The Libertines

The Libertines arrived in the late nineties like a raging bull in a tired post-Britpop china shop and introduced the world to a new gang of London bohemians, whose ragged tunes, red military tunics, opiated poetry and 'live now pay never' lifestyle came to define the millennial angst of the early noughties. At the heart of the band is the blood bond bromance between the ramshackle Music Hall Jagger/Richards, Peter Doherty and Carl Barat, ably assisted by the rock solid rhythm twins John Hassall and Gary Powell.

The origins of The Libertines began in smoggy London in 1997 after Peter Doherty and Carl Barât met when Barât was studying drama at Brunel University and they moved into a flat together in Camden, North London. The chemistry between them created all manner of music, poetry and mayhem.

The Libertines signed to legendary independent label Rough Trade in 2001. After signing they moved to a flat in Bethnal Green, East London, which they dubbed "The Albion Rooms" (a venue that became a location for many of their early guerrilla gigs).

The Libertines' debut album, Up The Bracket, preceded by era-defining singles What a Waster, and title track Up The Bracket, came in the autumn of 2002 and was produced by Mick Jones of the band's spiritual forebears The Clash.

As a touring outfit the band became one of the hardest working groups on the circuit playing hundreds of shows not just in the UK and Europe, but also in Japan and the US.

The eponymous second album The Libertines, featuring two of the band's signature songs Can't Stand Me Now and What Became of the Likely Lads, went straight to No 1 on its release in 2004 and loads more touring ensued.

Then came a break. For the next few years The Libertines went on ice as the various members tried their hands with new bands: Peter Doherty — Babyshambles; Carl Barat & Gary Powell — Dirty Pretty Things; and John Hassall — Yeti.

August 2010 and the four members of The Libertines reunited to play a series of shows, including Reading & Leeds Festivals. The reunion shows received an ecstatic response from press and fans alike, although it remained unclear what The Libertines would do next as both Peter and Carl were embarking on solo ventures.

In April 2014, The Libertines announced they would re-form once again to headline a huge show in London's Hyde Park; the success of this event lead to more shows, which sold out in record time.

In 2015 The Libertines signed a major record deal with Virgin/EMI. They recorded their third studio album with producer Jake Gosling in Thailand. The resulting record Anthems For Doomed Youth, entered the UK album chart at No.3 and the band toured the world playing venues large and small and headlining festivals.

In 2020 The Libertines branched out into the world of hospitality when they opened The Albion Rooms, a beautiful new hotel/studio, in Margate.

Any bookie worth his salt would have given you short odds on this quartet surviving more than a month or two, given the teetering on the brink lifestyle The Libertines chose to lead, but two decades later and our Byronic heroes, though older and wiser, are still fighting the good fight and making music every bit as vital as their astonishing debut.