This UK indie rock band is as noted for the media-baiting antics of their lead singer and guitarist Pete Doherty (b. Peter Doherty, 12 March 1979, Hexham, Northumberland, England) as their music. Doherty originally came to fame as joint leader, with Carl Barât, of the Libertines, one of the most highly-fêted of the new wave of UK guitar rock bands to emerge at the start of the new millennium. Doherty's erratic personal behaviour led to his departure from the Libertines in June 2003. He made up with Barât and returned to help complete write and record their second album, before increasing acrimony between the two men saw Doherty leaving for good in June 2004. In April, prior to his departure from the Libertines, Doherty had recorded a self-titled debut single as Babyshambles with a hastily arranged group of musicians. The limited edition single was issued on CD and 7-inch vinyl through High Society Records. A more permanent line-up coalesced around Doherty, Patrick Walden (b. 5 October 1978, England; guitar), Drew McConnell (b. 10 November 1978, Dublin, Eire; bass) and Gemma Clarke (b. England; drums). The quartet played sold-out venues throughout England and, after signing a recording contract with Rough Trade Records, broke into the UK Top 10 in November with their second single, "Killamangiro".
Doherty's increasingly erratic behaviour was beginning to affect the band's live work, however, and Clarke quit at the start of 2005. Adam Ficek was brought in as her replacement but, in February, Doherty was arrested on suspicion of assaulting documentary filmmaker Max Carlish. He was bailed and decamped to Wales to work on Babyshambles' debut album with producer Mick Jones. Doherty's on/off relationship with supermodel Kate Moss meant he was rarely out of the tabloid press during the summer, with accusations about the couple's drug use a favoured story for the hacks. His status as a musician and talented songwriter was revived when "Fuck Forever' stormed into the UK Top 5 in August, although fans of his former band questioned the wisdom of re-recording former Libertines" live favourite "Albion" for the next Babyshambles single. Rather predictably, Down In Albion failed to live up to all the hype surrounding Doherty, although flashes of brilliance on this misguided concept album served as a reminder of his wayward talent.
Doherty continued to grace the tabloids over the course of the next two years and any hopes of his career being salvaged began to look increasingly unlikely. It came as something of a major shock when Babyshambles returned at the end of 2007 with the rather good Shotter's Nation, an album that was as purposeful and energetic as the debut had been misguided and bitty.
