This summer saw them doing things other bands can only dream of - supporting The Strokes, The Vines and appearing at the Reading/Leeds Festivals.

BBC Southampton's Indy Almroth-Wright climbed aboard The Libertines' tour bus for a chat before their gig at The Joiners in Southampton.

Has the sudden thrust into stardom been a bit daunting for you?
Pete: We've been given an opportunity if we want stardom - I don't think we've exactly got stardom at the moment, but the machinery's all there.

How do you feel being filed alongside the likes of The Strokes and The Hives?
Carl: It seems only natural in a way, you can't blame people.
Pete: To be honest I don't mind because you can't complain about people calling you this and calling you that as long as they get the name of the band right
John: If you're trying to describe a band you need to have a reference to go by.

Describe your sound in three words.....
Pete: Innocent, emotional and simple
Carl: Simple is definitely what I'd describe your music as!

John

Who or what has inspired you?
Carl: Sid James and Sid Vicious.
Pete: Whatever it is that gives you that feeling inside to get out of bed, get out of London and do something. Whatever inspires you to do that - to be alive and to dream.

How have you all taken to your first tour?
Pete: I've had a few nasty surprises and a few pleasant surprises - acts of random violence and acts of random goodwill. It all adds up to a complete tablet of chaos that you have to swallow - but they never told me it was going to be a suppository!

What's been the best venue so far?
Pete: I'd say Leicester, it was completely barmy.
John: Yeah, it was a great atmosphere.

What's your favourite smell?
Carl: I like the smell of my Grandma's soap - I used to sit in the bath and eat it.
John: Felt tips.
Pete: Marzipan - I haven't smelt it for years, I'd do anything for that

What did you want to be as a kid?
John: A hairdresser, a comedian and a football player all in one.
Pete: And he's taking it down the wing....OOoooh lovely side parting!
I wanted to play for Queens Park Rangers Football Club to be honest. I thought that was always what was going to happen and then the day I realised that I wasn't going to play for QPR was the day I started writing melancholy songs.
Carl: It was a different thing every day but nothing ever realistic - my dad wanted me to be a lawyer, but I think he was wrong.

Carl

If you could be a superhero what would be your secret power?
Pete: My special power would be to stop the world - but all things like cigarette machines keep on working and I could just wonder around with this lovely girl I met in Aberdeen.
Gary: The power of healing and drumming.

What's your best feature?
Pete: Probably Carlos.

When did you first fall in love?
Pete: I fell in love with a girl called Emma Frogg with two g's. I was in Liverpool and I used to play football with her all day she was wicked but she had no teeth.
Carl: The first time I fell in love with a real person was at school when I got beaten up and this girl came and sorted me out when I was all mashed up.
John: It was probably when I was about 13 and I heard the Beatles for the first time .
Gary: When I met Pete, Carl and John.

Where would you like to be this time next year?
Pete: Just still playing the guitar in the band.
Carl: Yeah, the same as now.

Pictures of The Libertines live at The Joiners on our Music Super-Gallery.