Babyshambles Reunion: Pete Doherty on New Music and The Libertines

Babyshambles Reunion takes center stage as Pete Doherty discusses the tour’s emotional highs, future music, The Libertines, and his dream shop in France.

A Babyshambles Reunion That Nobody Wanted to Take for Granted

There’s a particular kind of magic in watching a band return after years apart: part celebration, part time capsule, and part nervous glance at the nearest exit. For Pete Doherty, the Babyshambles reunion carried all three feelings—and then some.

After more than a decade away from the stage together, Babyshambles reunited for a run of shows last year. The return followed the tragic death of original guitarist Patrick Walden, whose playing and presence remain woven into the band’s story. The group closed the tour at London’s KOKO in December, where Carl Barât joined Doherty and company for The Libertines’ “What Katie Did.” Babyshambles also performed “Wolfman” live for the first time in 20 years.

The reunion has now been captured on Live At KOKO, released through Doherty’s Strap Originals label and scheduled to arrive on October 9. Not a bad souvenir for a comeback that began with plenty of uncertainty.

From Nervous Expectations to a Roaring Success

Before the first proper show, Doherty wasn’t convinced that audiences would still be waiting for Babyshambles. It’s an understandable fear. Music fans have long memories, but they also have crowded calendars, new heroes, and an alarming ability to move on while you’re still looking for your old guitar pick.

“Compared to our expectations, it was a roaring success. I was a little bit concerned. I don’t know why. My main worry was that people just weren’t going to come. I didn’t know if there was an appetite for it and I didn’t realise how much this band meant to so many people.”

— Pete Doherty

The early warm-up dates quickly put those worries to rest. The first full tour night at Norwich UEA became a particularly important moment, with fans singing along to every word and the band finding a bright, clear sound onstage. Doherty remembers the energy as immediate and powerful, setting the tone for what followed.

He also notes that the tour avoided the kind of chaotic disasters sometimes associated with Babyshambles’ mythology. There were no major meltdowns or “proper messy disasters,” even if some people once enjoyed that unpredictability from the audience.

For the band, though, playing well mattered more than preserving an old legend of disorder. The songs deserved care, especially with Walden’s memory so close to the surface. Doing justice to Patrick and his work was, in Doherty’s words, hard work—but important work.

What the KOKO Live Album Captures

That emotional and physical effort also shaped the live album. Interestingly, Doherty says KOKO may have been the most difficult show to record, despite being the concert chosen for release.

It came at the end of four weeks of touring, when everyone was beginning to feel worn down around the edges. That slight fraying is part of live performance, of course. A band can sound polished, but there’s often something more revealing in the cracks: the hoarse voice, the loosened timing, and the sudden surge when the crowd takes over.

“If anything, KOKO was probably the worst one to record! It was the end of the four weeks [of touring] and we get a little bit frayed around the edges.”

— Pete Doherty

Still, Doherty has fond memories of the tour. Babyshambles haven’t embarked on another full run since then, but the group has festivals, a series of dates in Ireland, and the Margate show ahead. For now, the “Shambles” seem to be moving forward steadily rather than forcing a grand comeback narrative.

The band is also scheduled to headline Dreamland in Margate on Sunday, August 30. The support lineup includes Big Special and Warmduscher, with the day described as a guaranteed “beano” for everyone involved.

Remembering Patrick Walden Onstage

The Babyshambles reunion has never been only about nostalgia. With Patrick Walden no longer there, each performance carries a quiet reminder of the band’s past.

Doherty says he doesn’t mention Walden every night, but he often brings him up before songs such as “Fuck Forever” or “Pipedown.” The emotion can arrive without warning. When Doherty speaks about Patrick, he tends to turn toward bassist Drew McConnell, who sometimes looks away because the moment hits him hard.

That grief isn’t constant, and Doherty is careful to explain that. A show can be joyful, loud, and full of people singing, only for sadness to slip in between two songs. That’s how memory works, really. It doesn’t knock politely.

Could Babyshambles Make More New Music?

The recent single “Dandy Hooligan” has reopened the door to new Babyshambles material, although Doherty isn’t rushing through it. He describes the band’s creative situation as a collection of “bits and bobs,” with ideas naturally emerging from four creative people working in the same orbit.

When he wrote “Dandy Hooligan,” he immediately knew it belonged to Babyshambles. Other songs are less clear-cut. Some could become Babyshambles tracks, while others might be offered to The Libertines or shaped into solo recordings.

That uncertainty doesn’t sound like a problem. In fact, Doherty seems to enjoy the freedom of not having a contract or a fixed timetable hanging over the group. Babyshambles exist as an autonomous collective within the music industry, able to make decisions without the pressure that once came with being young, hungry, and desperate to reach the next level.

“I don’t think we could ever recreate what we did before. It’s quite a precious space we’re in at the moment. We’re kind of armed and dangerous, Babyshambles.”

— Pete Doherty

For now, there’s no immediate need to make a full album. But Doherty leaves the possibility open. If the band somehow writes 12 exceptional songs together, then making a record would become the obvious next step. That’s a lovely kind of pressure: none at all, until the songs demand it.

The Trouble With Choosing the Right Band

One of Doherty’s current creative puzzles is deciding where each song belongs: Babyshambles, The Libertines, or a solo release? The borders between those worlds have never been especially tidy.

