“Fucking fucked up” indeed. From MTV News:
Troubled British singer Pete Doherty interrupted a recent MTV Germany interview with his band Babyshambles by squirting a syringe full of what appeared to be his own blood at the camera.“That was a wicked shot,” Doherty said afterward, smiling as his bandmembers looked on in shock.
“I’m really sorry about this,” guitarist Drew McConnell replied, apologizing to the crew as he left the room. “That’s f—ing f—ed up.”
And … there’s video!
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ya know yeah purty disgusting – but this is rock n’ roll y’know – remember the sex pistols? early stones? shit – there’s only so much coldplay behavior we can stand
what a jackass. i still don’t get why anybody cares about that guy.
Why doesn’t get it all over with and just die?
We should send TED NUGENT over there to take care of him!
hah best response ever
Well, ya see…the reason people cared in the first place is, he made a couple of indisputably classic records with the libertines, and the Babyshambles record, while unfocused and a few tracks too long, is really fucking good. So, it isn’t like he is famous for no reason. The tabloids continue to write about his antics, and he continues to provide fuel for that fire.
I wish he would clean up, and just get back to making records, but if you look up the definition of the word Libertine, it isn’t hard to understand why he does what he does. If any of you have dismissed this dude without listening to the records, I’d recommend starting with the song Fuck Forever off of the Babyshambles record. Classic.
While I don’t think drug use, and blood squirting are acts of model behaviour, I do think that he has chosen to have all of his downfalls appear in public, which makes all of this so much worse. I am sure there were times when Bowie, Iggy Pop, Keith Richards or anyone else were wallowing in the same drug-filled haze, and decided to do it within the confines of a french chateau, as opposed to the cover of the Daily Mirror. Which is worse? It isn’t for me to say, but I do know that Pete Doherty embodies a real sense of danger that not many others could match. And if you take the danger out of rock and roll, what are you left with? Keane?
It does make you feel sorry for the rest of the band…
I’d hardly call either of the Libertines albums or the Babyshambles album an indisputable classic. Fuck him and his behavior. He wants attention and he’s getting it. Hopefully when he dies in the near future he won’t get the idol treatment people seem to get when they die young.
sick!
Dear Pete,
You can’t be the new Kurt Cobain if you have no talent.
Sincerely
Fred
wanker. hack. effed-up nobody.
and lastly,
tired.
cant find it on overdrive anymore.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDI9icmwe48
I love this guy, he’s no poseur.
i’ve got a love/hate thing with this guy. i’m nonplussed by this video.
hell yes, dan and daniel. of course the second album isn’t a classic, but the guy’s behavior makes it a classic story. he defines the word rock star.
i think the fact he did it on mtv news makes it alright. now they’re literally sucking his blood for good copy.
I can’t see how he is “trying to be Kurt Cobain”? Is that want YOU think he is trying to do. It seems counterintuitive to rip on someone for an act that YOU defined. Aaah, the joys of the internet!
I am continually confounded by people being upset about a musician acting in an unruly manner. Are we now so twee, so impossible pussified, that danger, erratic behavior, and drug use are not only frowned upon by the masses, but within the closed-circuit world of the internet, we take it as a personal affront. The guy is in a ROCK BAND, and clearly cares little for his own personal safety. But I fail to see how that causes anyone else any harm, particularly here in the states. I could see an English person getting pretty tired of seeing his face in the paper every day, much the same as we do anyone the we Americans have put up on a pedistal. But seriously, dudes, toughen up, don’t take it personally. Buy a record, you’ll like it.
even if i didn’t agree with daniel (which i do) i’d have to say a great many of these snipes are misdirected. are you really gonna judge a musician by his behavior? because that would quickly whittle away a lot of the greats–without whom many of your more morally acceptable decendants couldn’t exist.
besides which being a camera operator for mtv is probably a lot less dangerous a job than it should be.
i’m personally pleased that he could have so little respect for mtv as to do such a thing, a compliment i’d give even if i felt less of pete.
it’s not disgusting. its so exciting.
Exciting eh? Perhaps it would be even more exciting if he would have injected the camera man with his AIDS infected blood….
How far are you willing to let him go???
