The singer-songwriter has released the third single from his upcoming solo album, ‘Felt Better Alive’, which is accompanied by a gothic music video filmed at Doherty’s house in Normandy, France.

Staring Doherty and his wife Katia deVidas, the breathless video features The Libertines frontman as ‘The Baron’ whilst deVidas plays ‘The Lady’. Check it out below.

The new release follows on from the first two previews of his fifth solo album, the title track ‘Felt Better Alive’ and the serene single ‘Calvados’.

Speaking of ‘The Day The Baron Died’, Doherty said: “I always thought it was a weird jazz number, with a silly, catchy little melody.

“It’s kind of a homage to John Lennon’s ‘Instant Karma’, not the lyrics but the weird off time drum fill in the chorus. And I’m not gonna explain what the song’s about because I’m working on a follow up!”

The upcoming album promises to be full of craftsmanship and character, with Doherty taking much inspiration from his now subdued life in the North of France. 

Speaking on the inspiration of the second single, ‘Calvados’, Doherty said: “Where I live there’s a fellow in town, he’s got a shop that specialises in Calvados and ciders; the apple juice becomes cider becomes Calvados.

“He took me on a tour of all the old Calvados makers, in his van, place to place, staying with them. It’s that story.” said the Babyshambles singer-songwriter.

Doherty has also announced the exciting news that his live band will be joined for multiple dates this summer by The Smiths drummer Mike Joyce.

The musician is set to appear as an “extra special guest” at numerous gigs, including Doherty’s shows at The Great Escape in Brighton, Southend’s Lazydays Festival, Port Talbot’s In It Together Festival and more including dates in Europe.

Doherty will be looking to continue his success in recent years after The Libertines topped the charts with their fourth studio album ‘All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade’ in 2024.

Speaking to NME in January, Doherty explained how this album came about after the songs “didn’t seem right” for The Libertines, saying: “They were all written around the same time; around the time I was working on The Libertines’ new album but they didn’t seem right for it.

“It’s not that they were rejected by the band, but in order for it to be a Libertines song, it has to be really me and Carl [Barât]. These are songs that are me, really.”

‘Felt Better Alive’ is set to be released on Friday 16 May and is available to pre-order here.

Doherty will be performing at numerous festivals in the UK this summer, as well as marking the albums release on an already sold out in-store tour, including stops in Leeds, Liverpool, Nantwich, Kingston and London.

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The single, named after the Normandy native alcohol where the rock star lives with his wife and daughter, pays tribute to a local seller set near him. The frontman is also set to teach at the university of Normandy this year. Speaking to NME about his inspiration for the song, he said: “Where I live there’s a fellow in town, he’s got a shop that specialises in Calvados and ciders; the apple juice becomes cider becomes Calvados. He took me on a tour of all the old Calvados makers, in his van, place to place, staying with them. It’s that story. The line ‘Slow and steady is the way!/The way it was, the way it is…’, that’s how it is. These farms have been there for generations. You can’t hurry it, you wait for the apples to grow, you wait for the seasons to change, it’s not a laboratory. And at the end you get this incredible elixir. Fire water!”

Along with the song, Doherty invited his fans to get competitive and submit entries to create the music video for the track with winner Natalie Sidorenko/Sad Lip Studio animation being chosen. “I immediately pictured how the loving relationship between the farmer and his wife should be unified with their shared craft: the making of the ‘Calvados’,” Sidorenko said of the final design.

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The ‘What A Waster’ singer will be celebrating the release of his album with in- store performances and signings at five locations across the UK between May 16, the release day for the album to May 21, in Leeds, Liverpool, Nantwich, Kingston and London.

As well as his current tour with band The Libertines, Pete will hit the road with his own UK and Europe Tour this March, April and May. Tickets for both are now available via Ticketmaster.
Album bundles are available from 10 am on Thursday February 27 via https://peterdoherty.orcd.co/instores

Alongside some world class music gracing Essex during the event, Lazydays provides loads of opportunities of fun for everyone. Whether food and drink are your thing, the event will showcase the best craft drinks, artisan and street foods, talks and tastings along with mocktail making masterclasses. Alongside this, there will be arts & crafts, circus skills, street theatre and rocking climbing workshops for attendees to enjoy.

It’s here, the biggest lineup Southend has ever seen! We are proud to present your Lazydays 2025 main stage artists!!

