Libertines to go in new direction

The Libertines will unveil a new image at their Reading and Leeds Festival gigs later this month.

The British rockers - who split in 2004 shortly after firing troubled co-frontman Pete Doherty over his drug use – have promised a “new dynamic” for the band's high-profile reunion performances at the end of August.

Drummer Gary Powell – who is joined in the band by co-frontman Carl Barat and bassist John Hassall - admits the motivation for the change is to attract a new fan base.

He explained: “It will be weird to go back but if we try to replicate how things used to be it won’t work. We’ve got to bring a new dynamic for the kids who haven’t seen us before.”

He continued: “I never got why we were fashionable in the first place. It never made sense to me why The Libertines were so big but it’s all about the character – Pete and Carl are unique.”

Despite having two high-profile frontmen, drummer Gary thinks he could easily step into their shoes but he can’t be bothered.

He told the Daily Star newspaper: “I suppose I could be the frontman now, but I still like sitting at the back of the stage with a whiskey, pulling faces.”

Along with The Libertines reunion, the members are all working on various individual projects.

Carl is working on a solo album, Pete is recording a new LP with his other band Babyshambles and Gary has his own label and a new band – The Invasion Of… – that he will also play the Reading and Leeds Festivals with.

He said: “I’m setting up my own label, managing an artist called JT from Glasgow and doing The Invasion Of… .”