If you were the cameraman, who is just trying to earn a living might I point out, would you still think it was exciting, or would you be disgusted that some juvenile junkie had just squirted his infection in your general direction?
well, the aids virus dies when it hits the air. So apart from, ya know…science, I guess the drycleaning bill would be a bear!
Also, the cameraman was sent BACKSTAGE at a BABYSHAMBLES gig. It isn’t as if a cameraman is blindfolded, shoved in a van and let loose at the gig. He chose to work it.
Also, I an defintely not condoning infecting someone with AIDS, dickbag.
back we come to me having the decency to not work for mtv…it’s only my opinion but i’d saying you’re being way too sympathetic to a media giant who makes their money from this kind of spectacle. i’ll cry for mtv when they kindly drop the m.
“up the bracket” is a classic, and it’s real rockNroll which is rare these days. mtv deserves to be sprayed with junkie blood.
Kind of annoying how Overdrive won’t work for Macusers.
Anyway.
The thing I continue to wonder about is the fact that he keeps getting arrested 8 days a week, but is out again before you can say “Pete Doherty is in jail”. I’m not saying that I think he deserves being locked up or whatever. I’m just wondering. Would it be because cancelling Babyshambles gigs and not showing up would cost his impressario more, so therefore they keep paying to get him out or something ?
Just wondering.
daniel said it all perfectly
in case you haven’t seen him in drag…
For those of you complaining that this is disgusting, or disturbing, what are you a 1950′s suburban family? Upset that he’s not upholding our American moral tradition? If only he’d play nice and write rock-lite, like those sweet coldplay boys. This is such a classic moment in rock…and the fact it was shown on the hell spawn mtv, which has a symbiotic relationship with its downfall makes it all the more sweeter. While his music may not be up to par recently, the libertines stuff was great. The calling out musicians for antics is fine when it’s done by old conservative people but listen to yourself, you’ve gone soft.
Hera,
I have wondered the same thing about his constant legal battles, and I think it can be chalked up to a really good team of lawyers, and very deep pockets. Keep in mind, my understaning is that he still lives in a flophouse, and probably has a manager taking care of his money. I also think it is a case of the press saying “arrested”, when they mean “charged”. By that I meaan, they say “Pete Doherty arrested” and it should say “Pete Doherty been CHARGED with possesion, booked and released on bail.”
Baby wha? f’em
i feel for his family.
I’m disappointed when rock stars who make works that I enjoy have drug addictions, so I guess that makes me a twee pussy.
I really did like Up the Bracket and, despite what Pitchfork says, The Libertines, too. It doesn’t offend me so much as upset me.
he’s so fucking messed up. i feel really bad for his bandmates.
Jamie,
point well taken.
It is a sad state of affairs, but it is HIS state of affairs.
For anytone curious, I am hosting the babyshambles single i mention earlier for a little while.
Here is the link:
Fuck Forever
sorry…
http://www.sonivius.com/volatile/music/babyshambles_fuck_forever.mp3
I fucking love rock stars.
…..you know how this story ends, right?
To all of you who don’t think it’s disgusting, I’m on my way to your houses with a syringe full of pete’s blood…
he’s great regardless of self-destruction and mental illness. hopefully he can sort himself out.
Let him shoot up and fuck up and die all he wants, but he should go right back in jail FOREVER for shooting blood at someone. If someone shot their blood at you, Daniel, I’m certain you wouldnt hold your drink up in the air screaming “ROCK n ROLL!”
I’m a nurse and there are other very nasty things you can get from infected (of any sort) blood.
Not cool. Not rock n’ roll. More like very mentally ILL.
And fucking retarded as well.
A male nurse, cute.
frankie, rock n’ roll = mentally ill. if there’s a better definition for rock n’ roll i’d like to hear it.
So the Beatles aren’t rock and roll??
i’m female, dan
Dan,
Look up Hepatitis C on wiki or someplace. See how its transmitted, and who the risk groups are. Dickweed Doherty’s got no excuse for his f’ed up behavior – could make someone else very sick with a incurable disease. Frankie’s right – NOT Rock n Roll…really f’in stupid.
Mark
(and since you asked, yes, a male nurse)
For the record I am not D.
