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This article is about the musician, Pete Doherty. For the scientist, see Peter Doherty; for the wrestler, see Pete Doherty (wrestler); for the former football player and manager, see Peter Doherty (footballer)

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Pete Doherty (born 12 March, 1979) is the singer for the band Babyshambles, and formerly co-frontman and songwriter (along with Carl Barat) of The Libertines, with whom he first shot to fame and appeared in the public eye. Since 2005, he has become well known to the public at large as a result of his relationship with supermodel Kate Moss and his struggles with his addiction to crack cocaine after having a Naltrexone implant to attempt to beat his heroin addiction.

Biography

Early life

Peter Doherty was born in Hexham, Northumberland, England. He grew up at a number of army garrisons as a result of his father Peter's work as an officer in the British Army, living at various times at garrisons in Catterick, Belfast, Germany, Bedworth, Dorset and Larnaca.

He was academically successful, achieving 11 A* grade GCSEs, at Nicholas Chamberlaine Comprehensive School in Bedworth in his GCSE examinations, and four A grades at A Level in general studies, history, English literature and economics. At the age of 16, he won a poetry competition and embarked on a tour of Russia organised by the British Council.

He was accepted for an English course at St Catherine's College, Oxford, but preferred to study in London at University College London where he eventually dropped out in his first year.

After leaving University, he moved into a flat in North London with Carl Barat, with whom he had established a close friendship.

Pete Doherty is a huge Queens Park Rangers F.C. fan. He famously created his own fanzine as a teenager called 'All Quiet on the Western Avenue' which as indicated by its title, mixed football with literary references.

The Libertines

Pete Doherty and Carl Barat formed the Libertines in 2002. The group quickly achieved critical and commercial success, but Doherty's increasing drug problems led to his estrangement from the band. In 2003, he was jailed for burglarizing his bandmate's flat, but returned to the Libertines upon his release. However, in June 2004, he was again thrown out of the band while post-production work was taking place on their second album. Following his departure, the group disbanded permanently.

Babyshambles

Doherty founded Babyshambles towards the end of his time with the Libertines. The group has released one album, Down In Albion, in November 2005, and their third single, Fuck Forever, reached #4 on the UK singles chart. The band's touring schedule and releases were disrupted by Doherty's ongoing legal problems. During this time period, tabloid interest in his relationship with Kate Moss began to overshadow his music career.

Arrests

2005

• 3 February - Doherty was arrested for assaulting documentary film maker Max Carlish in an Islington hotel and, despite protesting his innocence, failed to provide £150,000 bail by the agreed deadline and was briefly jailed. Magistrates imposed conditions on his eventual release, including a night-time curfew for all reasons except drug rehabilitation, and an escort from a private security firm at all times. The charges of robbery and blackmail were later dropped.

• 13 August - Doherty was stopped in the airport customs at Oslo Gardermoen Airport, where customs officers found him to be in possession of a small amount of heroin. His band was originally booked to play at the Oslo-festival Øyafestivalen at 5:05 PM, but he remained in custody for three hours. He was released when the organisers of the festival paid the fine of 8000 NOK (693.118 GBP). When the band appeared onstage later than scheduled, Doherty was sick, and vomited after 20 minutes. He threw out a bottle of Vodka to the audience, and showed them his empty cigarette package, followed by the crowd throwing cigarettes to him. Because of the electricity being shut down at 11 pm, they couldn't play for more than 30 minutes.

• 2 October - Following a sold-out gig at Shrewsbury Music Hall, police raided the band's tour bus and Doherty was arrested for possession of Class A drugs and held overnight. Babyshambles were forced to cancel a performance at the University of East Anglia as a result (see]). Doherty protested his innocence (see ]).

• 24 November - Doherty was admitted into the exclusive US rehabilitation clinic, The Meadows, but checked out after just six days and was, in the early hours of November 30, 2005, arrested on the alleged possession of class A drugs after police stopped his car on Cleveland Road, Ealing, W13, due to the erratic manner of his driving. He was taken to Ealing Broadway police station and later bailed to return in January 2006 pending further inquiries. On Sunday 8 December Doherty was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence (see ]).

• 18 December - Doherty was again arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in East London. Doherty and three passengers fled, and a search of Doherty's car rendered substances believed to be heroin and crack cocaine.

