Latest news with #CarlBarat
The Guardian
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Glastonbury's definitely still medieval!': The Libertines' Pete Doherty and Carl Barât interviewed at the festival
On the final day of Glastonbury, the Libertines are due on the Pyramid stage for an afternoon show. But first, their co-frontmen, Pete Doherty and Carl Barât, make a stop by the Astrolabe stage for the last of Guardian Live's in-conversations at this year's festival. 'They are the greatest British rock band of the last 25 years,' says Guardian critic and today's host, Miranda Sawyer. And Doherty and Barât are two of the most notorious hell-raisers in indie-rock. But this is a changed band, perhaps, who stop for a photograph with Mr Tumble before they walk onstage. They kick off the talk with fond memories of Glastonbury, a place that has long been 'part of the mythology of the band,' says Doherty. For him, it was running into his sister, AmyJo, having not seen her in three years. 'I heard this couple fighting in the mud.' But then he realised: 'I know that voice. It was AmyJo. She was having a full on barney with her boyfriend at the time. We had a massive, warm embrace and a little cry.' Barât's Glasto experience was emotional in a different way. 'It was a bit of a rite of passage when I was kid – to go over the fence. When I finally got through, the festival opened up before me and it was so exciting. I didn't have any money, so I got food in the Hare Krishna tent and I slept in a Christian Aid tent. I woke up at four in the morning and I heard this rattling – I was getting sprayed. There was some fella pissing on my blanket.' Sawyer notes the similarities between the spirit of Glastonbury and the thrust of the Libertines' songs about Albion and 'Merrie Old England'. The pair agree. 'It's definitely still medieval,' says Doherty, perhaps thinking of the Stone Circle at 6am. 'There's people with chicken powered bicycles and people who are living in the rhythms of the stars and the planet, or trying to make a stand in this time where it's probably more difficult than ever. Or trying to be in touch with the land or what's left of it.' An audience with Pete Doherty and Carl Barât answering reader's questions is what it must be like to be on their tour bus. Or a fly on the wall when they shared a flat together in Camden in the mid-2000s. Their wisecracking banter has a tendency to veer off into the surreal, or the profound, with the occasional lighthearted jibe. Sawyer asks about being in a lineage of songwriting partnerships with a push-pull tension, one they mined their relationship for their songs like Can't Stand Me Now. At one point, the pair even had security guards to protect them from each other. 'But we didn't really discuss it well,' says Doherty to his bandmate. 'You're always good for the arguments but less good at discussing and understanding the love affair.' Their last album, however, All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade, was about a different relationship – with Margate in Kent. 'We were running a hotel,' says Barât. 'And we got so wrapped up in it. I woke up one day and realised I was like Basil Fawlty. I was so stressed all the time.' They've since turned it into a recording studio, where they made the album and give studio time to up-and-coming bands 'so they can afford to go and do demos. It's community building.' It's time for readers' questions, which range from the future of the music industry to – one for the heads – Doherty's favourite cheese. Asked what their favourite support act of the past 20-odd years has been, they chorus 'Chas and Dave', or the time they went on after a Guns N' Roses tribute act called Guns N' Noses. 'The guitarist was called Slosh,' laughs Barât. Another reader wanted to know if Doherty's opinion on Oasis had changed since he notoriously appeared on MTV in 1997, saying: 'I subscribe to the Umberto Eco view that Noel Gallagaher's a poet and Liam's a town crier.' 'Yeah, I think that still works in a way,' he replies. Next up, Doherty evangelises about his favourite episode of BBC radio comedy Hancock's Half Hour broadcast: 'The Poetry Society [episode] is my go-to. When we used to share a flat, I used to always put that one on for you,' he says to Barât. 