Ok, if Pete Doherty comes to my house and shoots a vial of blood in my general vicinty I wouldn’t be happy. But honestly, If I work for MTV, and for the past 6 months my coworkers and I have been hounding him trying to get him to comment on his girlfriend, his drug use, who he’s fucking, who he’s fucked over, then you know what…he might have a right to do it. I am not saying the poor camera man deserved it, far from it. I am saying he was a part of a much larger group that I am sure he was aiming (ahem) at!
I am fully aware that diseases can be passed via blood. hence contamination suits, haz-matwaste baskets, etc. Once again, back stage…at a babyshambles gig, does this not factor in at all?
The beatles point is irrelevant, because they aren’t rock and roll. They play rock and roll music, but i think even they’d admit they weren’t very “rock and roll”. It is a stupid term, but we all know what it means. John Lennon might have been rock and roll (ask Nilsson), but Paul McCartney certainly never was. Which is not to say that JET isn’t a great rock and roll song.
The simple fact is I think Pete Doherty is defendable, therefore I am defending him.
I deal with attitudes, and hang-ups everyday, sometimes from the very people you read about here on Stereogum, and I certainly hear a lot of opinions espoused about what is, or is not rock and roll. I would take 100 Pete Dohertys over 100 passive aggresive, no talent, pseudo-intellectual, beardos (come to Philadelphia, you’ll see what I mean about the beards) any day. I assure you Pete Doherty is the real deal. Listen to Albion, Arebours, Up the Bracket, the 32nd of December, Time For Heroes, etc…There is a reason Mick Jones recorded every record he ever put out. As our friends in Harlem might say, Real recognize Real.
exactly Daniel i’m with you
Excuse me for saying so, but FUCK this no talent, nothing-original-to-say, worthless fucking junkie poseur. The guy can’t sing, barely can play an instrument, and his writing is marginal at best. So many of you wannabe jackasses embrace his so-called “rock-and-roll” attitude, but he doesn’t have the talent or the music to back it up. He tries to pull these stunts, or act like he’s so picked on by the media, but guess what guy? If you’re in a band, you get put under public scrutiny, and if you’re a complete jackass under that scrutiny and get arrested for drugs and date supermodels, then you’re going to get even more of it. And you can’t say that because you’re backstage at a Babyshambles show you should anticipate or expect getting blood shot on you or any other vile thing to happen to you (after all, they’re called BABYSHAMBLES, not Blood-Spewing Fuckheads). It doesn’t really matter WHO the band is, this is inexcusable behavior from one human being to another, “rock and roll” attitude or not. This guy is clearly a spoiled rich shit, used to being able to do what he wants without recourse, and needs to have his worthless ass beat.
Spewing out your own junkie blood on anyONE or anyTHING is inexcusable, plain and simple.
And for the record, it’s not that it’s an “offensive” act, it’s just vile and useless and disgusting, and he’s got no message and nothing to say. If he had something to say about the world or government or the media even just rock music I’d be all ears and at least give him a listen and give this stunt a shot, but he isn’t doing that. For all I care tear the walls of society down and rebel amd blah blah blah, fuck yeah…just no need for the message to be carried by a useless tit with nothing interesting to say and no real purpose. It takes away from people who really have something worthwhile to say and are REALLY trying to change something, be that rock or the world or whatever.
Man…I really get a kick out of these non-opinion/he is untalented/high-horse judgement calls! YOU don’t think he has talent, YOU don’t think he has something to say. The truth is that he does have talent, and something to say, you have just never connected with it. I suspect that if you gave it a chance, you might, but by all means don’t do it on my account.
A lot of people have a deep connection with Sufjan Stevens, or Broken Social Scene. I personally think both of those artists are really boring. Does that mean that I go around saying they have NO TALENT, and aren’t successfully “changing the world”. Of course I’m not because 1.) I probably could find things I like in their music, but the cost/benefit doesn’t seem to be worth it, and 2.)I don’t think it is their job or Pete Doherty’s to change the world. Granted those other atrists don’t act like morons on a daily basis, but honestly I do get some gergee or enjoyment out of the theater of it all.
I am curious who you think is “REALLY trying to change something, be that rock or the world?” Unless we are talking about people with a really massive audience (like a Bono or Bruce Springsteen), then I don’t think your argument holds much weight.
