Pete Doherty went on record in August to claim that The Libertines would be back in 2010, with a UK tour and a new album forthcoming. But Carl Barat has somewhat contradicted Pete, claiming 2011 is more likely for The Libertines’ reunion, but even that isn’t guaranteed.

Carl Barat spoke to BBC 6Music at the premiere of Breaking Rocks at Proud Camden in London last night. He explained:

“I’m too busy next year. Maybe the year after that. See how it goes. When it needs to happen, it will fall into place. It’s more a way of life than a band for me. I’m not going to jump up there and play the songs for some money – if it feels right then it will fall into place.”

That’s actually good to hear, that Barat doesn’t want to reunite purely for the cash opportunity it will provide. Instead, he wants it all to come together naturally and happen organically.

I guess the fans who want this to happen (and there’s a definite split) will just have to hope Doherty lives long enough for The Libertines to finally get back together. Which, given the way this is going and Doherty’s drug habit, cannot be guaranteed.

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Ever since then there have been numerous calls for The Libertines to reform, both from within and outside of the band. And it finally looks like it’s about to happen, with Pete Doherty talking to NME about his hopes for a reunion in time to play festivals next year. Although he’d like all four original member involved, he’d go ahead even without his old sparring partner/best mate Carl Barat.

The Libertines have already reunited live on stage, playing at a tribute gig dedicated to the late Johnny Sedassy in May. But it was a one-off, and John Hassall wasn’t there, so it doesn’t really count. However, at the beginning of August, Doherty claimed The Libertines would be reforming properly soon and suggested a new album and tour was on the way in 2010.

And Doherty has now detailed those plans a bit more, saying:

“It’s going to happen [The Libertines playing festivals], you know. I spoke to John Hassall, he’s well up for it. He [Powell] said he would [play the shows].”

“Maybe I could reform The Libertines without him, like he did without me [Barat played Libertines shows without him in 2004 when Doherty was kicked out of the band for drug use]. I’ll put an advert in NME: ‘Carlos lookalike required’.”

He may just be joking about the Carl Barat lookalike but it’s clear Doherty is desperate to reform the band and play live as a four piece again. Doherty is actually playing the V Festival this weekend as a solo artist but things could be a whole lot different next year. A triumphant return as headliners at Glastonbury doesn’t sound too far-fetched.

Many people will probably be aghast at the thought of The Libertines reforming because they want their career to stand as it was. But most will be ecstatic that the world will once again get to experience a truly exciting band play live. Me included.

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That is until May of this year when three of the four band members reunited for one glorious night in London at a tribute gig dedicated to the late Johnny Sedassy. Pete Doherty, Carl Barat, and Gary Powell were all there, with John Hassall deciding not to be involved. At least I assume he was asked. The gig went amazingly well, with the old magic seeming to be back, and no hard feelings left simmering between Doherty and Barat.

This brief but spectacular reunion raised more questions than it provided answers. Would The Libertines now reform for good? Was there any chance of a tour or even a new album? Neither Doherty or Barat have been drawn in to answering these questions until now. However, in an interview and article in The Times this weekend, Doherty did talk about the gig for the first time, and also about what could happen next.

He said:

“Basically we had a good couple of hours. We were up all night together. Yeah, it was amazing really. I think we’re gonna make a record, and tour. Get the Libertines to take it to the next step, next stage. Next year.”

Maybe I’m being a little stupid here but did Doherty just announce The Libertines were reforming? I think he did, whether he meant to or not. A tour is one thing, but a new album as well? That’s astounding news, although I guess we can’t treat it as confirmed quite yet. Doherty gave the interview after playing three gigs in three different countries in three days, so I’m guessing he may have been just a little tired and light-headed.

I guess we’ll have to wait until this is officially announced, and I’d certainly feel a lot more confident if Barat came out and said the same as Doherty. Is it too early to start celebrating yet? If the reunion does indeed take place then I’d love to see all four members of The Libertines involved, but I can’t see Hassall being persuaded to take part, abandoning his current band Yeti in the process.

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Ever since then, despite each of the members of the group going onto other projects, there has been a huge groundswell of demand for a Libertines reunion. Doherty seemed keen, Barat was unsure, while Powell and Hassall decided silence was the best policy.