He says his old test was simple: play a song to Carl Barât. If Barât didn’t think it was strong enough for The Libertines, Doherty would often keep it for himself. That method still exists, but he now feels he needs another way to judge a song’s identity.

The question has occasionally worked both ways. During the years when Doherty and Barât were apart, each musician created material that the other thought might have suited their shared band. Doherty still believes “Glory Days,” recorded by The Jackals, could have become a brilliant Libertines song. He has mentioned that to Barât several times—and now jokes that Barât has responded by writing a series of “Glory Days” copies.

It’s classic songwriter chemistry: admiration, teasing, and just enough competitive spark to keep the engine running.

A New Generation Finds Babyshambles

One of the most touching parts of the Babyshambles reunion has been seeing younger fans arrive alongside the people who were there the first time.

Doherty has noticed parents bringing their children to the shows, with some youngsters even named after band members, songs, or familiar nicknames. He mentions encountering Peters, Micks, and Drews in the crowd. It’s the sort of detail that makes a band’s history feel less like a closed chapter and more like a family scrapbook being passed around.

There are still plenty of young faces at the concerts, just as there were years ago. For Doherty, that renewed interest has been a major source of happiness. The songs have traveled beyond the original audience, picking up new listeners along the way.

That doesn’t automatically mean a new album is next. Doherty says he doesn’t feel compelled to make a Babyshambles record immediately. His attention is currently pulled in another, wonderfully eccentric direction.

Pete Doherty’s Dream Second-Hand Shop

Doherty wants to open a second-hand shop in France, and his inventory already sounds like a dream rummage sale for romantics, collectors, and people who believe every battered object has a story.

He has moved his belongings from Margate to Normandy and now has a large warehouse filled with records, clothes, typewriters, mannequins, books, and trunks. The plan isn’t simply to create a museum of personal possessions. He imagines a living, breathing place where people can browse, talk, drink coffee, and hear music.

The shop could potentially include a small café or acoustic venue, with bands from the Strap Originals label performing there. Doherty also hopes to connect the project with his work supporting a local dog refuge. In his vision, visitors could wander through the space, chat with one another, buy a book, and stumble upon an unexpected song in the corner.

That sounds less like retail and more like a clubhouse for beautifully collected clutter.

As for the name, Doherty is considering wordplay based on the town of Étretat, where he lives. Possibilities include “Étre Tat,” with the emphasis on “tat,” or “Étre Tatty.” Another option is “Brocante Roll,” blending the French word for a second-hand shop with a familiar rock ’n’ roll flourish.

The Libertines Have a Secret Album Plan

Before Doherty fully embraces his future as a shopkeeper, Babyshambles will headline Dreamland in Margate. He’s excited about finally bringing the band to the venue, especially with Warmduscher, Pregoblin, Real Farmer, and Gans also appearing on the day. The earlier support announcement also lists Big Special.

Doherty hopes for sunshine but admits the band could use a little rain. Somehow, that feels perfectly on-brand: a bright festival day is welcome, but a little weather adds atmosphere.

The Libertines, meanwhile, have finally developed a plan for their next album—although Doherty is keeping the details under lock and key.

He previously teased a “tantalisingly gorgeous plan,” but now admits that there wasn’t actually a plan at the time. The real breakthrough came during an emergency band meeting in a Manchester hotel before a Kendal Calling performance.

Doherty arrived late and sat down, only for bassist John Hassall to announce ominously that the band had been talking. Doherty briefly wondered whether he was about to be thrown out of The Libertines again. Hassall reassured him that wasn’t happening, then revealed the idea.

Doherty refuses to explain exactly what the band has in mind. He has traditionally disliked the idea of concept albums—or even concept songs—and says some unnamed people are especially fond of that approach. However, democracy has won out inside the band. The Libertines now have a broad concept in place before beginning the writing process.

That’s all he’s willing to say for now. Naturally, the more mysterious it sounds, the more curious we become.

Conclusion

The Babyshambles reunion has given Pete Doherty a chance to honor the past without becoming trapped inside it. There are live recordings, possible songs, younger fans discovering the band, a secret Libertines idea, and perhaps a French shop where typewriters, records, books, and odd treasures can all find new homes. For a musician whose career has always balanced chaos with charm, it feels like a surprisingly hopeful chapter.

FAQ

• What was significant about the Babyshambles reunion?
  It marked the band’s first shows together in more than a decade and followed the death of original guitarist Patrick Walden. The reunion became a way to celebrate the group’s music while honoring his memory.
• What is Live At KOKO?
  Live At KOKO is a Babyshambles live album recorded during the band’s return to London’s KOKO. It is scheduled for release through Pete Doherty’s Strap Originals label on October 9.
• Will Babyshambles release a new album?
  Doherty says there is no immediate plan for a full album, although the band has several song ideas. He suggests that 12 strong songs written together could lead to a new record.
• What is Pete Doherty’s second-hand shop idea?
  Doherty hopes to open a second-hand shop in France featuring records, clothes, typewriters, mannequins, books, and trunks. He also wants the space to function as a café, acoustic venue, and community gathering place.
• What is known about The Libertines’ next album?
  The band has developed a general creative plan after a meeting in Manchester. Doherty says he can’t reveal the details yet, but the group has agreed on an idea before starting the writing process.

Bring a little of that lovingly worn-in music-world spirit home with a favorite album cover poster from Architeg Prints—a tasteful way to keep the songs, memories, and beautifully messy history close by.