GERGEE=DEGREE
Have a Mac/Apple?
Watch the video here:
http://www.witz.org/archives/pete_doherty_staying_classy_with_syringes_blood.html
Ok, so the only thing you seem to be able to take issue with is that I say he’s not talented. I listed why I don’t think he’s talented, and more than just not liking him, I can’t see anything he’s contributed that’s worthwhile. There are TONS of artists that I don’t personally like, but I get why people like them and can at least respect what they’re doing. I don’t like the Beatles, but I respect what they’ve done for music and understand why people do. Don’t much like listening to Bob Dylan, but he’s a hell of a songwriter and I know that what he’s contributed as an artist is worthwhile and has value. Pete Doherty will be remembered for nothing more than his off-stage stupidity, and rightfully so because as far as I can tell (and have heard) his work ON-stage is not worth paying attention to. I’m not saying he has to be on the level of the Beatles or Dylan, but shit, William Hung has had a more useful impact on music or culture or SOMEthing than this guy.
Not that William Hung was who I was thinking of, at the time I think I was thinking of Bloc Party or Radiohead or Beck. I don’t expect every band to make world-changing statements in their music, but their words or music should at least try to contribute something to the music if nothing else, be different, be worthwhile in some way. He wants to act like a rock god, he’d better find a way to back the “rock” part of it up.
Chiming in to say that Daniel is right, this is rock n’ roll.
And blah blah blah if you’re on my way to my house to squirt blood in my face then turn around, because I didn’t say that I was rock n’ roll.
“ya know yeah purty disgusting – but this is rock n’ roll y’know – remember the sex pistols? early stones? shit – there’s only so much coldplay behavior we can stand”
There’s a difference between “rock ‘n roll” “wow, you’re a ROCK STAR” behavior and “wow, you could’ve just infected me right there” behavior.
Quote from Jon,
“He wants to act like a rock god, he’d better find a way to back the “rock” part of it up.”
This makes so little sense it is frightening…
So, you’re saying he is backing up the GOD part of it? Why don’t you leave the witticisms to me and you just keep on being pious and listening to fucking Bloc Party. Yeah man, Bloc Party has really spoken to this generation with that ONE SONG they recorded 12 times for their record.
Also, if “you don’t much like listening to Bob Dylan”, you are a cock.
sex pistols were a put-together boy band and about as dangerous as a cup of tea.
give me a fucking break.
Daniel, stop “contaminating” (wocka wocka!) this forum with your AIDs-infected comments.
You are not rock and roll, you are the embodiment of the abstract concept of verbal diarrhea.
Yeah, sorry Daniel, but that was no kind of argument there. You still can’t separate “liking” a band or artist from one who produces something of value.
And if you’ve been witty anywhere in this discussion, I’m a fucking cougar.
i hear he’s some sort of musician? interesting.
sex pistols were a put-together boy band and about as dangerous as a cup of tea.
give me a fucking break.
Those who knew Nancy Spungen might disagree with your second point…
“sex pistols were a put-together boy band and about as dangerous as a cup of tea.
give me a fucking break.”
Those who knew Nancy Spungen might disagree with your second point…
pete doherty is a legend case closed. up the bracket deserved all the hype the arctic monkeys debut got here in the states. also where is this aids nonsense coming from ? i really doubt he would be that irresponisble to spray aids infected blood. the guy is pretty bright, he got excepted into oxford. so i doubt he would be that reckless and by the way even though he sprayed the blood he came back and performed a song for mtv.
Pete Doherty is a legend like Sid Vicious is a legend…. legendary lack of talent!
Forgive me Jon, I don’t think your views of what is and is not funny to hold much weight. That cougar joke…man, a killer.
Maybe your world changing buddies in Bloc Party can cure Pete Doherty of his diseases!
So, poor Daniel, it looks like you’ve figured out that you don’t really have any kind of argument to defend the guy (which works out for you, because pretty much everything he does is indefensible), because you’ve stopped trying to make any points (or making sense) and just started trying to insult. Hey maybe next week he’ll start raping babies and we can have this same argument all over again! Rock and roll!!!
And for the record, I never said anything about him having any diseases. Not that you’d check or actually read what I wrote, as arguing (and still, humor) don’t seem to be your strong points.