2006

• 11 January - Doherty pled guilty to the possession of heroin and cocaine at Ealing Magistrates' Court after being arrested in west London on 30 November, 2005. He was released on unconditional bail to reappear for sentencing on 8 February. Doherty's barrister was forced to apologise to the court after the singer arrived at the hearing more than an hour late, blaming traffic and press obstruction.

• 14 January - Doherty was arrested again and charged with driving under the influence and possession of Class A narcotics, heroin and cocaine. On 20 January, Doherty pled guilty to possession of heroin, crack cocaine, morphine and cannabis.

• 25 January - Doherty was arrested twice. First at 5:40am for suspicion of possession of class A drugs after driving erratically in London. Following his release from custody he was searched and re-arrested in London at 3:00pm for being under the influence of class A drugs. These arrests forced the postponement of several gigs, leading to a riot among some of the fans present at the Newcastle show scheduled for that evening, when two people were arrested. The judge refused bail and Doherty was remanded in custody until 8 February, for sentencing. The press speculated that he gave the judge the finger after being refused bail.

• 8 February - Doherty escaped a jail term over the drugs offenses. Having plead guilty to possessing heroin and cocaine, Doherty was given a 12-month community order, requiring him to attend a drug rehabilitation center and undergo monthly check-ups. Magistrate Ann McLaughlin told a disheveled and pale Doherty, "You must submit to treatment with a view to ending your dependency on drugs." Asked if he agreed with the sentence Pete Doherty replied: "I do." A week later, Doherty told Channel 4 News that he had quit drugs for good: "I want to start a drugs-free life. I wasn't much of a junkie anyway." Doherty appeared in court on 8 March, 2006, where he faced a review of the 12-month community order imposed on him in February. The judge said that Doherty had been making "positive progress" in his battle with drug addiction.

• 27 February - Doherty was arrested during the evening and bailed in Birmingham, along with two men from the Dundee area, on suspicion of stealing a car and possessing Class A drugs.

• 7 March - Scotland Yard announced that Doherty has been charged with seven further counts of drug possession: two charges of possessing crack cocaine, two of possessing heroin and a further three charges relating to the possession of cannabis. These charges relate to incidents in east London in December and January. He appeared in court on 9 March, 2006 to face these charges, but his case was stayed because the prosecution said they were not ready to begin the hearing..

Acoustic solo album

Doherty has in recent months been working on new acoustic material, similiar to the wealth of song that can already be downloaded on the internet. Said to contain thirteen new songs, it is rumoured that the album will be released in March 2006.

Albion and Arcadia

A frequent lyrical theme for Doherty is Albion, the ancient name for Great Britain. Doherty also uses 'Albion' as the name of a ship sailing to a utopia called Arcadia, a place without rules or authority. Doherty and Barât's shared flat in London, on Teesdale Street, Bethnal Green, was affectionately known as 'The Albion Rooms'.

Influences

In interviews (see links below), Doherty has listed his favourite books as George Orwell's 1984, Brighton Rock by Graham Greene, Our Lady of the Flowers by Jean Genet, Flowers of Evil by Charles Baudelaire and the works of Oscar Wilde. He has also mentioned Emily Dickinson as an influence, as well as Tony Hancock.

His favourite films include British films of the 1960s such as Billy Liar, Poor Cow, O Lucky Man! and the film versions of Steptoe and Son. He also cites Lee Mavers of The La's as a musical influence, as well as The Only Ones. It is said that he is fond of adding hidden meanings to certain songs (What Katie Did & The Man Who Would Be King) from growing up listening to Laurie Hare-Duke, grizzled lead singer of The Dukes. He is particularly fond of The Smiths and The Clash.

Doherty and Carl Barat had a fondness for Cockney musicians Chas and Dave. Doherty also champions up-and-coming British bands, for example the controversial glam-rockers, The Orbitals and the indie band The Paddingtons.

External links

2. Part 2

• Books of Albion
• Albion Arks - Libertines Media Archive
• The Libertines.org.uk Official website.
• Babyshambles.net The Official Babyshambles Website.
• Peter Doherty Interviewed by Alison Philcock
• PeterDoherty interviewed by Phil Whaite
• Archive of Pete Doherty photographs
• Yahoo Pete Doherty News Search Latest 2006 news.
• BBC News report of Doherty's arrest on February 27 2006 on suspicion of car theft and drug possession.

• 1979 births
• Living people
• People of Irish descent in Great Britain
• British guitarists
• Guitarists
• Punk rock musicians
• Vocalists
• British rock singers