! From where I was standing, the crowd seemed a good bunch and it was certainly a varied age range again! Setlist was standard fare, but never boring!All of G/Wastelands - 32nd December - Arebours - Back from the Dead - Time for Heroes -Can't stand me now - She loves you (Beatles) - Psycho-killer - For Lovers - MWTLGO - Albion. Possibly more, but I can't remember! Peter threw the Union flag into the crowd at the end which was hilarious watching grown men tugging at a piece of material and being dragged along the floor in attempt to claim it. Security stepped in at the end and no one ended up with it".

"I was at both London and Leamington Spa" Westbourne Park says "and last night was better by far. I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish and the crowd was very appreciative and cheering a lot, and no beers thrown! In London, Peter seemed not really comfortable and a bit nervous for the first 5 or so songs, last night he was on form from the word go and it was just epic.He also played Grimaldi which was fantastic and What Katie Did (psycho killer was intro to What Katie Did), Bollywood to Battersea... Sweet By and By which was so cool with Drew on double bass. Loved it".

On Carlos front, after his Parisian adventure the man came back to Blighty and last night he was special guest at Kieran Leonard's Sunday residency at the Gaslight. We would be happy if Carl gave us a sign whenever he decides to do the special guest... but at least this thing has still a bit of spontaneity. Drew of course wasn't there, being busy with the boss. Let's roll on to the...

Gigs of the week
PETER
Monday 21 September - Manchester Apollo, Manchester
Wednesday 23 September - Barrowlands, Glasgow

BABYSHAMBLES
Friday 25 September - Palais des Festivals, Cannes, France

From the press: weekend recap

2009-09-21T09:01:00.003+02:00

Contactmusic and NME have woken up! Peter and Carlos (respectively) were granted two brief reviews from the music sites.

Contactmusic says:

Pete Doherty kicked-off his UK tour on Saturday night (19.09.09) with a two-hour show at The Roundhouse in Camden, North London.
Pete Doherty kicked-off his UK tour on Saturday night (19.09.09).
The former Babyshambles and Libertines frontman wowed his army of loyal fans as he performed a two-hour set at The Roundhouse in Camden, North London.
His playlist mainly consisted of tracks from his solo album 'Grace/Wastelands' but also included some huge crowd pleasers including 'For Lovers', 'Delivery' and Libertines numbers 'Don't Look Back Into The Sun' and 'Time For Heroes'.
Dressed in his trademark hat and jacket Pete, who has previously not turned up for shows, looked to have put his personal problems behind him and looked every inch the star.
Following his well-received set, Pete came back for an encore, which included a cover of The Specials' hit 'Message To You'.
He continued his small tour with a concert in Lemington Spa last night (20.09.09) and he will play Manchester Apollo tonight (21.09.09) and finish in Glasgow Barrowlands on Wednesday (23.09.09).

NME.com says:

Carl Barat and Adam Green played a joint gig together in Paris on Friday night (September 18), in a show that featured the two collaborating on each other's material and Barat debuting new songs.The duo played Paris' Centre Pompidou and were backed by Green's band and a string section. Watch fan recorded video footage of the gig below. As well as collaborating on The Libertines' 'What A Waster' and Green's 'Friends Of Mine', Barat played several new solo songs, with titles including 'So Long My Lover' and 'We Are All Heroes'. Both Green and Barat were in a relaxed mod during the gig, with the former fooling around with a roll of gaffer tape throughout, before finally breaking his guitar with a mic stand.

Peter at the Roundhouse

2009-09-20T10:22:00.001+02:00

Thanks to Amyspurdens for this video. Later with more and more stuff!