Pete Doherty At Manchester Ritz 3rd October 2008

The Babyshambles frontman goes it alone for a rare solo show at The Ritz.

Pete Doherty is a modern cautionary tale. Having reached dizzy heights as the universally acclaimed frontman of cult indie group The Libertines, he fell from grace in spectacular style as his increasing fondness for drugs took hold. Before long, his musical career played a weak second fiddle to tabloid stories about his personal life, with his heroin and crack cocaine addiction, prison sentences and ill-fated romance with Kate Moss.

However, if you look beyond his tag as the UK’s most famous junkie, Pete Doherty remains an astonishing creative force. After being thrown out of The Libertines, he went on to form Babyshambles, which continues to draw in huge crowds, despite the probability that the frontman won’t turn up. He has released books of poetry, been invited to hold an exhibition of his own paintings, even performed at the Royal Albert Hall.

Perhaps part of the fascination with Doherty is the knowledge that he is so utterly unpredictable. It could be that this solo show, a rare appearance without the band to carry the slack, will fall prey to the singer’s demons. But it could also be a gig you will remember all your life. Are you willing to take the chance?