Babyshambles

As the spiralling chaos of The Libertines lurched from one beautiful rock'n'roll mess to another, front man Pete Doherty started his new side project in 2003. On the night of the band's first scheduled gig Doherty was arrested for burgling fellow Libertine Carl Barat's flat and the birth of Babyshambles was put on hold for two months while he served time in Pentonville. Plagued by drug problems, oppressive tabloid pressure and the general anarchy of Doherty's lifestyle, the band's line-up changed frequently, but the success of Top 10 singles "Killamangiro" and "F*** Forever" paved the way for debut album Down in Albion (2005). Driven by clattering bursts of raucous garage rock and Doherty's naturally poetic vision of the world, the band's reputation for controversy and unreliability continues to grow but their second album Shotter's Nation (2007) reached Number 5 in the UK and was received well by the critics. Doherty went on to start a solo career. After the separation in 2014, Doherty then began a solo career, to return to the Babyshambles project in 2010 and prepare the album Sequel to the Prequel, released in 2013. Separated in 2014 while Doherty reformed The Libertines, the case then seemed settled until an unexpected stage return in August 2024, then in March 2025. Former guitarist from 2004 to 2006 Phil Walden died on June 20, 2025 at the age of 46.

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