THIS country pub near Telford was "the" place to be for any self-respecting indie fan last Thursday night when Babyshambles came to the Midlands for a hastily arranged and very secret gig.
If you don't know, Babyshambles is the side-project of Libertines guitarist and songwriter Pete Doherty, who, love him or love him, has become the most feted British rock star of his generation. For those who read NME, anyway.
The fact he has formed a pet project in the face of his overwhelming success (he added guest vocals to Wolfman's exquisite For Lovers single which made No.7 in the charts last month) meant a lot to the fans who seemed ecstatic and a little befuddled to meet the 24-year-old when he went on a pre-show amble through the audience.
The six-song set is, predictably, a riot, which made this more a "happening", a sense of occasion, than a rock concert.
Most didn't know the songs (the group have yet to release a record) and the sound was, to say the least, indecipherable, yet the frayed edges which infuse The Libertines music was there for all to hear, and, mostly importantly, see.
A Libertines calling card, the show quickly degenerated into chaos which Pete, true to time-honoured self-destructive rock star behaviour, revelled in.
In the end he had to be escorted from the rabble with a gleeful grin plastered across his face, revelling in the human wreckage he had created.
OE
Babyshambles
Wrekin View, Telford
THIS country pub near Telford was "the" place to be for any self-respecting indie fan last Thursday night when Babyshambles came to the Midlands for a hastily arranged and very secret gig.
If you don't know, Babyshambles is the side-project of Libertines guitarist and songwriter Pete Doherty, who, love him or love him, has become the most feted British rock star of his generation. For those who read NME, anyway.
The fact he has formed a pet project in the face of his overwhelming success (he added guest vocals to Wolfman's exquisite For Lovers single which made No.7 in the charts last month) meant a lot to the fans who seemed ecstatic and a little befuddled to meet the 24-year-old when he went on a pre-show amble through the audience.
The six-song set is, predictably, a riot, which made this more a "happening", a sense of occasion, than a rock concert.
Most didn't know the songs (the group have yet to release a record) and the sound was, to say the least, indecipherable, yet the frayed edges which infuse The Libertines music was there for all to hear, and, mostly importantly, see.
A Libertines calling card, the show quickly degenerated into chaos which Pete, true to time-honoured self-destructive rock star behaviour, revelled in.
In the end he had to be escorted from the rabble with a gleeful grin plastered across his face, revelling in the human wreckage he had created.
OE
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article