An Update on Pete Doherty

Dec 02, 2012

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Every now and then, it's important to stop and take a second to wonder, "What's going on with Pete Doherty?" The troubled/romanticized/mythical English rocker has been one of the most interesting characters in music for a long time and it's always good to check in with Pete and see how he's doing.

In a recent interview with The Guardian, Pete spoke openly about what's going on in his life these days. As we finish off 2012 and get ready to either see the end of the world or get into 2013, here's an update on Pete Doherty.

3. He moved to Paris to get clean, but is still on heroin

Doherty moved to Paris four years ago to get clean, but according to The Guardian, "He still can't get through the day without heroin." Despite that, the 33-year-old Pete is still "bouncy and optimistic." Pete's army major dad has called Pete a "pathetic limp figure" and refuses to see his son until he gets off drugs.

4. He's starting to see the value of healthy living

"It's not actually that exciting to be fucked up all the time. The rush that you get from having a good night's sleep is so exotic: to feel powerful and clean, capable and potent, as opposed to washed up, impotent and mute. It's like if you sing and you've been up for four nights, your voice is puny and has no power. The difference when you've rested and had a banana in the morning, it's outrageous! You can scare yourself sometimes with what a bit of healthy living can do.

"You always think it's going to be fine, the body will repair itself. There will be another chance. But I'm 33 now. The body won't keep repairing itself. You know when you can flick a coin and catch it on your elbow, and flick it up and catch it on the back of your head? And then you can't even catch it with two hands any more. You realise something is wrong ..."

5. His mom liked his first film

Although Pete's relationship with his father is strained, he stays close with his mother. "She came to Paris for the premiere of my film, and do you know what?... She loved it. It meant a lot to me because I know she wouldn't hesitate to tell me if she thought it was naff." The movie, Confession of a Child of the Century, was about French poet Alfred de Musset, and the director, Sylvie Verheyde, is a sister-like figure to Doherty.

6. The other day, he forgot who he was

"The other day I really hadn't slept since last week's gig at Brixton Jamm, and I was coming home on the Eurostar. I fell asleep for an hour, woke up and didn't know who I was. I was completely devastated and I burst into tears. The train was parked up. Apparently I'd been shouting in my sleep as well, so they'd just left me. I knew I shouldn't be crying. The train manager said: 'What's the matter?' I told him straight: 'Look, I don't know who I am, I don't know where I am.' He said: 'You're Peter.' And I was going: 'No, no, I'm not.' Then bang, everything flooded back. I got my bag and ran off. But it was a really horrible feeling and I can imagine it in a few years just lasting longer and longer."

Pigeons And PlanesPete Doherty

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