Pete Doherty

:For the scientist, see Peter Doherty; for the wrestler, see Duke of Dorchester Pete Doherty.

Biography

Early life

Doherty grew up in London's Shepherd's Bush, but frequently moved around the UK and Europe as a result of his father Peter's work with the British Army, living at various times in Liverpool, London, Belfast, Germany, Coventry, Dorset and Cyprus. At the age of 16, he won a poetry competition and was sent by the British Council on a tour of Russia. Despite being well-travelled and well-educated, Doherty has spoken of a deep interest in the inner city environment, and has since lived primarily in London.

Related Topics:
Shepherd's Bush - British Army - Liverpool - Belfast - Germany - Coventry - Dorset - Cyprus - British Council - Russia - Inner city

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Academically he was successful at school, achieving 11 top grades in his secondary school GCSE examination, four top grades at A Level, and was accepted on an English course at Oxford University. He dropped out of this course in his first year, however, and moved into a flat in North London with Carl Barat, with whom he had established a close friendship.

Related Topics:
GCSE - A Level - English - Oxford University - North London - Carl Barat

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The Libertines

Doherty and Barat formed the rock group "The Libertines", sharing singing and song-writing duties. At their flat they wrote material for their debut single "What a Waster" (2002) and their first album, Up The Bracket, released later that year. The debut album was critically acclaimed and the band shot to stardom particularly as a result of their volatile live performances which were characterised by outbreaks of physical violence, microphone-sharing between Barat and Doherty and the emergence of a large, dedicated cult following.

Related Topics:
2002 - Up The Bracket

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Sometime after the release of Up the Bracket, Doherty was expelled from the band as a result of erratic behaviour caused by his drug addiction. In the summer of 2003, Kill City vocalist Lisa Moorish gave birth to Estile, Doherty's child. In July 2003, he broke into Barat's Marylebone flat and stole some items, including a laptop and an antique guitar, and was sentenced to six months in prison, with the second three months as a suspended sentence. On the day of his release, he was received warmly by Carl Barat, with whom he had reconciled through correspondence.

Related Topics:
Kill City - Lisa Moorish - Marylebone - Suspended sentence - Carl Barat

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Doherty rejoined the band on his release and played three critically acclaimed reunion concerts at the London Forum in December 2003 (which were named amongst the top 20 concerts of all time by Q magazine). He worked on a second album with the band in 2004.

Related Topics:
London Forum - Second album

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However, much to the chagrin of Barat, Doherty's drug use continued, which strained their relationship both privately and professionally. Bodyguards attended recording sessions to protect Doherty and Barat from physically assaulting each other, and to prevent the people Barat referred to as Doherty's "harpies" (drug friends and hangers-on) from turning up at the studio. Once again, after the album was released, he was expelled from the band, in protest at the latest of three failed drug rehabilitation attempts, when Doherty absconded from Wat Tham Krabok, a monastery in Thailand known for rehabilitating drug and alcohol addicts. Meanwhile, the band's second album, The Libertines, was released, going straight in at #1 in the UK album charts. It stayed at this position for around four weeks, soon going platinum in both the UK and the USA.

Related Topics:
Drug rehabilitation - Wat Tham Krabok - Monastery - Thailand - Second album

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Babyshambles

Doherty has since gone on to forge a career without Barat, featuring on the Wolfman single "For Lovers" (nominated for the 2004 Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song), releasing a solo single entitled "Babyshambles" and forming a band of the same name (Babyshambles) - initially as a way to make small amounts of money to pay for drugs. The band has since released a successful single ("Killamangiro") and toured erratically but extensively in the UK. In December 2004, they failed to take the stage as scheduled at the London Astoria, leading the audience to riot. Babyshambles are expected to release a debut album on the 14th of November entitled 'Down In Albion'.

Related Topics:
Wolfman - Ivor Novello Award - Babyshambles - London Astoria

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