'He fancied himself as a bit of a poet and he's in with all these bohemians that hang around.' That sounds familiar. But the musician is also up on contemporary culture. In response to a reader question about new books, he says: 'There's a novel called England Is Mine about a kid who gets turned to online extremism by a young English writer called Nicolas Padamsee. I ran into him at random yesterday; it's a beautiful first novel. It inspired me and made me want to get back to myself.' Sign up to Sleeve Notes Get music news, bold reviews and unexpected extras. Every genre, every era, every week after newsletter promotion Talk turns to nostalgia for the mid-2000s, when the Libertines swaggered on to the London scene with 2002 album Up the Bracket, produced by Mick Jones of the Clash, and combusted in a blaze of scandal and infamy. A reader asked: what is the one thing you would both change if you had a time machine and could travel back to the early 2000s? 'My first thought is to try and get involved in some historical events like, I don't know, contact the New York police on the morning of 9/11 or something,' says Doherty, fancying himself as a hero. 'That's not funny, is it? But something like that, I don't know. Or just place some bets on certain horses and cup finals, proper Back to the Future vibes. Nothing really in my own life, because I wouldn't want to tamper with the ….' He pauses. 'There's a few things, maybe. Yeah, so much.' 'No, I wouldn't change anything,' chimes Barât. 'Apart from averting catastrophes.' If the Libertines could have avoided implosion, would they have achieved global rock dominance? 'I mean, I don't think we know what to do with dominance,' says Barât. The talk concludes with what there is to look forward to about the Libertines' live show on the Pyramid. Do they have anything special up their sleeve for the afternoon Glastonbury crowd? 'We're gonna have the shipping forecast as the intro music, that's gonna be a lovely moment,' says Doherty. 'Other than that, it's the same old shit.'
The Guardian
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Glastonbury's definitely still medieval!': The Libertines' Pete Doherty and Carl Barât interviewed at the festival
On the final day of Glastonbury, the Libertines are due on the Pyramid stage for an afternoon show. But first, their co-frontmen, Pete Doherty and Carl Barât, make a stop by the Astrolabe stage for the last of Guardian Live's in-conversations at this year's festival. 'They are the greatest British rock band of the last 25 years,' says Guardian critic and today's host, Miranda Sawyer. And Doherty and Barât are two of the most notorious hell-raisers in indie-rock. But this is a changed band, perhaps, who stop for a photograph with Mr Tumble before they walk onstage. They kick off the talk with fond memories of Glastonbury, a place that has long been 'part of the mythology of the band,' says Doherty. For him, it was running into his sister, AmyJo, having not seen her in three years. 'I heard this couple fighting in the mud.' But then he realised: 'I know that voice. It was AmyJo. She was having a full on barney with her boyfriend at the time. We had a massive, warm embrace and a little cry.' Barât's Glasto experience was emotional in a different way. 'It was a bit of a rite of passage when I was kid – to go over the fence. When I finally got through, the festival opened up before me and it was so exciting. I didn't have any money, so I got food in the Hare Krishna tent and I slept in a Christian Aid tent. I woke up at four in the morning and I heard this rattling – I was getting sprayed. There was some fella pissing on my blanket.' Sawyer notes the similarities between the spirit of Glastonbury and the thrust of the Libertines' songs about Albion and 'Merrie Old England'. The pair agree. 'It's definitely still medieval,' says Doherty, perhaps thinking of the Stone Circle at 6am. 