The Likely Lads are back! Clean Living Pete Doherty seems a world away from his old self as he joins Libertines bandmate Carl Barât for a hastily arranged show at the spiritual home of Margate
The Libertines were back in their spiritual home on Wednesday as they put on a surprise performance in the seaside town of Margate.
The four-piece band, led by Pete Doherty and Carl Barât, entertained fans with songs from their back catalog during a live show at the City of Kent’s Oval Bandstand.
Doherty, 41, took the stage looking radically different from the frontman’s fans, who remember the band’s heyday after abandoning his much-publicized addiction to heron and crack cocaine and embracing a healthier lifestyle.
Unlike their typically chaotic gigs, only a few hundred fans got a chance to see the intimate performance after snagging tickets.
Starring: Clean Living Pete Doherty entertained fans with songs from The Libertines’ back catalog during a live show at Margate’s Oval Bandstand on Wednesday
The show had been hastily arranged in Margate, where the band own the Albion Rooms Hotel and also sponsor local football club Margate FC.
Arranging the surprise performance just 48 hours in advance, Doherty and Barât come as the band prepares for the 20th anniversary of their debut album, Up The Bracket.
Doherty – who has battled drug demons throughout his career – now lives in Etretat, Normandy, France with his wife Katia de Vida.
The Likely Lads are back! The Libertines were back in their spiritual home on Wednesday as they put on a surprise performance in the seaside town of Margate
Despite disbanding in 2004, The Libertines reunited for a number of shows in 2020 and are currently touring the UK with a number of special shows.
Her fourth studio album is currently in the works, although there’s no word on when fans can expect the new music.
As Doherty recently revealed, BBC bosses once offered him a starring role in EastEnders.
Special Appearance: Doherty and bandmate Carl Barât arranged the surprise appearance just 48 hours in advance and come as the band prepares for the 20th anniversary of their debut album Up The Bracket
He said the offer came after the late actress June Brown – who ran a detox charity – tried to help him break his “200 pounds a day” heroin addiction.
Speaking to The Mirror, he said: “There are a couple of things that have fallen through over the years that I’ve been a bit disappointed with – opportunities that have come up that I haven’t taken advantage of.”
He added: “I wanted to get a role at EastEnders at some point. The Libertines also regrouped around this time.’
All the changes: Doherty – who has battled drug demons throughout his career – now lives in Etretat, Normandy, France with his wife Katia de Vida