Babyshambles play the Boogaloo Bar, North London: (l-r) Mick Whitnall, Adam Ficek, Pete Doherty, Drew McConnell. Photograph: Richard Skidmore
Right then. Our record's been out two weeks now. I'm watching Dylan on cable and contemplating next week's French outing. Seems we're going to play some TV shows, talk to radio folk and the such. I used to live in Marseille. I ran away there when I was 19, lasted a year doing odd jobs and busking. I slept on sofas and in parks, and had to learn to speak French pretty quickly. It was tough, but at that age you kinda want it to be tough, no? To be honest I had the time of my life.
It feels good to be coming back some nine years later with Babyshambles, a kind of glorified busking band in many ways. France's musical landscape has changed apparently, Noir Désir's singer is in jail for murdering his girlfriend on an acid trip, my beloved Louise Attaque have stopped making good records and they seem to be slowly shaking off the bizarre national jazz-funk obsession. What, I wonder, will they make of us? As Mano Solo could tell you, the French love an underdog ...
I'll keep you posted as to how we get on.
