A Threepenny For Your Thoughts

“Too many people involved, not enough leadership and direction, egos, confusion, drink and drugs – it was just a bit messy really.”

It might sound like an average production weekend in Hot Press, but sometime Libertine and now – following the recent release of his self-titled debut album – solo artist Carl Barât is in fact describing the break-up of Dirty Pretty Things. With Pete Doherty mired in a no-man’s-land of addiction and tabloid infamy, DPT was formed by Libertines members Barat and drummer Gary Powell in late 2004, with the idea being for the band to be a less chaotic enterprise than their previous group. Unfortunately, as Barât explains, the DPT eventually succumbed to many of the same problems that plagued The Libertines.
“I’ve learnt very slowly how to deal with being in a band,” acknowledges Barât. “Egos, drink and drugs definitely don’t make it any easier. Right now, I’m really happy that I don’t have to deal with that stuff.”
Does Barât shoulder any of the blame for the group’s, er, dissolution?
“I think it was largely my fault for not seeing what was going on, and not leading it,” he concedes. “I should have been leader, but I had this slightly naïve idea about democracy. The only reason I ended up being leader in the band was because I didn’t see anyone else taking the mantle.”
Barât's solo album doesn’t just mark a departure for the singer in terms of leaving the band format behind – it also finds him exploring new terrain musically, with tracks such as ‘Carve My Name’ and ‘Run With The Boys’ incorporating elements of soul and US alt.rock.
“‘Run With The Boys’ is one that, when it’s played just on guitar, sounds like The Libertines,” says Carl, “but then putting on the trumpets and things made it sound sort of like Dexys Midnight Runners. It totally changes it, which is really interesting for me. ‘Carve My Name’ started out in a Jeff Buckley kind of place, it was sort of confessional. Then as we built it up with different colours and instruments, it took on a new life.”
One of the tracks on the album, ’The Fall’, found Barât collaborating with one of Ireland’s finest songwriters, Divine Comedy mastermind Neil Hannon.
“I went over to Dublin and we did it at his house,” recalls Carl. “I was a fan of his beforehand. Not massively, but I’ve always found him very interesting, he’s such a character. He’s an amazing man, very charismatic and talented. Quite humble as well.”
The summer saw Barât reunite with Doherty and his old bandmates in The Libertines for two very well-received shows at the Reading and Leeds festivals. Was he pleased with how the gigs went?
“It was a belter,” enthuses Carl. “As for doing it again... maybe, down the line. Right now, I’m sailing this ship, but certainly, I’m not going to neglect something as good as The Libertines when it’s in full working order. Maybe next year.”
Given your past experiences with both The Libertines and Dirty Pretty Things, you could be forgiven for being apprehensive about a full tour.
“We’re not 18 anymore in The Libertines – that would be a right mess,” admits Carl. “We’re a band with short fuse; I think a tour might blow the keg.”
Barât is upbeat about Pete Doherty’s performances during their festival headliners (“he was in great form – he really wanted it”), a notable change from certain notorious gigs Doherty has played in the past. The duo’s topsy-turvy relationship – and much else besides – is recounted in Barât's new autobiography, The Threepenny Memoir.
“The book was my idea – it’s always my idea after a few drinks,” reflects Carl. “Then other people persuade me to go through with it. I wanted to get it out of my system. I’m pleased with it; it’s been very hard to write this and it’s been a cathartic process. I think it’s quite fair.”
Well, you mustn’t have been short of material!
“A lot of people have been telling me, ’Aren’t you a bit young to be writing a memoir?’” notes Carl. “It’s like, ’Read it – and then tell me!’”

Carl Barât and The Threepenny Memoir are both out now. Carl Barât plays the Academy 2 on November 15