Pete Doherty: Last of the Rock Romantics

by Alex Hannaford

Pete Doherty, erstwhile singer with The Libertines, is a British icon. Whether he is playing impromptu gigs in his front room or performing at Live 8, he possesses a sense of drama and expectation not seen in a performer since Sid Vicious. He is enigmatic, charismatic and thoroughly entertaining. Since leaving The Libertines, his life has become something of a rock 'n' roll soap opera where rumours of crack addiction abound, gossip about his relationship with Kate Moss is rife, and predictions for his future vary wildly. Written by Alex Hannaford, former rock and pop editor on the "London Evening Standard", and with a brand new foreword by Pete's mum, Jackie Doherty, this is the definitive biography of Pete Doherty.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big Pete fan and I got a lot from reading this book. Well worth picking up.

Five stars.

[Lucile · Rating 2 out of 5]

"aside from those who simply like the music, there are the girls who want him as a 'sensitive and sympathetic soul mate', and the boys who like the image and aggression" (i just threw up in my mouth a little bit. my eyes are burning and i think i might have died)

"byron’s private life was scandalous but barnes says many of the allegations were untrue. the same goes for pete doherty. the media likes to exaggerate his drug-taking; stories have abounded about promiscuity, gay sex, time spent working as a rent boy, living in drug-fuelled debauchery" (gay sex!!!!! how outrageous!!!!!!!!!! thank you mr hannaford for repeatedly stating that peter doherty is in fact Normal and not A Dirty Queer)

[Anna Howorth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only ever got as far as p.299 of this book, and that was a struggle. A year later and I've decided never to finish it - there are too many well-written books in the world to bother wasting my time on this. Literally the worst writing I've ever read. This book reads like a tabloid, with about as little insight/actual content.

[Emily King · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the best biographies I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Pete Doherty is a fascinating sonofabitch, and is wonderfully portrayed here.

[Lydia Graham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Massive fan of Pete and the Libertines but this took me nearly 2 months to read as it was just so boring?! My issue with it is that it’s written like a magazine article and that gets really boring to read for 300+ pages. There’s a lot of lengthy paragraphs and information about other musical artists too which I wasn’t bothered about reading. Oh and the author gets Pete’s birthday wrong twice.

[Sarah Blyther · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great insight into Peter Doherty who i knew little about before .
Well worth a read, really enjoyed it.

[Jimmy Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this. Gets to the heart of the likely lad.

[Rob Green · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite transactional and bland

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for any fan of Pete or anyone interested in the world of rock music, drugs and celebrity.

Pete Doherty's life is dramatic and interesting as there are so many ways one can see him: the tragic hero, the genius among simpletons, the junkie scumbag and the lost romantic. The way the book is written brings in ideas not just attached to Doherty, but from everywhere. From scientific analysis of drug addicts to British poets and American rock stars, this book finds answers from everywhere.

I know I should be ashamed to say it, but I'm not: This book is life-defining.

[Daylight · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I'm such a pathetic Anglophile, especially when it comes to music lately, it seems, I had to order this book and one on the Libertines as I adore Mr. Doherty and Babyshambles. Even though he may not see 2008, he's a musical genius. Well, almost.

Pretty straight forward. Enjoyable. Nothing earth shattering, though. Not recommeded for anyone who has never heard of Pete Doherty, Babyshambles or the Libertines. In which case you'll wonder why such a man stirs up any sort of praise.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy reading this book much at all. It was recommended to me by my boyfriend - who loves Pete Doherty. I've never really been too keen on the icon that is Pete Doherty, but read it anyway just to see if I found it interesting.
I didn't really. It's all very 'He did this which was a scandal and then he did this which upset fans ... but we all still love him' etc.
But for fans, I probably would recommend it.

[Lindsay Valot · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is written by someone who loves Pete and his music, so it is kind of like a cheering him on kind of story. It is told with some bias towards Pete, but I think this is rightfully so considering the negative bias with which everyone else uses in their contributions. Cheers.

[Chris Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This should be read by anyone who thinks hes nothing more than a junkie...in my eyes he is a genius, very good insight into the man