“This self-absorbed vision, this decadent artistic life, it didn’t mean anything when you’re squatting in that dank, decaying place. And Carl said, ‘Look, I know somewhere you’re still in there, the person I used to know. Come out to play.’”
So now the Libertines have rekindled their friendships, played big stages and made a new album. Have they done enough to purge their regrets and restore their legacy?
“No,” Doherty says. “We’ve started, but I think something has to happen. I don’t know what it is. Something cataclysmic.” His eyes widen. “Some extraordinary twist!”
Barât looks at me and rolls his eyes, amusement intermingled with exasperation. “How about not?,” he tells his friend gently. “Let’s put the cataclysmic things on stand-by for now. You and me, we’re just going to stay on the tracks.”
Leaning into his doorframe like a lazy god, smiling to himself as the crowd of Raginiron-by-numbers men parts like the red sea for a young dark-haired fashionistaeater a creature of slender and long lines and lickspittlelips one puppydog eye, one serpent wink a fiver and a wad of sprung obscenity – ecstasy in the right hands, ecstasy in the wrong hands. Unreliable fella,
bad speller,
In love with his girlfriends brother but hasn’t the heart or balls to tell her.
“I love you with all my oh my and you’re a judgemental, paranoid, twisted mumbling snob fuck” is the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to anyone.
Eventually the big heavy doors opened and Pete came walking towards us. He and Carl clocked each other and it was all smiles, and hugs and tears. It was great, exactly how you’d want it to be. They wanted some time on their own so they went to this fella Reg’s house nearby.
Roger Sargent on Peter’s release from prison, from Kids in the Riot
‘Wanted some time on their own’,eh? Understandable really – a month is a long time without when you’re young.
suchasinistergame 