Barat and Doherty have played together on stage since then but The Libertines seemed like a thing of the past, history. Except that three quarters of the band, Doherty, Barat, and Powell unexpectedly reunited for one night only on Saturday, May 16.

According to NME the reunion occurred at the London Rhythm Factory during a tribute gig dedicated to the late Johnny Sedassy, a man involved in staging gigs for both The Libertines and Doherty’s current band Babyshambles.

Babyshambles played a full set as expected but in the early morning, Carl Barat and Gary Powell took to the stage and set up their equipment. The two of them, along with Pete Doherty and Babyshambles bassist Drew McConnell standing in for Hassall, then played a handful of classic Libertines tracks, including Up The Bracket and Can’t Stand Me Now.

What this means in terms of a full reunion isn’t yet clear. It certainly doesn’t mean it’s going to happen but the odds have surely increased that Doherty, Barat, and Powell will work together in the future. Whether Hassall, currently playing with his own band Yeti, joins them is as yet unknown.

In a way this one-off gig asks more questions than it provides answers. I personally can’t see The Libertines getting back together to gig and produce new material but then stranger things have happened. Like Blur burying their differences.

Watch this space.

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The last two years have seen a slew of British groups reform, some in order to give the fans what they want, and some in order to make a quick buck (cough Spice Girls cough). But there are still many bands resisting the urge, and the calls from fans to reunite.

This lead me to ask: Which group would you most like to see reform? Most of the answers were predictable, as was the share of voting, but there were a few surprises. First, the results in full.

Led Zeppelin – 75 – 41% of all votes
Stone Roses – 26 – 14% of all votes
Spice Girls (again) – 18 – 10% of all votes
The Libertines – 17 – 9% of all votes
The Smiths – 16 – 9% of all votes
Coldplay – 15 – 8% of all votes
The Darkness – 6 – 3% of all votes
Dire Straits – 4 – 2% of all votes
Icehouse – 4 – 2% of all votes
Blue – 4 – 2% of all votes

Led Zeppelin predictably topped the poll by a considerable margin. The will they, won’t they debacle of their reunion has been going on for 18 months now, and apart from one gig at the London O2 Arena, nothing has happened.

There is still an outside chance the legendary rock group will reform and embark on a world tour, or even record new material. But even if this does happen, which is unlikely, lead singer Robert Plant won’t be involved.

The Stone Roses also look unlikely to reform, and I really can’t see the Spice Girls trying to make a go of it for a third time. Shame on you all for voting for them. You redeemed yourselves by making Blue come last though.

The strange answer are Icehouse, an Australian rock group, and Coldplay, which as far as I’m aware haven’t actually split up as yet. Surely that’s a must before they even consider reforming?

Thanks to everyone who voted, and be sure to vote in the new poll which asks what you think of the Michael Jackson comeback tour kicking off in London in the summer. You can even add your own answers…

[Photo Source: From Newscom with permission]

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I loved seeing Led Zeppelin reform, even though it was for one night only. Then there was The Verve, The Police, Blur, Take That, and a host of other brilliant groups getting back together. And of Spice Girls had a crack at it, and split again almost immediately.

Two groups I’d love to see reform are The Smiths and The Libertines. Unfortunately, along with Stone Roses, these two bands probably had the worst break ups in history, with various members falling out and not having spoken since.

Today has seen the chances of either reuniting taking a bit of a fatal hit. Morrissey told BBC Radio 2 that he’s moved on from The Smiths. And Caral Barat told BBC 6Music that a Libertines reunion was the last thing he wanted to happen.

Morrissey said:

“People always ask me about reunions and I can’t imagine why. It baffles me. The past seems like a distant place and I’m pleased with that. I feel very much of now.”

While Barat said:

“I’ve just freed myself up so the last thing I wanna do is completely burden my mind [with a Libertines reunion].”

Barat’s comments were despite, or maybe because of, what Pete Doherty had revealed in the NME earlier this week. He claimed that The Libertines had been offered million of pounds to headline festivals this summer.

And in October, we reported how The Smiths had been offered millions to headline the Coachella Festival this summer. Money clearly isn’t enough to persuade these already rich musicians to put aside differences and start over again. Shame.

Be sure to vote in my latest poll which asks which group you’d most like to see reform. Just look over to the right of the page and choose your favorite.

[Photo Source: From Newscom with permission]

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