Doherty prepares for second curfew gig

A judge has given troubled rock star Pete Doherty a late curfew tonight to perform an important gig while on bail for robbery and blackmail charges.

The 25-year-old former Libertine singer appeared in court yesterday before performing a shortened 45-minute gig with his new band Babyshambles in order to meet a 10pm to 7am bail curfew.

The on-off lover of model Kate Moss, aged 31, had swapped the sober suit he wore earlier at Snaresbrook Crown Court for a long tweed coat and black trousers on stage.

Doherty received a rapturous welcome from fans at the warm-up show for a major gig at Brixton academy, to be held tonight.

He had earlier appeared before Mr Justice Radford following his arrest this month in connection with an alleged dispute with his documentary maker Max Carlish.

Doherty, who was kicked out of his former band the Libertines last year over his spiralling drug habit, spent five nights in police and prison custody as a result of his arrest.

He has recently undergone a further spell of drug rehabilitation and set up his new band who have scored one Top 10 hit.

Mr Justice Radford agreed to a request to alter Doherty’s bail, allowing him to play tonight’s gig in Brixton, South London.

Fans leaving last night’s gig said Doherty was in energetic form, stripping away his white shirt and braces before attempting to jump bare-chested into the crowd.

“He was really rocking out and his new songs were fantastic, you can tell he’s been through a lot,” said one female gig-goer.

“Pete stripped his shirt and jacket and tried to throw himself into the audience. A lot of people expected there to be an encore but it looked like he was called off from backstage, probably because of his curfew.”