Babyshambles guitarist Patrick Walden dies aged 46
"It is with deep regret and sadness that we share the news of Patrick Walden's death," the band wrote in a statement also shared by Pete Doherty on Friday evening.
"We feel very fortunate to have known, loved and worked with him and we kindly ask for respect and privacy during these difficult times. Peter, Drew, Mike, Adam."
No cause of death has been given.
The indie rock band was formed by lead singer Pete Doherty in 2004 during his hiatus from The Libertines.
Walden started his music career performing with London bands such as Fluid, The White Sport, and Six Cold Thousand, before joining Babyshambles.
Walden co-wrote many of the band's most successful songs, including six tracks on their 2005 debut album Down in Albion, such as The Man Who Came to Stay.
While he remained with the group for the first two years of their development, he eventually parted ways with them in early 2006, citing personal issues.
Doherty, who said that a Babyshambles reunion could be on the cards for their debut album's 20th anniversary, once described Walden as "the best guitar player I ever worked with".
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The Irish Sun
24-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Pete Doherty breaks silence after Babyshambles' bandmate's tragic death and reveals tattoo tribute
PETE Doherty has addressed Babyshambles' bandmate Patrick Walden's death with a heartwarming tribute. Last week, fans learned of 5 Former Babyshambles guitarist Patrick Walden passed away at the age of 46 Credit: Getty 5 Lead vocalist Pete Doherty shared a moving tribute to Patrick Credit: Getty 5 He also revealed a poignant tattoo Credit: Instagram Patrick's stellar music career had also included playing for James Blunt. Taking to Instagram, lead vocalist Pete, 46, shared a tribute to his former colleague. Displayed on a typewriter, it read: "Used to call me Petey! huh!? "Jesus that's a shot in the heart - you brought joy to so many f*****g people mate. Read more on Babyshambles "I was in Mexico lately, and a kid in the street had a tattoo of you and a shambles French dog on his chest, so I got the French dog tattooed the next day, meant to call you and tell you.... telling you now Pat mate." He added: "Down in Albion... Up in heaven? Hmmm "My times in the galleys with you were exquisite, I remember the night we spent 2 or 3 writing pipedown, one time we were both crashing on the floor at Rooz studios. "To know you were loved and will be missed. To all your friends and family. Be at rest in peace, Pat. Most read in Music "Love from your pal Petey." A fan commented: "Sending love to everyone." Babyshambles star dies aged 46 as band pays tribute to rocker they 'loved' Another shared: "I have the French dog tattooed on my arm. RIP Pat." While a third added: "Really shocked by this one." In addition, Pete shared a snap of his new French dog tattoo. Patrick Walden joined Babyshambles in 2004 and stayed as lead guitarist until 2006. The band revealed Patrick's passing on their official Facebook page. Their post read: "It is with deep regret and sadness that we share the news of Patrick Walden's death. "We feel very fortunate to have known, loved and worked with him and we kindly ask for respect and privacy during these difficult times. "Peter, Drew, Mik, Adam." 5 Patrick played with Babyshambles from 2004 to 2006 Credit: Getty 5 Pete shared this message on his Instagram feed Credit: Instagram
Extra.ie
23-06-2025
- Extra.ie
Tributes pour in as rock legend dead at 46
Patrick Walden, the former lead guitarist in the British rock band Babyshambles, has died at the age of 46, the band have announced. Writing in a statement also shared by Pete Doherty on Friday eve, the band said: 'It is with deep regret and sadness that we share the news of Patrick Walden's death. Today's top videos STORY CONTINUES BELOW 'We feel very fortunate to have known, loved and worked with him and we kindly ask for respect and privacy during these difficult times. No cause of death has been given at this time. Born on October 5, 1978 in London, England, was the guitarist for Babyshambles for a short amount of time, following its formation by Pete Doherty in 2004 after he was kicked out of the Libertines for drug abuse. He joined the group as lead guitarist alongside Doherty on vocals, Drew McConnell on bass and Gemma Clarke on drums, and co-wrote six songs on the bands 2005 debut Down in Albion including Fuck Forever', 'Pipedown' and 'Loyalty Song'. Fuck Forever went on to become the groups biggest single, reaching No. 4 on the U.K. singles chart. He had previously played in bands including Fluid and White Sport, left the group in 2005 after dealing with drug abuse and accusations of assaulting his girlfriend, which led to a brief incarceration, although the charges were eventually dropped. Walden never officially rejoined the band, but he would pop in for performances over the years. Doherty once described him as 'the best guitar player I ever worked with'.'
