The Libertines

The Libertines are a British indie rock band from London, active from 1997 to the present. The group consists of Carl Barât, Peter Doherty, Gary Powell and John Hassall. Their sound sits across alternative rock, garage rock revival, indie rock, post-punk revival and punk.

Formation and early years

The band forms in London in 1997 and becomes one of the key acts in the English independent scene in the early 2000s. Its core writing partnership is between Peter Doherty, who sings and plays rhythm guitar, and Carl Barât, who sings and plays lead guitar, with John Hassall on bass and Gary Powell on drums.

The Libertines split in 2004, after a final show in Paris without Doherty. They reform in 2010 to play the Reading and Leeds festivals, then reform again in 2015.

Recordings and chart success

The band releases three full-length albums, with the first two produced by Mick Jones of The Clash. Their first single, What a Waster, reaches number 37 in the UK charts even though it is banned from Radio 1 and commercial radio because of its language. Their commercial reach grows steadily, leading to a number 2 single and a number 1 album in the UK charts.

The third album arrives after an 11-year gap in studio releases. In 2023, the band releases its first single in eight years, followed by its fourth studio album, All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade, in 2024.

Internal changes and related projects

The band’s history is closely linked to conflict within the group, much of it connected to Doherty’s drug use. After the split, the members pursue other projects: Peter Doherty forms Babyshambles, Carl Barât and Gary Powell join Dirty Pretty Things, and John Hassall plays in Yeti. Doherty and Barât also work together again, including on Babyshambles’ charity version of The Clash’s Janie Jones for Strummerville, and they perform 13 songs together in 2007 when Barât appears at one of Doherty’s shows.

Live appearances

After reuniting in 2010, the band returns to major festival stages, including Reading and Leeds. In 2014 it headlines a London Hyde Park show as part of the Barclaycard British Summer Time series, and it also appears as headliner at Benicàssim FIB in Spain. Its reunion period includes a European tour of nine dates before the release of the 2015 album, and a surprise appearance at Glastonbury in 2015, where it opens with Can't Stand Me Now.