Less than 40% of tier 1 tickets remain so don’t hang around, grab your session, Weekend Pass or VIP ticket today – https://t.co/FhpRNR1WOg pic.twitter.com/ECetOxY2lE

— Lazydays Festival (@lazydaysfest) January 30, 2025

Friday July 25 will see EDM titan Example take the stage. Known for soundtracking the noughties with his genre-defying tracks, ‘Kickstarts’ and ‘Changed The Way You Kiss Me’, Example has had a prominent presence at festivals during the course of his career, performing at Glastonbury, Creamfields, Isle of Wight Festival and more. His reputation for chart-topping tracks and sold-out tours means his set at Lazydays is one you cannot miss.

Joining Example as a headliner is Libertines frontman, Pete Doherty. Ahead of his new teaching role, upcoming European tour and a massive show at Gunnersby Park this summer, fans can expect new music, chart-topping tracks and fan favourites within his highly anticipated solo set. Concluding this year’s headliners lineup is rock band Embrace, and R&B and soul legends Soul II Soul.

To finish their extensive lineup, Lazydays have revealed a number of support acts to join their main headliners. Across the long weekend, the headline performances will be accompanied by exclusive sets from the likes of Katy B, Badly Drawn Boy, The Coral, Maverick Sabre and many more exciting acts.

In the announcement of this year’s event, Lazydays Festival stated: “We’re working hard behind the scenes to make 2025 unforgettable, including a huge second stage of music to be announced with the best up and coming talent in a BRAND NEW tent for 2025”.

With more announcements on the way for one of Essex’s newest festivals, tickets are currently on sale, where individuals interested can purchase tickets for individuals days or for the entire weekend, alongside VIP packages which are in limited availability.

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The event organisers have reiterated this year’s demand for the festival, revealing over 60% of tickets within Tier 1 have been bought. Grab tickets sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment, as this year’s event is bound to be memorable and legendary for all those involved. Information on the event and tickets can be found here.

The unexpected appointment was revealed during a recent appearance on BBC Radio 2’s ‘Tracks of My Years’. Doherty admitted he was initially sceptical about his qualifications for the role, stating with characteristic humour: “I didn’t really feel I was equipped. But I had already cashed the cheque, so I’m going to have to do something”.

GRASSMONSTER SAYS: Pete Doherty, troubadour and eternal enfant terrible, now lectures at a French university.

Teaching “fame and social media” while sidestepping academia himself – an ironic masterstroke or a lesson in misplaced faith?

Let the seminars begin. #PeteDoherty…

— ®©Grassmonster (@grassmonster) January 13, 2025

“I’ve got a year and a half to write four 45-minute essays, so I might have to get myself a phone. I’ll do my best to educate and entertain. But I’ll be strict with the coursework. Anyone listening who thinks it’s going to be a breeze doesn’t know Professor Doherty.” The musician added.

Doherty, who famously dropped out of an English Literature degree at Queen Mary, University of London, is no stranger to academia despite his unconventional path. His sharp wit and literary prowess have always been evident in his songwriting, which often draws on romantic poetry and vivid storytelling. The course, which focuses on fame, celebrity culture, and social media, aligns with Doherty’s personal experiences navigating the pitfalls of public life. Having spent decades in the spotlight, Doherty is uniquely positioned to offer candid insights into the pressures of modern fame and its impact on mental health and creativity.

How did I not know that Pete Doherty was born in the same year as me + studied English literature at Queen Mary in MY year! So this means this beautiful soul on my wall was likely walking past me in halls?! Maybe even sat in my lecture hall with me?! Wow @BBCRadio2 interviewpic.twitter.com/XDs4jUzmv2
— Jo Burford (@JoBurford_) January 15, 2025

Despite his current commitments with The Libertines, including a recent tour, Doherty is expected to juggle his music career with his teaching duties. The musician has moved to Normandy in 2020. The university’s program allows for flexibility, with guest lectures and workshops likely to form the core of his involvement.

Doherty also spoke about his interest in returning to formal education, noting: “I’d love to do that. I think about that quite a lot”. While his teaching role might be temporary, it marks a fascinating convergence of his musical and intellectual pursuits.

Frontman Peter Doherty, Carl Barât (vocals/guitar), John Hassell (bass) and Gary Powell (drums) have established perhaps their most evolutionary sound yet, and are now a world away from precarious nights out and run-ins with the law.

A tale of two ideas, Carl and Peter co-wrote ‘Shiver’ together. Speaking on the making of the single, Carl commented: “Peter had a song and I had a song and we mashed them up and did it collaboratively.”