Extra.ie
23-06-2025
- Extra.ie
Pete Doherty on fatherhood, crack houses and his thoughts on Kneecap
Resplendent in his Xmas jammies, Pete Doherty welcomes Stuart Clark onto his tour bus. Up for discussion are his cracking new album Felt Better Alive, parenthood, religion, his love affair with traditional Irish music and The Libertines' holographic adventures. Michael Stipe's nipples, Dolores O'Riordan's bellybutton, Mike Oldfield's wine cellar, Stephen Tyler and Joe Perry having a wheelchair race, Layne Staley astride a giant blow-up penis, Peter Hook getting his highlights done, Shaun Ryder nodding off mid-question and another legendary Mancunian musician's ganja bag… To the list of Things I Didn't Expect To See During An Interview can now be added Pete Doherty's The Simpsons Christmas pyjamas. It's a shade after 3 pm and Pete has just crawled out of his tour bus leaba ahead of his gig in Oldham, Lancashire, where he's being supported by Kerry's very own Junior Brother, more of whom anon. Cosied up to him on the sofa is his dog, who's made several on-stage appearances as his human treats his fans to a pre-release earful of Felt Better Alive, which continues Mr. D's run of must-have solo albums. 'This is Gladys, who's six this year,' he says, introducing me to the gorgeous pooch in question. 'I've got a litmus test, which isn't entirely foolproof because some people have a genuine, valid reason to not like dogs – but if we're out and about and somebody reacts positively to Gladys, I know I'll like 'em. She can't really do Libertines gigs because she's got very sensitive ears and they're overly loud, but when it's a bit more chilled – like it has been on this little tour of places I don't normally get to – she'll watch from the side of the stage and sometimes wander on and sit there like she did the other night in Camden. I tell you who she loved last year when they were playing some of their quieter songs – The Mary Wallopers. They were supporting The Libertines in Brighton and, fuck me, they were great. One of them broke a string, but the guitar tech was too busy stroking Gladys to notice. I think he might have got sacked that day! 'The baby's on board as well, as is the missus, so it really is the Doherty family on tour!' Speaking of his toddler, Billie-May, how is fatherhood treating Pete the third time round? 'It's testing every faculty I have,' he admits. 'All of your parental instincts are needed to keep this person alive and fed until they're ready to fly the nest. Selflessly being there for someone is a whole new way of living. I think I've always had it in me, but even though I've two other amazing children, this is the first time I've felt, 'Yeah, I'm doing this right.' It's hard work, but I love it and wouldn't have it any other way.' One of Felt Better Alive's numerous standouts, 'Pot Of Gold', finds Pete sweetly intoning: 'Hush my darling, no don't you cry/ Daddy's trying to write you a lullaby/ And if that lullaby is a hit/ Dad can buy you loads of cool shit.' Does Billie-May approve? 'Yeah, she loves it,' her proud father beams. 'When I wrote it, it was just me and her there. It grew out of the 'Mockingbird' lullaby that we were all sung when we were kids. She's 22 months now and does this sweet little dance. She keeps her back straight and bends her legs – but only to that song.' Felt Better Alive goes from a whisper to a scream courtesy of 'Poca Mahoney's', the tale of a nefarious crack house manager and all the characters who hang out – and get strung out – there. 'It's a real place I used to frequent but which the manager won't let me visit anymore,' he says a tad wistfully. 'All I'll say is that it's a place with a little horror and tragedy associated with it.' Adding to the rowdiness is Cavan native Lisa O'Neill. 'When The Libertines played the Olympia last year, she jumped on stage and did 'Night Of The Hunter' with us, which was a glorious moment. I knew about Lisa from her Rough Trade album, All Of This Is Chance. The 'My little soul was five-years old line' line – which is really dark – comes from her telling me this horrible story about a priest and a girl. I did a little spoken word thing on her song, 'Homeless In The Thousands (Dublin In The Digital Age)' and she repaid the compliment on 'Poca Mahoney's'.' O'Neill also pointed Pete in the direction of the aforementioned Junior Brother, who – cue fanfare – has just become the latest signing to his Strap Originals record label. 