'There's people with chicken powered bicycles and people who are living in the rhythms of the stars and the planet, or trying to make a stand in this time where it's probably more difficult than ever. Or trying to be in touch with the land or what's left of it.' An audience with Pete Doherty and Carl Barât answering reader's questions is what it must be like to be on their tour bus. Or a fly on the wall when they shared a flat together in Camden in the mid-2000s. Their wisecracking banter has a tendency to veer off into the surreal, or the profound, with the occasional lighthearted jibe. Sawyer asks about being in a lineage of songwriting partnerships with a push-pull tension, one they mined their relationship for their songs like Can't Stand Me Now. At one point, the pair even had security guards to protect them from each other. 'But we didn't really discuss it well,' says Doherty to his bandmate. 'You're always good for the arguments but less good at discussing and understanding the love affair.' Their last album, however, All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade, was about a different relationship – with Margate in Kent. 'We were running a hotel,' says Barât. 'And we got so wrapped up in it. I woke up one day and realised I was like Basil Fawlty. I was so stressed all the time.' They've since turned it into a recording studio, where they made the album and give studio time to up-and-coming bands 'so they can afford to go and do demos. It's community building.' It's time for readers' questions, which range from the future of the music industry to – one for the heads – Doherty's favourite cheese. Asked what their favourite support act of the past 20-odd years has been, they chorus 'Chas and Dave', or the time they went on after a Guns N' Roses tribute act called Guns N' Noses. 'The guitarist was called Slosh,' laughs Barât. Another reader wanted to know if Doherty's opinion on Oasis had changed since he notoriously appeared on MTV in 1997, saying: 'I subscribe to the Umberto Eco view that Noel Gallagaher's a poet and Liam's a town crier.' 'Yeah, I think that still works in a way,' he replies. Next up, Doherty evangelises about his favourite episode of BBC radio comedy Hancock's Half Hour broadcast: 'The Poetry Society [episode] is my go-to. When we used to share a flat, I used to always put that one on for you,' he says to Barât. 'He fancied himself as a bit of a poet and he's in with all these bohemians that hang around.' That sounds familiar. But the musician is also up on contemporary culture. In response to a reader question about new books, he says: 'There's a novel called England Is Mine about a kid who gets turned to online extremism by a young English writer called Nicolas Padamsee. I ran into him at random yesterday; it's a beautiful first novel. It inspired me and made me want to get back to myself.' Sign up to Sleeve Notes Get music news, bold reviews and unexpected extras. Every genre, every era, every week after newsletter promotion Talk turns to nostalgia for the mid-2000s, when the Libertines swaggered on to the London scene with 2002 album Up the Bracket, produced by Mick Jones of the Clash, and combusted in a blaze of scandal and infamy. A reader asked: what is the one thing you would both change if you had a time machine and could travel back to the early 2000s? 'My first thought is to try and get involved in some historical events like, I don't know, contact the New York police on the morning of 9/11 or something,' says Doherty, fancying himself as a hero. 'That's not funny, is it? But something like that, I don't know. Or just place some bets on certain horses and cup finals, proper Back to the Future vibes. Nothing really in my own life, because I wouldn't want to tamper with the ….' He pauses. 'There's a few things, maybe. Yeah, so much.' 'No, I wouldn't change anything,' chimes Barât. 'Apart from averting catastrophes.' If the Libertines could have avoided implosion, would they have achieved global rock dominance? 'I mean, I don't think we know what to do with dominance,' says Barât. The talk concludes with what there is to look forward to about the Libertines' live show on the Pyramid. Do they have anything special up their sleeve for the afternoon Glastonbury crowd? 'We're gonna have the shipping forecast as the intro music, that's gonna be a lovely moment,' says Doherty. 'Other than that, it's the same old shit.'
