Babyshambles open up

Drew and Pete talk to Steve Lamacq

12 Oct 07 - Babyshambles have given their first radio interview since Pete left rehab.

Bassist Drew McConnell and frontman Pete Doherty talked to 6 Music's Steve Lamacq about the making of new album, Shotters Nation:

"We were a unit this time out, a lot more so than before. It wasn't so much a plan, we were just there together and it helped that we had someone there to knock us into shape as well."

That 'someone' was producer Stephen Street. Pete admitted that his influence was crucial.

"Looking back, it was really important. I don't know how - not to blow to me own trumpet - but he got a good vocal performance out of me that I'm dead proud of."

Drew agreed:

"He got the best out of all of us really. It was obvious that he knew what we were capable of and he wasn't going to stop until he got what he knew what he could get."

Pete added:

"He sat us down at one point actually and said 'if you carry on like this I'm going home. I like your songs but it's just sad to see the state that you're getting in.' It was an ultimatum really. That was half way through the second week and we realised we did. We did wanna make it, so we go on with it. He was a task master. He was a disciplinarian."

"He sat us down at one point and said,'if you carry on like this I'm going home.' "
Pete Doherty on working with album producer Stephen Street

Pete admits that his song writing has become less introverted on this album:

"There's less cut-up narratives and more simple home-spun conversational tales. I've always been one who has failed to learn from past mistakes, but we did something very different this time. We've had different results. We've had positive reviews or reviews that write about the record; writing about the sound, writing about the songs which is a bit of a novelty."

Pete's due back in court next week for a treatment review hearing.

It will be his first time back in front of a judge since leaving rehab. "I'm kind of healthy physically. I'm a bit wobbly. But one day at a time."

You can listen back to the full interview by clicking here.

Jacqueline Springer