The Libertines
Cambridge Boat Race
October 2nd 2002
Heralded by the likes of NME as the next big thing,
The Libertines have been turning heads where ever they go. Having already
supported The Pistols and been produced by Mick Jones, R*E*P*E*A*T caught
up with them on the eve of the release of Up The Bracket
to find out if they are really the next new wave of new wave or just
more indie chancers.
- (Looking at R*E*P*E*A*Ts Fuck the Jubilee issue)
Youve been working hard havent you. When did you put this
out?
*Late as usual. We put out a single too to celebrate the Jubilee,
a split 7 with Neo and The Virgin Suicides. Ive probably
got one in my bag if youve got a record player.
- Yeah. (looks at very battered 7 from the bottom of Roseys
bag). What a great present this is! Coloured vinyl too!!
* So The Libertines - who, what and why?
- (reading from Neo interview in R*E*P*E*A*T) Greg, Kirsty and Glen.
Why? because we want to do something different from the usual banal
poppy (so called punk) shit that weve been hearing lately.
* What, you mean American punk?
- No I was just reading from your old issue! No, its me (Peter)
and John, Carl and Gary, because we met and fell in love.
* What about the name?
- It chose us really! One really windy day when the doorman was late
at a venue, someone left us an anonymous package and it was a copy of
The Lust of The Libertines by The Marquis de Sade - were
not sadists though. Do I know you? Youve got a really familiar
face...
*Do you like the different connotations of the word as in the sexual
one and the political one?
- Yes, and it had to have an i in it so we could put a little
love heart above it.
* Its got two is in it...
- We used to spell it Liberteens until we stopped being
teenagers. Apart from John who still is.
* Whos A Waster?
- You are. Our support bands are. We are.
* What did you think when you heard about the affair between John
Major and Edwina Currie?
- Back to basics isnt it? Shes alright you know, she has
very soft hands. She made those Fairy Liquid adverts - its true!
And you remember that film, set in an Irish village with a goat in it,
what was it called?
* I dunno!
- Just say you do know!
* Yes of course, it was Edwina Currie that played the goat!
- Thats right. She played the front half and John Major played
the back.
* You know that single I gave you, and that interview you were reading
out, well Greg from Neo he lives in John Majors back garden. Do
you see yourself as part of the Scene with No Name or any
other scene?
- No, absolutely not. But I have danced with Seymour (Seymour Glass
of Miss Black America - Ed). He had writing all over him. I think theyre
more pop than punk anyway. We enjoy jamming with other bands but we
dont ally ourselves with them. Weve only just stuck our
heads out of our rabbit hole after five years, we were called The Strand
for about a week, I liked that name, and then when we played with the
Sex Pistols I said to Glenn Matlock that I used to be in a band called
The Strand and he gave me the funniest look, and then I remembered that
when The Pistols had Wally Nightingale playing for them they were called
The Strand!
* What was it like supporting the Pistols?
- It was a great day, I loved it! It was the best mosh pit, we got bottled
which I thought was a sign of affection. The Pistols bottled the crowd!
* Did you get the feeling you were booked to give the gig some credibility
or to help sell a few more tickets?
- I got the feeling we were booked as a comedy warm up, like a compere
in the old days! We went on in army jackets and the crowd were saying
fuckin hell its the Beatles, we felt like playing
Yellow Submarine!
* Who does your art work?
- We do, it just has to be that way.
* What are your hopes for what the album can achieve?
- Its already achieved what we wanted, its something were
proud of and like listening and dancing to.
* Are you looking forward to playing with Supergrass?
- Yeah! We played with them the other week at the 12 Bar Club, just
jamming, we were well out of time, we asked if we could get up and do
something and everyone left!
* Thats that tiny place with a very low ceiling? The Virgin
Suicides played their the other week. What size venues do you think
youll be playing with Supergrass?
- The Academies in Birminghan, Manchester and Bristol, Barrowlands,
places like that. Bigger than weve done before. I dont know
if theyve sold out, have they still got a big following?
* I dont know, I guess theyve reached their peak and
are on the way down. But Ive seen the new single on MTV...
- (singing) Save your money for the children, woo hoo hoo...
* What do you listen to when youre hoovering?
- We sing The Las to each other.
* How did you get to work with Mick Jones?
- He just turned up at a rehearsal with loads of alcohol. He heard a
cry in the darkness and that was us.
* Whats best, chips or cream buns?
- Chips with gravy. And saveloy, trotters and fish cakes.
* How much of what youve told me has been true?
- All of it, 100%. Apart from the bit about the goat.
Thanks to the band for their time and to Janine at
Coalition for setting things up.
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