NME 2003 - Interview with Pete
For estranged Libertines star Pete Doherty 2003 has been a rollercoaster ride of extreme highs and lows. After walking out on the band on the eve of the European tour Pete went into hiding, surfacing for surprise solo gigs and failing to show for others. Amid rumours of rehab, the remaining Libertines said he was too "unwell" to go out on the road. Then came the bombshell. On July 25 he was arrested and accused of burglary. After spending time behind bars and making a brief court appearance he was bailed to appear on August 11. NME tracked Pete down and found him baskstage at a small benefit show for The Big Issue magazine. He talked candidly about his future and also unveiled his new rival version of The Libertines led by former band-member 'Scarborough' Steve.
NME: You walked on a European tour and The Libertines went on tour without you. Then Carl told the world you're too ill to perform but you say you're OK. Who's right?
Pete Doherty: "I think he's deluded about the extent of my overall deterioration. I think he hasn't been able to write for a while. I think his music's deserted him like that Portuguese lass in the shower in the video for 'Time For Heroes'. Over the years it's always been the same. We'll have a little fall-out. Sometimes it'll last six months. I'm not going to sit at home like a wife like I used to back in the day. Like when he was gallivanting round town and I'd be sitting at home sticking chords together.
"I've got a new band together and we're still called The Libertines. If he's playing in a band called The Libertines then I'm going to play in The Libertines without him."
How can there possibly be two bands called The Libertines?
"Look (show 'Libertine' tattoo on arm). That's etched forever. We'll always be Libertines. It's not going to be like the traditional band split 'cos it's never been a tradition band."
Are you writing new songs with your version of The Libertines?
"That's all I do. It's the only thing I've ever been good at. That's why I'm the greatest songwriter of my generation"
Will you ever play with Carl again?
"(Carl) phoned me last week but he hung up. He texted me to say 'Sorry, I bottled it. I'll try later.' Then I got a letter. It was quite nice. It had a poem in it and some quotes from (jazz trumpeter) Chet Baker. Y"know, I'm proud of him. Over the years he's changed a lot. He's got a lot more confident. I'm really proud of him and I love his bones."
If Carl was here now, what would you ask him?
"Why not let me do the French gig (the band performed in Paris but didn't let Pete play with them)? It was where we lived together for a month and wrote loads of songs together. We did 'Don't look back into the sun' together. Why? I was allowed to go to Spain but not to France. (People were) saying I was addicted to crack. When in fact, I was cleaner on the Tuesday and looking forward to playing again. Y"know (I'm) not sitting around in London fucking bang on the bone. Do you know what I mean? It's hypocrisy."
There are a lot of rumours that you're taking hard drugs. Is this true?
"That's none of your business, really. It's one of those things. People sit about talking about liberty and when they see an indivual who's free they can't deal with it. People sit around talking about drugs. I don't talk about drugs. Either I do drugs or I don't. Talking about them is the dullest thing in the world. I'm not sat here taking heroin in front of you, am I? It's of no interest talking about drugs. You do them or you don't do them. I wouldn't encourage anyone either way.. Choose your own path. But tread carefully on this drifting ice. Because any one of us could go under at any point. I ain't going down like that. What's the point? History's mapped it all out plain and clear - you don't have to be a genius. I'm not evading the question, it's just... sometimes you have to face up to your stark reality. And sometimes it's very unpleasant. You've just got to be strong.
So how do you feel about your new single 'Don't look back into the sun'? It seems The Libertines music comes second to the bands scandal at the minute.
"It's a beautiful song. When we wrote it me and Carl knew it was a special song and we both fucking love it. I've heard him singing it in his sleep."
So will you and Carl ever play 'Don't Look Back Into The Sun' live together?
"I'd play Reading and Leeds with Carl definitely. I'd love to play all our songs any time. Anywhere. You know I'll play them tonight. With Carl, without Carl. I don't care. I can't be arsed. I'm not going to mope about it."