Pete Doherty. Musician under a media shadow.

Pete Doherty; Face of the Libertines and Babyshambles, and thought by as many to be a drug-riddled waster who famously asked on stage: “Where’s my band?” As messy as his lifestyle may be, it is hard to deny the great British grit and humour that his lyrics convey. Whilst interviewing several fans in order to understand his appeal, his “emotional and personal lyrics” came across as his most popular charm, displayed on works such as “For Lovers”. 

Can music fans be so hypocritical as to champion the Beatle’s acid infused “Sergeant Pepper” and not the Libertines’ coke influenced yet inspirational “Up the Bracket”? With Carl Barat “too busy” with his solo project for a Libertines reunion, is it time that the limelight shifted back to Doherty with a positive edge for a change? Yes, the media have continuously caught him using illegal substances. But if we can accept other great musicians through the haze of drug abuse (Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Sid Vicious) then what should make Doherty exempt?

Suggested listening;

The Libertines - Time for heroes from the album “Up the Bracket”, 2002.

Pete Doherty featuring Peter 'Wolfman' Wolfe - For lovers, 2004.