The new NME has an interview with Carl Barat conducted after the premiere of The Libertines documentary There Are No Innocent Bystanders by Roger Sargent. The film documents 2010's Libertines reunion. All four members were expected to be at the London premiere of the film. Three showed up - Pete Doherty didn't. Many interpreted this as a sign that all was not well on the good ship Arcady. As Blake saw angels perched in trees in Peckham Rye, Pete Doherty sees angels all over Hackney, in every corner of Brick Lane.
Pete is facing jail time and/or fines in both Britain and Germany. His next court date is May 20, 2011, and he may go back to jail. (Doherty pled guilty to cocaine possession. Police got involved when filmmaker Robin Whitehead died, presumably after doing coke with Pete and Pete's best mate Wolfman at Wolfie's London flat. "Is your client aware he could face a sentence?", Judge David Radford asked Doherty's lawyer on April 8.)
After Pete didn't show up for the film premiere, Carl spoke to NME and seemed to indicate The Libertines were not happening and he didn't want to talk to the press about it anymore.
"Right now, there is no Libertines future....", Carl to NME, April 27, 2011....
We loved seeing the reunion at Reading last year (by video in my case) and we had been rooting for a Libertines reunion, complete with new music and tours.
Frankly, at this point, since the principles aren't getting along, it doesn't matter as much.
What DOES matter is that Pete stays out of jail, doesn't destroy himself, and continues to make great art for years to come.
Society needs her poets. We need them. We need them to dream. To show the way. To explore unchartered territory. There are some dark places they are required to explore. We hope they don't get lost there. We don't need Pete Doherty to die.
We need him to live.
Pete is scheduled to play London tonight... and Glasgow on May 20.... (if he isn't sent to jail that day...).... and the following dates:
Tue, May 10, 2011 Shepherds Bush Empire London
Wed, May 11, 2011 Southampton Univ. Southampton
Fri, May 13, 2011 UEA LCR Norwich £75.00
Sat, May 14, 2011 HMV Institute Birmingham
Sun, May 15, 2011 Academy Liverpool £75.00
Tue, May 17, 2011 Academy Newcastle £75.00
Wed, May 18, 2011 Academy Manchester
Thu, May 19, 2011 Academy Leeds
Fri, May 20, 2011 Barrowlands Glasgow
Fri, May 27, 2011 The Academy Dublin
Sun, May 29, 2011 Mandela Hall Belfast
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 Academy Brixton
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