The Libertines are set to reform for a headline slot at the Reading and Leeds festival in August. The band, which centred around the songwriting partnership of Pete Doherty and Carl Barât, have not played together as the Libertines since 2004. A source told the Guardian that the group would be receiving a huge sum for their performance, rumoured to be around £1.5m.
The Libertines formed in 1997, with bassist John Hassall and drummer Gary Powell making up the lineup. The band earned themselves a devoted fanbase following the release of their debut album Up the Bracket in 2002. However, drug problems caused the band to disintegrate around the time of their second, self-titled album. Barât kicked his best friend Doherty out of the band in attempt to make him wake up to his heroin addiction, although this only served to increase antagonism between the pair.
Doherty went on to form Babyshambles while Barât became the frontman of Dirty Pretty Things, who split up in 2008. Relations between the pair have thawed considerably in recent times, however, and they have played on stage together on several occasions since the split. According to reports in the Sun, the group will consider announcing further dates and writing new material if the reunion goes well.
Don't expect the road to be too smooth, though. Doherty was arrested last week on suspicion of supplying drugs following the death of Robin Whitehead at a flat in east London earlier this year.