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Glastonbury 2025 reviews, Sunday: The Libertines, The Maccabees, Wolf Alice, Turnstile and Joy Crookes
★★☆☆☆ The Libertines, once the fumey and bromantic rebels of the Noughties indie-rock scene, step onto Glastonbury's Pyramid stage in their own little world. Doherty, shorn of both his former bad-boy image and (wisely) the moustache he'd been sporting earlier this year, looks characteristically ramshackle at least, while Carl Barât, the band's other vocalist, is faintly preposterous in a wide-brimmed hat and rhinestoned jacket. It's a breezy set, and noticeably better when they're pulling from their early catalogue. The material Doherty and co have released since the band's 2014 reunion is patchier, and draws a more muted reaction from the crowd. 'Night of the Hunter', and 'Shiver' from last year's All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade, for instance, pass by rather forgettably. When The Libertines oblige the audience with a look back into the long-set sun – wheeling out classics such as 'What Became of the Likely Lads', or 'Time for Heroes' – it's with mixed results. 'Can't Stand Me Now', often a highlight, gets a rather anaemic outing here. I'll say this, at least: I've seen The Libertines be far, far worse. Louis Chilton ★★★★☆ There is making a Glastonbury effort, and then there is coming dressed as a roadside flag up to the Sacred Space. Joy Crookes's spectral, sumptuous soul vocal drifts across some laid back trip-hop and the south London songbird emerges draped in pink and green scarves, here to add some vivid colour to a typically hazy Sunday. If a loping 'Carmen' and'Feet Don't Fail Me Now' pander to sore heads and tender hearts, a sizzle-heavy 'Pass the Salt' is out to induce psychedelic flashbacks to the wild West Holts night before. Once we're suitably roused, 'Perfect Crime' raises the pop pace and 'Don't Let Me Down', largely solo and soulful on guitar, and a devastatingly stark 'Forever' – dedicated to 'the people of Palestine in this moment of genocide' – prove that any New Amy plaudits are well deserved. A Joy indeed. Mark Beaumont ★★★★★ With exactly the right energy for a Sunday afternoon at Glastonbury when crowds are starting to wilt, Turnstile show a raucous Other Stage why they deserve their current success. Hardcore bands rarely cross over but 2025's NEVER ENOUGH has seen Turnstile catapulted from niche interest to chart-bothering somebodies and TikTok trend-setters. Frontman Brendan Yates oozes charisma while the sea of bodies who jump, leap on each other's shoulders and rock out on command do so with reverent but chaotic fervour. Turnstile's music is tender but somewhere between powerful and violent, clearly a feeling that some people have been crying out for: the faces in the crowd caught on camera are by turns sad, thrilled and furious. A chaotic, emotional and unbelievably fun set that leaves the crowd reenergised and ready for a final night of fun. Kate Solomon ★★★★☆ A huge moment for London's favourite indie darlings Wolf Alice in the last of the Glastonbury sunshine. Since they signed to a major label for their forthcoming album, The Clearing, the styling, sound and energy of the band has had a leg up. Has frontwoman Ellie Rowsell's been having lessons in frontwomaning? She's electric as she strikes a pose with a megaphone, belts out the rockier songs like she's furious at you specifically and even as she takes a tearful second during 2021 fave 'How Can I Make It Ok?' to process the size of the crowd (massive) and the moment (huge). Wolf Alice shine on their ballads – the rockier songs come with a lot of energy but they lack something the slower ones effortlessly have. But the band clearly understand the Glastonbury assignment and deliver a set brimming with star power. KS ★★★★★ 'We never thought we'd be playing these songs again to anybody,' says Felix White as the reformed Maccabees make a long-wished-for and highly emotional return to Avalon. It's like no time has passed; they pile into 'Latchmere', 'X-Ray' and 'Precious Time' with every gigawatt of their formative electricity still pulsing, and return to headline status just as the febrile atmospherics of 'No Kind Words' and 'Pelican' become the alt-rock standard. A celebratory night is capped by Florence Welch's appearance for 'Dog Days are Over', but The Maccabees' dog days might just have arrived. MB
Daily Mail
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The Libertines fans have one huge complaint about their Glastonbury show as Pete Doherty's legendary band take to the stage on the final day
