The Libertines

  • London, England
    hometown
  • Rock
    genre
  • 1997
    started
  • Bio
    full story
  • Share
  • Similar
Close

About The Libertines


The Libertines joined the pop fray of 2002, competing with the likes of the Strokes, Hives, Vines, and Doves with their debut single, "What a Waster." The Bernard Butler-produced track entered the U.K.'s Top 40 in June, leaving NME to crown the Libertines as the best new band in Britain. The double-A-side song "I Get Along" earned Single of the Week on BBC Radio 1. The London-based band, who inked a deal with Rough Trade in December 2001, features Carl Barat (guitar/vocals), Pete Doherty (guitar/vocals), John Hassall (bass), and Gary Powell (drums). Up the Bracket was released stateside in March 2003 while the single Time for Heroes gained momentum on the U.K. charts.

The group's Coachella Festival appearance later that spring, meanwhile, introduced their kinetic live act to the States. In June 2003, the band's playfully volatile chemistry began to go awry when Doherty didn't show up for a tour of Europe. The rest of the Libertines went ahead with the dates while Doherty formed another group that he initially also called the Libertines before changing the name to Babyshambles.

The following month, while the remaining Libertines were on tour in Japan, Doherty was arrested for breaking into Barat's apartment and stealing items including a harmonica, laptop computer, and antique guitar. In August -- around the same time that the band's single Don't Look Back Into the Sun became one of their biggest hits -- Doherty pled guilty, and also confessed to addictions to heroin and crack cocaine; in September he was sentenced to six months in jail. However, his sentence was reduced to two months on appeal, and with time off for good behavior, he was released from jail in early October and the complete Libertines lineup performed at the Rough Trade 25th anniversary show later that month. In November, Doherty played two shows in his own apartment that featured a mix of Libertines and Babyshambles songs. The band closed out 2004 with a string of local dates, and began 2004 by writing and recording new songs in France.

Their first U.K. dates of that year, a three-night residency at London's Brixton Academy, unfolded in a typically chaotic fashion when Doherty smashed his guitar and left the stage in the middle of the band's final performance. As the band continued to record, Doherty and Barat also appeared on "For Lovers," a single by their friend Wolfman; it became a surprise hit and the biggest Libertines-related release yet. Meanwhile, in April 2004, Babyshambles released their self-titled, limited-edition debut single. Later that month, the band were joined on-stage by Peter Perrett of the legendary new wave band the Only Ones, and performed "Don't Look Back Into the Sun" and the Only Ones' classic "Another Girl, Another Planet" with them.

But by May the Libertines' future looked grim again: Doherty was in and out of rehab clinics, such as London's Priory, in rapid succession. His ongoing troubles led the Libertines to cancel their performance at the Love Music Hate Racism concert that June; the event was subsequently canceled altogether. The band's appearances that month at Glastonbury, the Isle of Wight, and Morrissey's Meltdown festivals were also canceled and Doherty went to the rehab program at the Thamkrabok Monastery in Thailand; after a few days there, he left for Bangkok. Just after returning to London in mid-June, Doherty was arrested by London police, who detained him for a traffic offense and found a switchblade in his possession. The rest of the band carried on with their obligations for July and onward, saying that Doherty was welcome to rejoin the band once he had his addictions under control.

The Libertines recruited guitarist/vocalist Anthony Rossomando for their upcoming gigs, which included a performance at the T in the Park Festival. Doherty, meanwhile, set up a string of solo shows and dates with Wolfman, but failed to appear at several of the performances in early August. "Can't Stand Me Now," the debut single from the Libertines' self-titled second album, entered the U.K. charts at number two; in mid-August, Doherty appeared in court and pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of an offensive weapon. The Libertines arrived late that month, and the band -- minus Doherty -- toured the U.K. and the U.S. that fall in support of it. Doherty, meanwhile, put his efforts into Babyshambles. Carl Barat formed Dirty Pretty Things, named after a club night he founded, with former Libertines drummer Gary Powell, Anthony Rossomando as second guitarist, and Cooper Temple Clause's bassist Didz Hammond. After releasing two albums, 2006's Waterloo to Anywhere and 2008's Romance at Short Notice, Dirty Pretty Things disbanded. In 2009 Barat and Powell reunited with Pete Doherty for a Libertines reunion at a tribute show for promoter Johnny Sedassy at the London Rhythm Factory, and a year later, the full band reunited for gigs at the Leeds and Reading Festivals. In 2010, Barat released his self-titled solo debut. ~ Heather Phares and MacKenzie Wilson, Rovi

