Despite the impracticalities of a 1997-2004 stint as Pete Doherty’s bandmate, Carl Barat has always tended to romanticize the experience: “Finishing off The Libertines almost killed me. Going around honouring commitments and trying to give every song what it deserved – it wasn’t easy. I should have worn a suit of armour. I was doing it for Pete. I’ll be a Libertine until the day I die.”
Indeed, after a few years of not speaking to one another, Carl and Pete washed away some of the bad blood with a few pints of Guiness. In July 2006, the two were spotted whilst pubbing together, and, in April 2007, the two former co-frontmen came together at Hackney Empire for a one-off gig (or, as some might prefer, a no-strings attached one-night stand).
Hopeful fans of The Libertines’ so-called “glory days” (more about that here) have always secretly hoped that Carl and Pete would somehow persuade John Hassal and Gary Powell to reunite the band. You know, sort of a revival of the old post-punk revival. Now, Britain’s Daily Star claims to have official news of an official reunion:
VOLATILE pals Pete Doherty and Carl Barat have finally kissed and made up, proper like.
Pete, 30, Carl, 31, drummer Gary Powell, 39, and bassist John Hassall, 28, have signed a management deal for a full reunion as The Libertines.
My source Up The Bracket confirmed to me: “The Libertines will definitely be back next year.”
You heard it here first.
Is this reunion actually going to happen? Who the hell knows… since there’s been no confirmation from the Boys In The Band themselves, this news may very well be absolute rubbish. Until next time, feel free to enjoy some hilarious Bilo & Biggles slash fanfiction. That is, if you’re into that sort of thing, you cheeky blighters.