“I would probably find it difficult to work out who did what because we were both there the whole time through its creation. It should really be called ‘The Last Dream Of Every Dying Soldier’, but everyone liked the title ‘Shiver’,” Peter added.

Directed by Alex Brown, the ‘Shiver’ music video is a ‘Bergmanesque seaside funeral of a pearly king’, captured in a moody, cinematic black and white. The video stars all four members alongside a cast of eccentric characters who appear on the sleeve artwork, a strange yet endearing caricature of cockney and seaside culture, as well as the crossover between old school and modern day working-class Britain. The video was shot in Cliftonville, Margate and at The Libertines’ hotel The Albion Rooms, and is the third instalment in a series of Margate-themed videos, following on from their first single ‘Run, Run, Run‘ and ‘Night Of The Hunter‘.

Produced by Grammy-nominated producer Dimitri Tikovoï and recorded at The Albion Rooms in Margate, the album was created in just four weeks between February and March 2023 and finalised over seven days at La Ferme de Gestein Studios in Normandy.

Additional production and mixing were also finalised by Dan Grech-Marguerat, known for his work with Lana Del Rey, Liam Gallagher and Sir Paul McCartney. The band will be putting on a series of intimate gigs around the UK over the coming weeks, and will also be recording a session at BBC Maida Vale Studios later this month for broadcast on Radio 2’s ‘Piano Room’ in February.

‘All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade’ is out on March 8 2024 and is available to preorder here. The album will be available on CD, deluxe CD, 12” vinyl in limited edition coloured variants, deluxe double vinyl cassette and digital download.

Having already performed this week at Stockton Arc and Liverpool’s Cavern Club, you can still catch The Libertines in all of their glory on the dates below.

January

25/01/2024 – Milton Keynes – MK11
27/01 – Cardiff – Clwb Ifor Bach
28/01 – Derby – Hairy Dog
29/01 – Lincoln – Drill Hall

February

11/02 – Falmouth – Pavilions
12/02 – Southampton – Engine Room
14/02 – Stoke – Underground
15/02 – Leeds – The Wardrobe
16/02 – Glasgow – Oran Mor

Doherty, the frontman of indie rock band The Libertines, had become notorious for his struggles with substances and his run-ins with the law during the late 2000s and 2010s. Now attempting sobriety, he has reflected on his chaotic past with Louis Theroux.

A real pleasure to catch up with @louistheroux

Catch up now on @BBCiPlayer #louistherouxinterviews pic.twitter.com/FmOnG2VdV6

— Peter Doherty (@petedoherty) November 16, 2023

When questioned on his health, Doherty shared, “You are looking at a very sick man. I’ve battered it, haven’t I, I’ve fucking caned it. [The] heroin and the crack… I surrendered to that, and then it was cocaine and the smoking and the alcohol, and now it’s cheese and the saucisson, and the sugar in the tea.”

He continued, “It’s all gotta go. They told me a little while ago if you don’t change your diet then you’re gonna have diabetes and cholesterol problems. Death’s lurking, you know what I mean? That’s why I carry that stick.”

Doherty also shared that he doesn’t believe he will be able to see his daughter, Billie-May (born in June of this year) grow up. When Theroux suggested living another 25 years to see his daughter start a family of her own, Doherty responded, “That’s a stretch though, isn’t it.”

Theroux also asked Doherty what advice he would give to someone interested in dabbling in drugs, to which Doherty replied, “My life in using was so chaotic and the consequences of [it]… You’ll be in prison and you’ll fuck your body up and you’ll be skint and you’ll lose your family and you’ll lose everything you love. Is it really that good? That’s beyond curiosity, that’s a right mess. I still get tingles thinking about it, but I’m able to talk to you rather than running off and scoring.”

Doherty also delves into other highly publicised aspects of his life throughout the interview, including his relationship with supermodel Kate Moss and his feud with former Libertines bandmate Carl Barat. Barat revealed that Doherty’s addictions caused a rift in the band, leading to The Libertines performing without Doherty.

Discussing Pete Doherty following the interview, Theroux shared, “I was surprised by how funny he was, I was surprised that (maybe I shouldn’t haven’t been) his recovery still seemed precarious, and I would say that maybe I was sort of surprised by his level of openness.”