Glastonbury fans were left blown away as The Libertines took to the stage at the music festival on Sunday, though they had one major complaint. The band, made up of frontmen Carl Barât and Pete Doherty, performed on the Pyramid stage as the boiling hot sun shone down on Worthy Farm. Their slot was just ahead of Sir Rod Stewart 's highly anticipated set on the main stage. Speaking to the audience, Doherty remarked: 'I know why some of you have got down the front early, I know what you're waiting for.' While their performance was hard to fault, fans watching the action from the iconic festival at home were left fuming over one issue. Taking to social media, they called out the packed crowd for apparently lacking in energy, saying the rock band 'deserved better'. Not holding back, one blasted: 'The Libertines deserve better than this f****** Rod Stewart crowd.' A second fumed: 'Watching The Libertines and I've seen livelier crowds at a funeral, not the band's fault just woeful atmosphere.' 'This setlist by The Libertines is class and absolutely wasted on this crowd,' said a third unhappy fan. Viewers tuning into Glastonbury at home via BBC iPlayer praised The Libertines' vocals and setlist. One rock fan said: 'The Libertines. What a catalogue of absolute bangers man. That hour just flew by.' 'Extremely jealous of everyone watching Libertines smash the Pyramid Stage right now,' said another. Rod Stewart came on stage after the band, though made a very awkward gaffe while introducing Lulu at Glastonbury as he headlined the Pyramid Stage's Legends slot. The singer, 80, took to the stage at Worthy Farm performing to a massive crowd where he brought out three surprise guests. Fans took to social media as The Libertines performed However, Lulu's entry didn't go as smoothly as Rod had hoped as he introduced Ronnie Rood followed by Lulu. He said: 'Now it gives me really great pleasure to bring on two legends, first of all Ronnie Wood. Here he is put your hands together and the wonderful Lulu...' As the stage fell silent, Rod looked around awkwardly for Lulu as she didn't join him on stage. He then added: 'Oh yeah, Lulu is coming on next', causing the crowd to laugh at the mistake. Rod kicked off his set with his hit Tonight I'm Yours before telling fans how 'music brings us together, we're having a party' and going into Having A Party. After a rendition of Some Guys Have All The Luck, he stopped to catch his breath and remove his sparkling jacket in the searing heat, telling fans: 'This is so lovely. I'm so excited I can hardly breathe.' Dipping into his bag of ballads, he did his version of First Cut Is The Deepest followed by his 1976 track, Tonight's The Night (Gonna Be Alright). Celebrities spotted on Worthy Farm on Sunday included Normal People star Paul Mescal, who was spotted packing on the PDA with his girlfriend Gracie Abrams. Meanwhile, Holly Willoughby was also spotted enjoying the sunshine, with her husband Dan Baldwin.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
People have one complaint as The Libertines wow Glastonbury
Fans were blown away by Carl Barat and Pete Doherty's band the Libertines as they performed on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury on Sunday afternoon. One called them the greatest British band for the last 20 years while another said they were criminally underrated and a third said they had a catalogue of absolute bangers. Yet fans had one complaint with the band's slot on the Pyramid Stage ahead of Rod Stewart's legends slot on the fifth day of the festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset. READ MORE: Fans say cancel Glastonbury after hearing surprise headliner's performance READ MORE: Welsh cafe owner's TikTok live broadcast of Kneecap from Glastonbury gets more than one million views Some said that the crowd's response to the English rock band was disappointing. One fan took to X and posted: "The Libertines deserve better than this f****** Rod Stewart crowd". Another said: "Watching The Libertines and I've seen livelier crowds at a funeral, not the band's fault just woeful atmosphere". But other fans focused on praising the band for their performance. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here. On X, one fan said: "Absolutely brilliant set by The Libertines at Glastonbury. Memories flooding back. Great stuff!" Another music fan said: "The Libertines. What a catalogue of absolute bangers man. That hour just flew by." While another said: "Extremely jealous of everyone watching Libertines smash the Pyramid Stage right now! Another said: "The Libertines have got some serious tunes under their belt . Absolute masterful song writing" Another fan remarked: "This setlist by The Libertines is class and absolutely wasted on this crowd". Another social media user said: "The libertines are so criminally underrated I don't even care". The band, which formed in 1997 by frontmen Carl Barât and Pete Doherty, sang a variety of their most notable songs, including Up the Bracket, What Became of the Likely Lads and What Katie Did. Other stars who will be performing on stage on Sunday, June 29, at Glastonbury include Rod Stewart, The Prodigy, Olivia Rodrigo and CHIC.