'She might see it differently, but I think we became firm friends and soulmates in a short space of time,'he resumes. 'Trusting her musical taste implicitly, when Lisa said with some urgency, 'Ya have to get on to this, boy, he's the dog's!', I knew I had to check him out on his home soil. I forget the name of the pub (It was upstairs at The Hut in Phibsboro, Stuart), but it's the sort of place all Englishmen dream of visiting in Ireland. Y'know, loads of characters and road signs to Ballybunnion hanging on the wall. We walked in on this – how do I describe it? – landscape of pagan psychedelia with belts of Irish folk lyricism and yet a very modern, possibly post-modern sensibility. There's something really fractured and itinerant about Ronan, AKA Junior Brother's lyrics. 'That's if you can work out what he's saying,' Pete adds with a grin. 'One of the things I like about his live act, aside from the songs obviously and his musicianship, is the warm way he talks to the crowd. It's not just, 'Thank you, this next one's called…' I've no idea what he's talking about half the time, but you can tell it's sincere. When he speaks to English crowds and they don't reply, it's not 'cause they're being rude or ignorant, they just haven't got a clue what he's on about.' Junior Brother and Peter Doherty (Photo: Strap Originals) The Mary Wallopers, Lisa O'Neill and Junior Brother join a long list of folk-minded Irish artists – The Pogues and The Wolfe Tones being at the top of it – that Pete greatly admires. 'I love the stories, the wisdom and the passing on of songs from one generation to the next,' he enthuses. 'They're the chains that hold it all together. Everybody's talking about AI, but something that can't be replicated digitally is the human soul and the warmth of human contact.' Curiously, 'Baron's Claw' from the last Libertines album, All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade, is reworked on Felt Better Alive as 'The Day The Baron Died'. 'The reworking is actually the Libertines' one,' Pete informs me. 'I wrote and recorded it first, then Carl heard it and wanted us to do it as a band. We had to change the name for publishing reasons, but otherwise it's the same song done absolutely brilliantly by me and quite well by The Libertines!' It's not the only Felt Better… track which has a touch of the Fab Fours about it. Quick pop quiz: favourite Beatle and favourite Beatles album? 'Hmm, yeah, wow… It's an almost impossible question because it completely depends on the mood and time of day,' he complains. 'The contenders would be Sgt. Pepper's because it's just life-changing song after life-changing song; The White Album because 'Back In The U.S.S.R.' is on it; Revolver similarly because it has 'Taxman' and 'Helter Skelter'; and there's a case too for Let It Be. You're setting me up here, but I'm going to go for The White Album. 'As for favourite Beatle, that's an even meaner question. There's a case to be made for John Lennon towards the end of his life when he did those legendary American TV interviews and was writing nonstop again. The teenage George Harrison was absolutely hilarious, and the cranky old man Ringo has become is fantastic, too. 'And Paul… I like that he never really lets his guard down. He's one of the most public figures in the world, yet I don't think anyone really knows him. I love that he took his kids off to a farm in Scotland when he was really in the limelight and the tabloids were doing their thing. So, gun to my head, I'll pick Paul.' That small matter resolved, let us turn our attention to the Felt Better Alive title-track, which borrows its 'Dredging the mouth of the Humber' refrain from Pete's favourite funnyman, Tony Hancock, and its country twang from Texas outlaw Townes Van Zandt. 'I discovered Townes about 15 years ago, maybe longer. 'Pancho And Lefty' is one of my favourite songs of all time. I love those Americana/bluesy/folk stories, which namecheck cities, characters and the weather. 'Tangled Up In Blue', 'Clay Pigeons' by Blaze Foley and 'Me And Bobby McGee' being some others. Weighty, earthy, western songs.' Earthy is also a term that applies to 'Prêtre De La Mer', the Felt Better Alive track that Pete wrote partly as a homage to The Coral and which features a guest turn from his parish priest. 