Carl Barat Says That There Will Be No Libertines Reunion In 2010

Carl Barat has told the BBC that he will be too busy in 2010 to reform his old band The Libertines (pictured above).  Barat said that he didn’t want to put the band together again just for a quick payday. He said:

“I’m too busy next year. Maybe the year after that. See how it goes. When it needs to happen, it will fall into place. It’s more a way of life than a band for me. I’m not going to jump up there and play the songs for some money – if it feels right then it will fall into place.”

The Libertines’ Pete Doherty told NME.com in March that the band had “unfinished business” and that he wanted them to reunite.

Barat, who dissolved his band Dirty Pretty Things in October 2008, is currently working on a solo project. On the subject of the solo album, he told the BBC:

“It is quite liberating doing my own solo thing with no record company telling me to make singles.

“I’ve done a lot of stuff with strings and acoustics but I don’t know if that’s how the record is going to sound.”

Barat will also be appearing in a play in 2010. On that subject, he told the BBC:

“It’s pretty full on and gritty. I’m doing it for the challenge as opposed to having big audiences and getting show stopping reviews.”

Last year, Barat appeared in the stage drama Telstar and portrayed a scientist named Gene Vincent (named, of course, after the 1950s rocker).

For more on this story, see the articles from BBC 6 Music and NME.com.

Libertines to Reform With or Without Carl Barat?

How utterly shambolic. Pete Doherty, ex-Libertine, now says, in the new issue of NME (above), that he has gotten approval from old bandmates John Hassall (bass) and Gary Powell (drums) to reunite the LIbertines. He just needs to get guitarist/singer Carl Barat to come on board. However, Doherty claims he might reform it even if Carl does not agree. In NME:

“Maybe I could reform The Libertines without him, like he did without me [Barat played Libertines shows without him in 2004 when Doherty was kicked out of the band for drug use],” he said. “I’ll put an advert in NME: ‘Carlos lookalike required’.”

He’s joking, obviously. ??!! Hey, with Doherty, you never know. As a fan of Libertines’ music, I wouldn’t go see the reunited band without Barat. And I won’t believe I’ll see the band in the U.S. anyway. I don’t believe the U.S. will let Doherty tour here, no matter what I hear on the contrary.

To tell you the truth, I’m more interested in Dirty Pretty Things (Barat, Powell, and Anthony Rossomando) reuniting and touring the U.S. I know there are others who feel the same way. So Doherty can put that in his pipe and smoke it.

The Pixies Play Surprise Gig At East London Warehouse

Fresh off of their appearance at the Isle of Wight Festival over the weekend, The Pixies played their first headline gig in the UK since 2005 with a show on Monday night at the Village Underground in East London’s Shoreditch section. It was a secret gig, and it wasn’t confirmed for sure that The Pixies would be playing until the curtain went up at the show. Despite that, members of Klaxons, The Horrors, Dirty Pretty Things, and My Bloody Valentine managed to be on hand.

The Pixies are promoting their upcoming boxed set, Minotaur, and played a 13-song set at the show. The set list was as follows:

Where Is My Mind?
Hey
Number 13 Baby
Monkey Gone To Heaven
U-Mass
Debaser
Tame
Gigantic
Into The Light
Planet of Sound
Dig For Fire
Bone Machine

Encore:
Wave of Mutilation

The Pixies don’t have any North American dates scheduled at the moment. Hopefully, they will be touring here later this year. They’re still one of the best live acts around.

For more on this story, see the articles from NME.com and BBC 6 Music.

Pete Doherty Calls Dirty Pretty Things Breakup a “Publicity Stunt”

Dohboy is at it again. At Trinity College in Dublin, the Babyshambles leader, flouted the cigarette ban, gave an interview with the audience, talked some trash, was awarded the honorary patronage of the University’s Philosophical Society (???!!!), and played an acoustic set that included The Who’s “Substitute “(and his new single, “Last of the English Roses,” below).

But really, does Doherty really think Dirty Pretty Things got enough of a publicity boost from announcing their breakup? That’s asinine. Maybe he feels that the talk from DPT’s Carl Barat about a Libertines reunion was the publicity stunt? Who knows?

I think it’s a nasty little comment directed towards his ex-Libertines bandmate, Barat, is all.

Doherty goes as far as saying that Dirty Pretty Things are “…still together, I think.” Personally, I hope the Dirty Pretty Things are still together. They’re a great band. And I’m yet to see them live… hoping they come to the States soon. They haven’t really made their mark here, yet, even after the aforementioned “publicity stunt.”

I like Pete Doherty, and his music, and his band Babyshambles, and, of course, his work with The Libertines… but sometimes his antics are another thing.

To read more about the event, go to nme.com

Pete Doherty Wants To Reform The Libertines

According to a report in the UK newspaper The Mirror, Pete Doherty, currently of Babyshambles and Kate Moss’s former boyfriend, recently turned up at a Dirty Pretty Things show in Paris and stood by the stage door. Reportedly, Doherty has told Carl Barat that he really wants to reform their old band, The Libertines (pictured above). Since Dirty Pretty Things are soon to disband, a reunion of The Libertines could possibly happen. A source told The Mirror:

“Carl thinks it might work, but he needs to be 100 per cent sure Pete won’t let him down again before he signs up.”