Theroux continued, “I suppose everyone curates a persona that they present in public and I’m sure he does as well, but his curatorial choice seemed to be that he’ll speak about anything. Occasionally he deflects a bit, but I never felt that he was especially unwilling to talk about stuff, so it’s a very soul-bearing interview.”

Watch Louis Theroux Interviews: Pete Doherty here.

All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade is a follow up to 2015’s Anthems For A Doomed Youth, representing a long 8 year wait for the band to release a new full length album. The lead single ‘Run, Run, Run’ is sonically a throwback to classic Libertines tracks from their breakout albums in the noughties, however lyrically speaks of the dangers of grabbing towards that past. Frontman Carl Barat spoke about the track, as he said: “It’s about being trapped, and trying to escape your dismal life, a bit like the man in Bukowski’s Post Office, the worst thing for The Libertines would be to get stuck in a ‘Run-run-run’ rut – constantly trying to relive our past.”

The new album consists of 11 tracks and was produced by Dimitri Tikovoï, who has previously worked with the likes of Charli XCX. The band recorded the album at The Albion Rooms in Margate in only four weeks across February and March earlier this year. The band then finished up the album at La Ferme de Gestein Studios in Normandy, France. The new album was mixed by Dan Grech-Marguerat, who has worked with likes of Paul McCartney and Liam Gallagher.

As previously reported, the band had begun working on the album in Jamaica before heading back to Margate to create and bring the album to it complete form. Co-frontman Pete Doherty spoke of the sessions, as he said: “We really came together as a band for a moment of rare peace and unity, with all the members contributing.”

Talking further about the new album, Pete Doherty said: “I feel like we’ve completed a cycle of some kind as a band, and finally now we can add these songs to the setlist, because we’ve got some bangers in there. Now we’ve opened the hotel and used the studio ourselves and it’s all worked out – more Libertines records? I should hope so!”

Carl Barat also added: “Our first record was born out of panic, and disbelief that we were actually allowed to be in a studio; the second was born of total strife and misery; the third was born of complexity; this one feels like we were all actually in the same place, at the same speed, and we really connected.”

The album shares a name with an anti-war novel from Erich Maria Remarque and the album artwork is a tribute to Margate, representing the location of which the album was recorded. All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade will be available on CD, Deluxe, 12” Vinyl, Deluxe Double Vinyl and Cassette on March 8^th, and will also be available for digital download and on streaming services.

Tracklist:

1. ‘Run Run Run’
2. ‘Mustang’
3. ‘Have A Friend’
4. ‘Merry Old England’
5. ‘Man With The Melody’
6. ‘Oh Shit’
7. ‘Night Of The Hunter’
8. ‘Baron’s Claw’
9. ‘Shiver’
10. ‘Be Young’
11. ‘Songs They Never Play On The Radio’

The documentarian further elaborated, “Like the first six Louis Theroux Interviews, each show mixes stylish master interviews with behind-the-scenes moments and actuality shot on location, so viewers have the double pleasure of a thoughtful in-depth conversation alongside a revealing look into the lives of the contributors: in the locker room post-fight with Anthony Joshua, Raye’s dressing room before her Glastonbury set, Joan Collins’ house in the south of France. The tone of the shows is always open-minded and generous-hearted, while hopefully being funny, and always mindful of the need to keep viewers interested. I like them, and I’m notoriously hard to please.”

Try to remain calm! The BBC was so happy with the first run of the Louis Theroux Interviews that they decided to commission six more episodes featuring entirely new guests! @anthonyjoshua, @AshleyWalters82, @xychelsea, @Joancollinsdbe, @petedoherty and @raye. Please join me as I… pic.twitter.com/mxN9Eo4GFZ

— Louis Theroux (@louistheroux) September 20, 2023

The first series in Theroux’s acclaimed show featured interviews with leading British musical artists Stormzy, Rita Ora and Yungblud. All six episodes of the first series of Louis Theroux Interviews can currently be viewed on BBC iPlayer.

Speaking in an interview with Oliver Spencer, the drummer detailed some of the band’s process in recording the album and exactly when it should be available.

In the interview he said: “We’ve just recorded our latest album. I think we do one every 10 years or so. Yes. So expect the next one to come from the grave! The album comes out in January [2024].”

The timeline adds up considering it was reported that the band was recording in Jamaica some time last year (2022). In an interview, guitarist Pete Doherty said: “We have just been in Jamaica, me and Carl, and we’ve got a new album on the way.”

