Baby Steps

It’s safe to say London-based indie types Babyshambles have experienced a fair bit of “trouble and strife” over the years. They’ve had numerous brushes with the law, been the subject of more than their share of media-led witch hunts and even seen the band’s frontman Peter Doherty become a figure who is both worshipped and reviled in equal measure. However, while life in Babyshambles is certainly never quiet, no-one could have predicted the horrifying accident that befell the group’s mainstay Drew McConnell on July 10, 2011.

After cycling down Shoreditch High Street in London, the Irish bassist was knocked down by a red-light running car and broke 15 bones in his body. He awoke in hospital and was told his spine was smashed to pieces.
“Humans are designed to deal with trauma of a physical and emotional kind. It’s the stuff of life,” offers the musician when we ask him about his long road to recovery. “Basically my spine was bracketed with metal instrumentation for a little over a year. Six of the vertebrae were stapled together with these two rods and eight screws (which have now been taken out). Because all the muscles around that part of the spine were inactive for a year I’ve to do an awful lot of physio to get my strength back up. I’m feeling good though.”
While Drew isn’t quite ready to climb back onto his beloved skateboard, he tells us that after surviving such an experience he’s actually emerged healthier than ever.
“I’m getting up at 5.30 every morning and swimming a mile before I start my day,” he says. “I haven’t drank for over a year, but that’s no bad thing, forcing myself to be healthy. Strangely after an accident like that I’m probably the healthiest I’ve been for years and I’m really excited about getting back on the road and promoting the new album.”
Released this month, Babyshambles’ third LP Sequel To The Prequel is their most focused work to date and sees them reunite with producer Stephen Street. Recorded in Paris, the album is their first full-length effort since 2007’s Shotter’s Nation and Drew tells us that the whole process was surprisingly hassle free this time around.
“Recording was great man,” he smiles. “It was like summer camp. We’d been looking forward to playing in a studio again with Stephen for so long and to go somewhere else to do it was wonderful. By any band’s standards it was hassle free too as we’ve an established rapport with Stephen and it was a really comfortable pair of shoes to be slipping on. We definitely would’ve started writing and recording a couple of years ago but the accident was what put the brakes on it.”
The current incarnation of Babyshambles features new drummer Adam Falkner in the ranks. Is he settling okay?
“Man...he fits hand to glove,” enthuses Drew. “He’s a consummate professional. He’s technically the best drummer I’ve played with and he’s the sweetest guy. There’s not a malicious bone in his body and he’s a clean living cat too, so I’ve got a little ally.”
Of course no feature on Babyshambles would be complete without talking about the band’s founder (and occasional Libertine) Peter Doherty. Over the last decade, Drew has stuck by him through both the good times and bad. How would he describe his relationship with the musician?
“Great, would be the short answer,” he offers. “We have a good system of making music. I think he appreciates having a best mate who’s sober and keeping his eye on the ball and I sure as hell appreciate a best mate who happens to be a fucking musical genius. I think if you throw Mike [Whitnall, guitar] into the mix and our new drummer, we’ve hit on a chemistry that’s really working for us right now.”
With the band on tour around Europe, can we expect a few Irish shows sooner rather than later?
“I’ve been hassling our management and our agent for months now trying to get some Irish dates and I think we need to start a campaign,” he concludes. “Obviously being an Irish boy myself I want to get over soon as it’s always a joy to play Ireland.”

Sequel To The Prequel is out now on Parlophone Records.