I’d love to see a Libertines reunion take place. They were a great band and broke up before their time. If Doherty can get his shit together and keep it together, the reunion could be a very special one indeed.

For more on this story, see the article from XFM London.

To watch The Libertines perform “What Became Of The Likely Lads,” click below:

Dirty Pretty Things Break Up

What crappy news. One of the best bands in England in the last few years has been Dirty Pretty Things, the brainchild of ex-Libertines guitarist Carl Barat. Their debut disc, Waterloo to Anywhere, was amazing — high-powered rock with the right attitude and texture of punk. It was simply a fantastic sound — much better than ex-Libertine bandmate Pete Doherty’s Babyshambles. And DPT just put out a good follow-up album, Romance at Short Notice.

Here’s the statement from Carl Barat on NME this morning:

“It is with some sadness we announce the farewell of the Dirty Pretty Things. It’s been a glorious three years which we all would gladly live out again, but it is time for us to try new things (not The Libertines).

“We are reluctant to give up touring but will give the last waltz everything. We have and are determined to go out as we came in, after which we all have other ventures to be getting on with and splendid future plans.

“Heartfelt thanks to all who made it what it was, much love and we’ll see you on the road.”

I’m real pissed that I never got to see the band come to America. I am hoping that Carl Barat starts a new project soon with the same sound he captured so well with Dirty Pretty Things. And notice how Barat strongly emphasizes that there will be no Libertines reunion because of the DPT split. Interesting.

The great irony: Pete Doherty is still able to keep his Babyshambles project alive after all the shit he’s been thorugh. Life sometimes has a sick sense of humor.

Libertine Revival? Barat and Doherty Together Again

There may never be a full band reunion but there may be a Libertines revival. Carl Barat and Pete Doherty (above) have been writing a musical (?!) together for release next year. However, a “source” told the Sun:

“Songs have been pouring out and they’re considering holding back a few compositions to record and maybe release in the future.”

That would be cool. The Libertines were a magical thing. But, personally I’m really digging Barat’s Dirty Pretty Things. And Doherty… well, he makes more press-filled escapades than good music. Such “escapades” are what brought the Libertines down in the first place. My point is, why bring Barat’s talent down again? Doherty can be like an albatross. Let Dirty Pretty Things continue and evolve. Maybe do a project or two together. But that’s it.

Dirty Pretty Things Leader Recovering From Illness

Carl Barat was hospitalized for acute prancreatitis and has been released, resting at home now. He should recover in time for more tour dates.

Unlike Boy George, Dirty Pretty Things should get U.S. Visas.

Get well soon, Carl. You need to come touring through America.

Dirty Pretty Things Return With “Tired Of England” Single

Dirty Pretty Things (pictured above by the Thames River in a photo by Roger Sargent) are back, with their new single, “Tired of England,” due to be released on June 23rd in the UK. (Dirty Pretty Things’ new album, Romance At Short Notice, follows on June 30th in the UK.)

“Tired of England” is a catchy piece of power-pop, sounding like a combination of The Smiths circa 1984 and The Kinks around the time of their stellar Face To Face album. “Tired of England” is less heavy than most of the material on Dirty Pretty Things’ 2006 debut, Waterloo To Anywhere.

Dirty Pretty Things (which feature ex-Libertine Carl Barat on guitar and vocals, fellow ex-Libertine Gary Powell on drums, Didz Hammond on bass, and Anthony Rossomando on guitar) will be playing some of the big outdoor music festivals in the UK this summer. They will be appearing at the O2 Wireless Festival in London’s Hyde Park on July 4th, the Reading Festival on August 23rd, and the Leeds Festival on August 24th.

To watch the video for “Tired of England” by Dirty Pretty Things, click below:

For a free download of the Dirty Pretty Things’ track “Hippy’s Son,” which will be featured on the upcoming Romance At Short Notice album, go to the band’s official Web site at http://www.dirtyprettythingsband.com/ and click where indicated.

For more information on Dirty Pretty Things, go to:
http://www.dirtyprettythingsband.com/
http://www.myspace.com/dirtyprettythingsofficial

Dirty Pretty Things Reveal New Album Title And Tracklist

According to an article on the XFM London Web site, Dirty Pretty Things have announced the title of their new album, the tracklist, and the UK release date. The album will be titled Romance At Short Notice and will be released on June 30th in the UK. The first single from the album, titled “Tired Of England,” will be out on June 23rd in the UK.

The album was recorded in Los Angeles by several different producers. The tracklist is as follows:

1. Buzzards And Crows
2. Hippy Son
3. Plastic Hearts
4. Tired Of England
5. Come Closer
6. Fault Lines
7. Kicks Or Consumption
8. Best Face
9. Truth Begins
10. Chinese Dogs
11. The North
12. Blood On My Shoes

To read the full article on the XFM London Web site, go to http://www.xfm.co.uk/news/2008/dirty-pretty-things-reveal-album-title.

According to the band’s MySpace page, they will be playing dates in the UK and Ireland over the next few months. No US dates are listed yet, but hopefully those shows will be announced soon.

For additional information on Dirty Pretty Things, go to:
http://www.dirtyprettythingsband.com
http://www.myspace.com/dirtyprettythingsofficial