Scroll up Scroll down

Music

From position 0, showing 1 items, asking 10
See All
  • Can't Stand Me Now
    the-libertines
    Video
    Can't Stand Me Now
  • 65770
    SoundStream
    SoundStream
    song name
    0:00
    Audio powered by
    All the music you want, just 10 bucks a month. Try it free.
    • Can't Stand Me Now
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/9/8/8/9/7/106279889.mp3
    • Vertigo
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/2/6/6/9/3/106939662.mp3
    • Boys In The Band
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/3/1/7/9/3/106939713.mp3
    • I Get Along
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/0/5/4/9/3/106939450.mp3
    • Horrorshow
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/7/9/6/4/4/106544697.mp3
    • Music When The Lights Go Out
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/9/1/2/7/3/106937219.mp3

Photos

From position 0, showing 10 items, asking 10
See All
Next Page
  • The Libertines
    Roger Sargent
  • The Libertines
    Sanctuary Records
  • The Libertines
    The Libertines
    The Libertines
    Candice Lawler
  • The Libertines
    Candice Lawler
  • The Libertines
    Candice Lawler
  • The Libertines
    Candice Lawler
  • The Libertines
    Candice Lawler
  • The Libertines
    Candice Lawler
  • The Libertines
    Candice Lawler
  • The Libertines
    Candice Lawler

News

From position 0, showing 10 items, asking 10
See All
Next Page
  • The Libertines
    UK band Libertines reforms ahead of festival gig
    music.yahoo.com
    of a possible reunion regularly dominates the British music press. After the split, Barat formed Dirty Pretty Things and Doherty formed Babyshambles. ...
    Read More
  • The Libertines
    Barat says time not right for Libertines reunion
    music.yahoo.com
    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,...
    Read More
  • The Libertines
    Libertines, Weezer, Blink 182, Klaxons + more for Reading and Leeds 2010
    www.drownedinsound.com
    So, all day you've been waiting to hear who will be playing Reading and Leeds 2010 and possibly debating whether you can be bothered to fork out for a...
    Read More
  • The Libertines
    The Libertines to reform for Reading and Leeds?
    www.drownedinsound.com
    after seven years. Barat (how do you get the A with the 'hat' over it?!) and Doherty have since had a rocky ride in the relationship department (with ...
    Read More
  • The Libertines
    Reformed Libertines Play Brief Acoustic Set | Billboard.com
    www.billboard.com
    at 718,000, according to the Official Charts Co (OCC), although the band's stature and profile in its home country far exceeds that figure. Following ...
    Read More
  • The Libertines
    The Libertines to reform for Reading and Leeds?
    www.drownedinsound.com
    after seven years. Barat (how do you get the A with the 'hat' over it?!) and Doherty have since had a rocky ride in the relationship department (with ...
    Read More
  • The Libertines
    Watch: The Libertines talk about their reunion
    www.drownedinsound.com
    wanna get on stage and play them songs. Play them how we used to play them," though I wouldn't rule out the possibility of some very exclusive warm-up...
    Read More
  • The Libertines
    Watch: The Libertines talk about their reunion
    www.drownedinsound.com
    're going to have to make do with heading over to NME.com to have a goosey gander. We'll stick it in when it's all good and ready. Photo by Andrew Ken...
    Read More
  • The Libertines
    Carl Barat Says 'There Is No Libertines Future'
    www.prefixmag.com
    For, approximately, the 4563rd time, Carl Barat is on the cover of the NME. But this time, instead of teasing the possibility of a Libertines reunion ...
    Read More
  • The Libertines
    The Libertines' Carl Barat Joins New Band
    Paste
    The Libertines' Carl Barat has joined a new band, London four-piece Eyes On Film. Barat will be playing a one-off show with the group in mid-August be...
    Read More

Discography

From position 0, showing 2 items, asking 10
See All
  • The Libertines (2004)
    The Libertines
    The Libertines (2004)
    Rough Trade
  • Up the Bracket (2002)
    The Libertines
    Up the Bracket (2002)
    Rough Trade
Are You The Libertines? Claim this page | Learn more about Artists.MTV | FAQ for Artists
The Libertines Bio | The Libertines Music | The Libertines Photos | The Libertines News | The Libertines Discography |
MTV | MTV Jobs | Privacy Policy | User Content Agreement | Copyright | Artist Index | Social Projects Agreements | Ad Choices |
Portions of this page powered by
This site contains content from artists, fans, and writers from around the internet in it's natural form. Such content is not representative of Viacom Media Networks.

©2012 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. MTV and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

  • Explore
    • Popular
    • Emerging
    • Genres
      • Rock
      • Hip Hop
      • Indie
      • Electronic/EDM
      • Country
      • Pop
    • Collections
    • Artist To Watch
  • Search
  • Are you an artist?
    • Claim Your Page
    • Learn More
    • FAQ
    • Opportunities