At the tender age of 43, it seems Pete Doherty is finally slowing down, and in a good way. Being sober for over two years has seemingly given The Libertines/Babyshambles singer-songwriter a new lease of life, something he seems very grateful for in a new interview with The Guardian.

Despite having a new memoir out next month (called A Likely Lad), Doherty seems to have given audiences a bit of an early teaser into his personal life with this new interview, discussing topics such as watching The Simpsons in prison as well as his new drug-free lifestyle.

According to him, a big open secret to sobriety is lots of love and support, crediting his marriage to Katia de Vidas back in 2021 as being a big help, saying “Marriage is the bolster; I have the love and support of someone I love. I’m blessed to be alive, not sat in a hedge in Old Street, injecting into my groin.” He’s also in recent times credited his collaboration with French composer Frédéric Lo (more of which you can read about here), as well as spending lockdown in Normandy, as helping separate him from his former lifestyle.

On the whole, Doherty’s big problems are hopefully a thing of the past, with him seeming to have put it all behind him now. “I’ve managed to get out of the addictive cycle – which I maintained all along I was quite happy in – but I was pretty fucked, and I’ve never really admitted to that.” He describes his current state as “a phase of rejuvenation”.

Even in his darkest moments though, he had some sources of comfort, namely a popular American sitcom. Aside from smoking, the occasional airing of The Simpsons was one of the best pastimes on offer apparently, with Doherty getting “excited when they showed The Simpsons at 6 pm. My cellmate would say: “What are you watching this for? It’s shit,” and I’d say: “No, it’s subversive and interesting.”

There are also some details on his childhood when he would often move around Europe and England, as well as fights with paparazzi and an interesting detox method in Thailand; “my two security guards took me from Heathrow … to projectile vomit with the Thai monks at Tham Krabok …. You’re supposed to do it three times and vow to the gods that you will never take drugs again upon pain of death”.

As for tour dates, The Libertines are celebrating the twentieth anniversary of their debut album (Up the Bracket) with a special performance in London’s Wembley Arena. If you fancy seeing them live then you can look here. As for Doherty, his UK dates can be seen below, with a performance tonight in Liverpool’s Arts Club. Tickets can be found here.

Pete Doherty UK Tour Dates
16/05/2022 – Arts Club – Liverpool
18/05 – The Lemon Tree – Aberdeen
19/05 – Tower Ballroom – Hull
20/05 – Cambridge Junction – Cambridge