Babyshambles – just in time for lunch.

Babyshambles for Friday lunch – recorded January 16, 2014 at Ancienne Belguiqe – broadcast by RLT.

Babyshambles came about as an offshoot by Pete Doherty of The Libertines, during that band’s hiatus during the period of banishment as a result of wretched excess.

In mid-2003, Pete Doherty was banned from playing with the Libertines until he could overcome his substance abuse problems. As a response, Doherty formed an alternative band, and recruited former Libertine Steve Bedlow as vocalist. Initially, Doherty planned on calling his new band T’Libertines, because of the band’s Yorkshire connection – the line-up of the band at the time consisted mainly of Yorkshiremen. On the night Babyshambles’ first gig was scheduled to take place, Doherty was arrested for burgling Carl Barât‘s flat. After he was charged and released, his friend Dean Fragile organized a new gig at the Tap’n’Tin. The performance received mixed reviews.

Doherty was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for his crime. His sentence was later reduced on appeal to two months. When he was released from prison, Doherty rejoined The Libertines and sidelined the Babyshambles project. However, he found time to record the band’s first single, “Babyshambles“, which was released in April 2004 on High Society Records. The artwork was by Sophie Thunder. The single was limited to 2000 CDs and 1000 7” vinyl copies.

In the early summer of 2004, Doherty once again found himself cast out of The Libertines because of his drug use. As a result, Doherty brought Babyshambles to the fore with Patrick Walden on guitar, Gemma Clarke on drums and Peter Perrett‘s two sons, Jamie and Peter Junior, on guitar and bass respectively. Doherty organised several gigs and the band began to gain respect in their own right, even though Doherty missed a number of appearances. The band’s lineup underwent several changes before stabilizing during the late summer of 2004 with Doherty on vocals, Patrick Walden on guitar, Gemma Clarke on drums and Drew McConnell on bass.

After finally stabilizing in late summer, Babyshambles’ lineup underwent another change in January 2005. On 27 January 2005, drummer Gemma Clarke quit the band after disagreeing with their management. The ongoing heavy drug abuse of the band members, especially of frontman Doherty, and James Mullord’s inability to do something about it, made her eventually leave the band. She was immediately replaced by Adam Ficek, who was once a band member of the White Sport alongside Patrick Walden.

In June 2010 drummer Adam Ficek split with the band to focus on his solo outfit Roses Kings Castles, with former Supergrass drummer Danny Goffey temporarily taking his place. In early 2013, NME announced that Babyshambles were working on a third album, with Stereophonics drummer Jamie Morrison replacing Adam Ficek in the line-up. Stephen Street denied this speculation, but bassist Drew McConnell is said to have broken the news to the music magazine. On 29 April 2013, Babyshambles announced a UK tour for the months of September and October of the same year, kicking off on 4 September at Glasgow’s Barrowlands. The new album, titled Sequel to the Prequel, was released on 2 September 2013, following Babyshambles’ scheduled Australian shows in late July. The album charted at number 10 in the UK. Although Doherty’s band the Libertines re-formed in 2014, Babyshambles continued to perform sporadic shows and festivals until 2014, most notably Rock am Ring, Rock Werchter, and Best Kept Secret Festival.

And this concert puts us right during that time The Libertines re-formed and Babyshambles was put on the backburner until 2024.

If you missed them, here’s a chance to catch up.

Not that it’s encouraged but, it’s Friday, it’s Babyshambles, it’s the perfect excuse to dive into that Three Martini Lunch you always heard about.