The Libertines Biography

Everything that follows is true. Obviously. No one would believe it if it was made up.

In the late nineties in the East London squat scene two troubadours and dreamers Peter Doherty and Carl Barât meet and bond over music and a common romanticism. They resolve to form a band with a name that reflects their attitude: a libertine is someone who is unrestrained by convention or morality. The Libertines are born.

December 2001

Early line-ups included a variety of drummers (including Mr Razzcocks a drummer three decades the pair's senior) and bass players (including Jonny Borrell later of Razorlight). The line-up settles with Gary Powell on drums. Recognising there is something missing from British music at the time, Rough Trade sign them just before Christmas 2001 on the strength of one gig where they play without a bass player. A former bass player of the band, John Hassall, is invited to rejoin the band shortly after. He accepts. The gang's here. The boys to entertain you.

February/March 2002

They support The Strokes on two dates in late February 2002. However it's when they team up with then media darlings The Vines for a short tour in March, that they begin to pull in fans. Naturally, they almost derail their entire career when on the first night of the tour in Brighton they play more or less a 20 minute jazz odyssey to a baffled crowd. Nice.
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