When the site breaks down

The Libertines official site has been down for several hours today with no explanation at all. Rather mysterious, innit? People are speculating about the "real reasons" behind the breakdown, but while we are waiting for the truth to surface let's have a look at the new NME issue, featuring a pre-L.A. (?) picture showing Carl Barat and Anthony Rossomando recording their track for the Love Music Hate Racism compilation (out next week with the NME).

FUCK RACISM UP THE MUSIC
And bring back the Libertines.
I mean their official site.
Cough.

NME Video: Love Music Hate Racism Photo shoot

Look at Drew and Carlito on the set of LMHR photoshoot! They're both yummy as fuck!!!
AHEM. Sorry. Never again.

Pete's first post rehab "gig"

I'm sorry if I have to quote The Sun this time but so far it's the only rag that reported the news. And THIS TIME it's a true thing, verified by a photo (above).

The BABYSHAMBLES singer gave an impromptu performance at the Sun Inn in the quaint Wiltshire town of Marlborough.
Pete – whose band went to No5 in the album charts yesterday with Shotter’s Nation – was only released from the nearby Clouds clinic on Thursday.
And he couldn’t resist nipping to his new local to celebrate with a few pints of Guinness.
An onlooker said: “It was a normal Saturday night until Pete rocked up.
“As soon as word got out, the place was packed and people were begging him to sing.
“He was asking for pints of Guinness as he paused between the tracks and was kissing all the girls who asked for one.
“It was a really great atmosphere.”

Somebody talked about this gig at Fench Dog Writtles but I wanted to verify the accuracy of it all before posting it. I reckon it's an amazing thing and I also reckon that Guinness is an amazing thing, so keep celebrating Peter!

In the menatime, as you might have read in the article, Shotters Nation entered the Official Album Top 40 at no. 5.

Looking back into the sun: Video of the Month - The Libertines play at the Rhythm Factory in Xmas 2002

Nuggets

• Watch Drew and Adam talking bollocks here.
• Uncut's Allen Jones reviews Shotters.
• Peter sends a message through his manager: “If you want to catch me at the height of my powers catch us at one of the shows. Come on, come all! .... Up the Albion! Down the hatch! All along the watchtower! .... Spectacular spectacular! No word in the vernacular! Och aye the noo! QPR for the cup!”.
• In the last NME issue (Verve on the cover) Babyshambles explain they "nearly quit Shotters Nation because Pete was so wasted" (the pic above is from the article).
• LMHR's Alison reminds us: "See this week’s NME for a full page on the history of LMHR and our predecessors Rock Against Racism, as well as details of the NME LMHR double CD. CD 1 will come on the front of NME in a gatefold sleeve - with room to put another cd in that you will be able to download from nme.com/lovemusichateracism. The download will feature a further 14 rare or exclusive tracks. Massive thanks go to all the artists who have given us tracks for the project and particularly to Drew McConnell and Lisa Moorish who’s idea it was and who got so many of the other artists involved. The cd is dedicated to the memory of Anthony Walker and all other victims of racist attacks".
• Shotters Nation enters midweek chart at number 3.

That's all for now folks. UP THE ALBION FOREVER.

More and more reviews

The Village Voice
The London Paper
BBC

Peter is supposed to complete rehab on Thursday, after which he'll go under an aftercare treatment.

In the meantime John Hassall is having fun with his young friends (from NME.com).

Dirty Pretty Things new album shaping up

From Xfm:

Well whilst Pete Doherty has been busy popping in and out of rehab, occasionally getting arrested, and largely being splashed all over the tabloids, his former band mate Carl Barat has been busy recording a new album.
Barat and his Dirty Pretty bandmates have been out in LA for the past few months working on tracks for the follow up to their 2006 debut.
Dirty Pretty Things' manager, Alan McGee has been speaking to Xfm from LA where he been spending time with band, and he reckons this album’s shaping up to be a cracker.
"It's great", McGee enthused, "We've got five or six really big songs this time on the album whereas on the last album there was maybe only one really stand out big hit.
"It's really different as well", he continued, "Much more arty and much more pop. It's good and a really big change for them, it's much more melodic."
He also revealed that there’s plenty of potential singles on there with tentative track titles including ‘Come Close’ ‘Plastic Hearts’ ‘Blood Red Shoes’ and ‘Fault lines’.
But don’t get too excited just yet. McGee reckons we won’t be able to sample the goods until at least spring time of next year.

Every time Mr. McGee opens his mouth my teeth cringe. But this time he almost made me fall off my chair. So we have to expect a "pop" album now? What the heck should that mean? A Kaiser Chiefs coverband maybe? As if the poppiness of Shotters Nations wasn't enough. Thank God we have still to wait until next spring to hear Carl Barat singing pop dirges. Your mission is nearly completed McGee. Get Anthony in Celebrity Big Brother and that's it.

BRING BACK THE LIBERTINES.