'His name is Didier. He married us and baptised our daughter. He fancies himself as a singer, has a cordless mic, jumps on the keyboard, and bursts into hymns. Once a year, he does this benediction where he marches from the church to the sea, whips off his robes and dives in. Last year, he kept swimming out, and James Bond-style was picked up by a speedboat, which disappeared around the cliffs. Talk about showmanship! 'In order for me to be married in a church, we had to sit down and do bible studies with him,' Pete continues. 'So he's been with me on these journeys and helped me reconnect a little bit with the church.' So is Doherty now a regular church-goer? 'When I'm there, I go, yeah,' he nods. 'It's a bit of a lynchpin for the lovely Normandy village I'm in. It's an ageing population, so the priest, shall we say, is kept busy. The church is a place where you catch up with people. I was brought up believing in God's love and being taught it properly as opposed to getting dragged behind the vestry and the priest bumming you, which is what 'Poca Mahoney's' is about. Y'know, the evils of what's happened with the Catholic Church. ''Prêtre De La Mer' is the opposite of that. It's the vision of the church and of God which gives me hope and strength.' 'My missus, who wouldn't be having 'The Recorded Works Of Peter Doherty' as her specialist Mastermind subject, can immediately tell listening to his songs whether he was on or off drugs at the time. There, she reckons, being 'a sparkle about his records now.' 'I think I know what you're saying,' he reacts. 'I can hear sometimes where my voice is… I mean, I can't necessarily tell, but definitely people who are close to me can. Um, I don't know, I haven't really thought about it.' Peter Doherty. Photo: Roger Sargent Pete bigged up both Fontaines D.C. (''Starburster' is just a belter of a tune') and Kneecap ('They're really talented') after catching them before Christmas at the Brixton Academy Gig For Gaza. Have they met yet? 'I've seen Kneecap at the airport, but disappointingly, DJ Provaí didn't have his balaclava on,' Pete recalls. 'I saw some footage from the Dublin Olympia show they did, which just looked like a rave. When they played 'H.O.O.D.', it was absolutely bonkers. I haven't seen the film, but have it lined up here on the bus to watch. 'It's a very different type of music, but we've also signed a guy from Antrim, Thomas Urwin, whose take on reality is similar to Kneecap's. He's a folk singer that I met while he was busking. Unfortunately, he's fallen out with label management, but he's a great lyricist and a great songwriter. Have a listen to 'Belfast Is Gonna Burn' and 'Man In The Arena', which is one of Roosevelt's wartime speeches put to an acoustic guitar.' Not content with making albums, touring and being a record company mogul, Pete has just released the first issue of his On Strap fanzine, yours for a tenner at his shows. 'There's Gladys and the Normandy Lion,' he says, holding up a copy. 'Here's Thomas Urwin; a play I wrote and never finished called Ed Belly And The Curse Of Paddy Coltrane, which is like a gun fight except with guitars; Real Farmer, who are another band we've signed and love; and a little story I wrote about a pub in Ireland.' Talking of quality prose, can he recommend any good books for my summer holidays? 'I seem to be reading a lot of Raymond Chandler short stories,' he says, switching into literary critic mode. 'He writes in a very particular way that's kind of seduced me. There's a book by the American novelist, John Williams, that's dragged me in. It's called Stoner, which isn't what you think it's about. Stoner is the name of a university professor who's struggling with his career. And I'm reading A Furious Devotion: The Life Of Shane MacGowan again, which I've about four bloody copies of and is really great.' Two more quick questions before we let Pete change into his eveningwear. Are rumours of a 20th anniversary Babyshambles reunion true? 'It looks like it's on the cards for later this year,' he confirms. And what about The Libertines doing an ABBA and performing in holographic form this summer in Camden? 'Yeah, I know what you're talking about because I was there,' he concludes. 'I'm not exactly sure what it is. An AI-programmed thing, maybe, which means you'll be able to watch us long after we're dead. It'll be as big a surprise for me as it is for you when I see it!'
