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After pulling up a pew next to Barat and bandmate Anthony Rossomando,
there's a chuckle, almost of disbelief, when I cut straight to the chase.
So why are you guys really splitting up then?
"It's just a time for a change," mutters a recently single
Barat matter-of-factly. "Sometimes it's just necessary."
So, there's no in-band fighting or fisticuffs?
"No," adds Carl in between a puff of a Marlboro Light and
a considered pause.
"We probably get on better now than we have done in months."
It's been a funny time for Dirty Pretty Things.
After leaving the druggie dramas of former band The Libertines and Pete
Doherty behind in 2004, Barat began a new mission.
He set about to create the kind of life-affirming music oozing attitude
and likely to get kids to pick up a guitar and start annoying the hell
of their neighbours.
Compromising of fellow Libertine Gary Powell, the annoyingly and effortlessly
cool Didz Hammond and New Yorker Anthony Rossomando Dirty Pretty Things
were ready to rock.
Their first single Bang Bang You're Dead, rumoured to be about ex-Libertine
and notorious heroin pin-cushion Doherty, crash landed into the charts
and hearts with such ease.
The three minutes and a half of rancour and attitude was just a taste
of great things yet to come.
Debut album Waterloo To Anywhere was the sound of a band, as The Clash
would say, in love with the rock and roll world.
Critics, music-lovers, groupies, suited record label types and hangers-on
all wanted a piece of the action.
And who could blame them?
But then the music industry is a fickle business. (Barat will later
sarcastically say "four months is a long time in the music industry".)
Work on a follow-up soon began, and the band jetted out to LA to record
a more poppy second album.
While things sounded hunky-dory, the reality was very different.
The sessions were fractious and tense, with Barat saying that the band
"crawled out of that proverbial hole" they had dug themselves
into.
When Romance at Short Notice was released, sales were slow and reviews
less than favourable.
Guitarist Anthony Rossomando.
"Our record label wanted to turn us in to a pop band and that didn't
fit us at all," he ruefully admits.
"Musically, we come from a DIY background. Perhaps we should not
have let them meddle so much."
Unwittingly, they had created a monster.
Days before their second album was released, Barat ended up in hospital
after suffering from severe stomach pains — citing a mixture of
prescription drugs and "possibly too much drink".
By October, enough was enough.
Less than three years after forming, Dirty Pretty Things decided to
call it quits.
It was either kill the band off or see their friendships falter.
Barat, who is now chomping on a slice of barbecue pizza, said: "Perhaps
it was a bit hasty at first, but we have learned to live with the decision."
"It's better we go our separate ways now," added Rossomando.
"It's never a good idea to light a fire under your bed."
So, on December 6, their plush-looking tour-bus rolled in to Swansea.
And within moments of visiting the city, which bassist Didz described
as being like Royston Vasey, they hit the shops.
A few quid later, Barat arrived back at Sin City with an impulse buy
— two pellet guns and ammo.
However, the most surprising purchase award went to drummer Gary Powell.
He arrived back from town with a bow tie. Ahem.
"I've got a penchant for them — I've got hundreds," he
says proudly without the slightest hint of embarrassment.
Come 10pm, 30 minutes later than scheduled, the band take to the stage
for their last ever Welsh show.
While musically tight, it all sounds a bit sluggish and slow.
On-stage banter and audience interaction is virtually non-existent.
It perhaps wasn't going out in a blaze of glory like perhaps fans had
wanted.
While the fires of passion may have been extinguished, Dirty Pretty
Things still manage to play a reasonable song set without so much as
a mistake.
Back in the dressing room afterwards, the band seem to be making the
most of re-establishing their friendships.
Bassist Didz Hammond, who must be the only person in rock to look cool
despite wearing a skinny t-shirt, braces and gaffer-taped pointy shoes,
chats amicably about rugby.
Rossomando excitedly declares his love of Curb Your Enthusiasm, complete
with a first-rate Larry David impersonation.
The stylish Yank also ends up being the butt of dressing room jokes
after he launched an online appeal for the return of a mobile phone
with "irreplaceable content". No-one says what exactly was
on the phone, but those in the know exchange knowing glances in-between
giggles.
Powell, who is possibly the nicest man in rock since Dave Grohl, has
all the charm and style of an English cad.
And Barat, after a quick power nap, continues his fascination with his
new-found pellet gun.
Countless beers as well as Jack and Cokes later, tour manager Max Mistery
(yes that is his real name) gets a call on his mobile saying the driver
is outside and that it's time to go.
The band willingly chat to fans, sign CDs and pose for photos before
the coach is loaded up and they head back down the M4.
Barat is sure they'll get back together in the future, but for now it's
still all up in the air.
Although there is a slight air of defeat around the 30-year-old after
tonight's gig, there still lies a twinkle of mischievousness in his
eyes.
He said: "Our last ever gig is going to be in Hertfordshire University
and we'll probably let the groupies choose the set list.
"It's good not to take things so seriously."
And with that, he and his bandmates head off in to the night.
Where they go from here, nobody knows.
Words Ben Wright, live pix by Camille
www.dirtyprettythingsband.com/
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usicm
the 3rd album?