Drummer Powell has previously spoken a lot about the next Libertines album, as he has said: “The good thing is everybody’s been writing. Obviously, we’re not going to try and reinvent the wheel… but I think we can push the boat out a little more while still bringing something that has the same emotional integrity and dynamism that the audience craves when they come to a Libertines show.”

About the next album, Doherty during a performance at Glastonbury told the crowd: “There are lots of things on the table – some really good, strong and melodic rock’n’roll songs.”

Frontman Carl Barat has also previously spoken about the next album, as he said: “Sonically, we want to do something we haven’t done before… I think we’ll be looking to do something with a different energy than before. But we’re not at that stage yet.”

The band started work on the new album in 2019, as the band expressed interest in taking the album into many different musical directions with Pete Doherty likening the album’s potential sonic diversity to Sardinstra by The Clash – he said: “Carl wants to do a ‘Sandinista’ thing with all these mad ideas that we’ve got, so we’ll have all these freestyle things and folky things, then there’s the more traditional Doherty/Barat songs,”

One new song has been detailed by the band; a track named ‘Shiver’ which the band seem particularly fond of. About the song, Doherty said the track has “got a real sentimental hark back”, which must mean a stylistic return to old-school Libertines tracks. Co-frontman Barat was in agreement, claiming “Yeah, ‘Shiver’’s great. I was listening to that last night, actually.”

At the 19th Zurich Film Festival’s Sounds section, musician Peter Doherty will present the World Premiere of PETER DOHERTY: STRANGER IN MY OWN SKIN. In addition to this highlight, the Sounds section offers even more music film screenings: https://t.co/48VgjSWH37 pic.twitter.com/qYRRxVusfd

— Zurich Film Festival (@zurichfilmfest) August 29, 2023

Stranger In My Own Skin will be presented by Doherty and feature a live performance during the Zurich Film Festival which runs from the 28th of September through to the 8th of October. The film will document the singer’s rise to fame with the band The Libertines but also feature the drug addictions that plagued Doherty’s career, causing lengthy absences away from the band and legal troubles.

The film will debut at the festival as part of the Sounds section, launching last year, and examines subject matter with a musical theme or soundtrack. Stranger In My Own Skin will premier alongside various other films centred around music, including a biopic on Anita Pallenberg, Catching Fire-The Story Of Anita Pallenberg.

Speaking about the premier of the documentary, Zurich Film Festival artistic director Christian Jungen said, “the biopic chronicles the British rock star who, after reaching the pinnacle of his career, sinks into the depths of a serious drug addiction. His wife, director and musician Katia deVidas, followed the wild life of The Libertines frontman at close quarters for over 10 years. We’re looking forward to welcoming them both to Zurich.”

The documentary follows the 2022 release of Doherty’s memoir A Likely Lad, chronicling the musician’s frank and honest experiences with the turbulent aspects of his career. The memoir offers an intimate look at Doherty’s self-destructive behaviours, addictions and stint in prison due to the burglary of fellow Libertines musician Carl Barat’s house.

Doherty formed The Libertines with Barat in the late 1990s in London and gained world-wide success in 2002 with the release of their debut album, Up The Bracket. Doherty himself quickly rose to prominence within the band, with scores of critics praising the frontman for his song-writing abilities. Continuing addiction to drugs caused much friction within the band and led the other members to remove Doherty on more than one occasion.

Although the band officially went on hiatus in 2004, while Doherty sought treatment for his addiction, The Libertines reformed at various times throughout the years, remaining active and releasing an album (their last to date), Anthems For Doomed Youth in 2015.

In between his time with The Libertines, Doherty also formed the band Babyshambles, releasing three studio records and Pete Doherty And The Puta Madres-formed by Doherty and members of his touring band. The band has released a single eponymous studio album in April of 2019.

Doherty will be performing a handful of shows in France this autumn. Tickets can be found here. You can purchase his book here.

Pete Doherty Tour:

30/09/2023 – Theatre Alexandre Dumas – Saint-Germain–en-Laye, France
17/10 – Olympia – Arcachon, France
21/10 – Grande Salle, Chateau Rouge – Annemasse, France
22/10 – La Cooperative de Mai – Clermont-Ferrand, France
23/10 – La radiant-Bellevue – Caluire et Cuire, France
25/10 – 6MIC – Aix-en-Provence, France
26/10 – La Belle Electrique – Grenoble, France
27/10 – Le Bikini – Ramonville St Agne, France