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DJ Lord Ant B Presents : The Libertines Pub Rock Heritage Tour (circa 2003) The Libertines are probably the most notorious London band since the Sex Pistols. They have also been compared to The Jam and The Clash. Their founders, Pete Doherty and Carl Barat have had one of the best love and hate Rock ’n’ Roll relationships ever. There was always a lot of pain, pleasure and friction in the band. This led to Doherty’s on-going crack and heroin addiction, and his two month prison term for burglary. Sacked from The Libertines (replaced by Anthony Rossomando), Pete went on to form his own band, Babyshambles. The ongoing soap opera that is Pete Doherty continues (drug clinic paid by Dot Cotton / secret bedroom gigs / Sun cover star / super model romance with Kate Moss / photographer punch ups / more junkie jail hell etc, etc). But let us remember the formative years and the early pub gigs that they played, in the topsy-turvy world that was The Libertines!
Filthy McNastys / Whisky Café, 68 Amwell Street, Islington, EC1 / Jan '03 Filthy’s is one of those far from perfect pubs (some would say fittingly named) with loads of faults, that can all be easily overlooked thanks to its friendly lazy atmosphere. It’s owned by a couple of The Pogues, along with Gerry O’Boyle (early sponsor of the Libertines) and is a regular London drinking hole for the likes of Shane McGowan and Johnny Depp no less. The really interesting fact is that Pete Doherty used to serve behind the bar. When they played here, the band seemed to fit really well with the pub in a debauched, verging on systemic collapse, kind of way. They stumbled on stage playing a sweet triplet of songs in what can only be described as a some what steamed state. They started with I Get Along to an ever boogying crowd, playing like a band that had only just met. They pulled it together after a few bars of Up the Bracket. People were standing on chairs, tables, ledges and each other in order to get a good view point. Apart from the occasional scream from Pete the vocals could not be heard due to the deafening cheers. Suddenly after just three songs it came to a dramatic halt. Were they were too pissed to carry on? No. It turned out, in true teenage party tradition, that the local neighbours had complained about the noise and threatened to call the old bill. Yet another short shambolic sensational display! Pete went on to perform a solo acoustic gig here again in June under the title Pete on Parole fresh from his arrest for possessing an offensive weapon and driving dangerously, i.e. without licence or insurance.
The Buffalo Bar / 259 Upper Street, Highbury, N1 / Apr '03 This was a case of hold your breath. Downstairs in the venue some 150 die hard fans had ram jammed into the venue, which isn't much bigger than the size of a toilet. Pete Doherty chewed on a liquorice paper roll-up before he joined the rest of the band on stage. Carl sported a red ‘n’ black leather jacket showing charismatic chip fat stains. The crowd chanted "Play something you f**ckin’ B’stards! Libertines, Libertines, Libertines!" The acoustic charge began: the singles, album tracks, B-sides and avalanche of covers including: a tap toeing Dream A Little Dream, a stomping version of Billy Jean, Donavan’s '60s bubblegum classic Sunshine Superman, before they closed with a slightly ramshackle version of The Coral’s Dreaming of You. They even had the balls to cover original east end cockney geezers Chas and Dave!
Charlie Wrights International Bar / 5 Pitfield Street, Shoreditch, N1 / Aug '03 The commemorative bar of power lifting local legend, Charlie Wright gained the international side of its title from the range of beers on offer. The bar serves Belgian Leffe and Bangkok beer with a Thai style menu thrown in for good measure. Its main cliental is usually an eclectic mix of Hoxton trendies, students, Lock Stock extras + on a Saturday nite a bunch o’ real east enders heading for trouble on the dance floor. It has also played host to yet another Libertines shock secret gig. Smoking furiously, backs to the audience, they attacked their instruments with reckless abandon. Shirts were ripped; Pete and Carl squared each other up, as they alternated as front men jumping into each other before eventually collapsing in to a giant Screeching heap.
The Troubadour / 263 Old Brompton Road, Earls Court, SW5 / Aug '03 The Troubadour (more of a caff than a pub or club) is a west London institution. It was the first place Bob Dylan performed. Paul Simon, Charlie Watts, Sammy Davis Jr and Jimi Hendrix have all played here in the past. It's fitting that Pete Doherty and his then new band played there to complete its Rock ’n’ Roll heritage. However the gig went far from planned. They were on stage for about one minute when Pete decided to violently smash his guitar over the drum kit before storming out. In hindsight at least he bothered to show up!
Duke of Clarence / 140 Rotherfield Street,
N1 / Oct '03 Their set list consisted of Time for Heroes, Death on the Stairs, Boys in the Band, The Delaney, Don’t look back into the sun, Boy looked at Johnny, I Get Along and Vertigo. It was at this point in the performance that things were brought to an abrupt halt when a highly intoxicated exuberant stage–diver crash landed into the bands amplifiers resulting in a complete power cut. Carl even had to be crowd surfed out of the pub! This was yet another truly crazy messed up mentalist gig. Sadly you will no longer be able to soak up the atmosphere, lick the walls, etc, since the pub has now closed for good. Libertine n. & adj - Someone who is unrestrained by convention or morality.
Make mine a pint of: Rock Star The classic JD and Coke has always been accepted as the ultimate Rock ’n’ Roll drink. However there is a new pretender to the throne in the shape of this chaos cocktail. Best served in a pint glass, this is a brilliant "get me wasted ASAP" pre/post gig special. Ingredients: |
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