Thoughts on Pete Doherty documentary?

[NoPumpkins]

Just that really.

I thought it was a rather ‘slight’ documentary in some ways, but it had its moments.

Fitting (and genius) that he should end up in France it occurred to me.

The mother of one of his kids is Lisa Moorish; who is the mother of one of Liam Gallaghers kids.

The mother of one of his kids is Lisa Moorish; who is the mother of one of Liam Gallaghers kids

I didn't know this!

The Libertines were a solid feature on the soundtrack of my uni life, and very popular with my associates. This would have been pretty much at the end of their career as a band and through much of PD’s chaotic unraveling. Indeed, we went to see Carl’s subsequent band at some point in the uni days.

I remember being vaguely appalled at Pete’s spiral, but I was still pretty awed by their combined talent and I still listen to the Libertines now.

I liked the interview. It was superficial in some ways, but I don’t know that you can get PD to plough the depths of his soul when clean.

I get the bit about showing no remorse about MB’s death but the account felt honest. I don’t think he has a clear recollection. I knew quite a lot of chaotic people at that time, some of whom probably were addicts in their own right, though not (to my knowledge) to hard drugs. I was normally more at the sober end of the scale and I have witnessed so many situations that rapidly descended from merry to dangerous. It is so believable that someone could have died in such a situation and that nobody (or perhaps only one person) has a clear understanding of what happened. We will likely never know who was responsible, it could have been PD, but also as a very famous person it seems that he’s been fixated on for being there (and also the running away, which is bad, but again the narrative that he was just getting out of there is also plausible but shit).

I don’t think he pretends to be anything other than what he is. A tragic character with a lot of demons.

I found it an interesting watch. I still enjoy listening to the Libertines music. Pete is so clearly still an addict - he might not be scoring illegal drugs, but his alcohol dependency is sad to see.

His wife frustrated me the most. She seems lovely, but why waste your life trying to fix someone like him, and why bring a child into such a precarious lifestyle? Pete seems resigned to the fact he hasn't long to live, lacks the will to do anything about it.

Carl Barat was the biggest surprise to me. Such a timid, nervous character. I always assumed he was stronger and more forceful - his stage presence has so much more to him.

It's interesting that he is so open about not liking Mark Blanco. I suspect he genuinely doesn't remember much of that night, or indeed that period of his life as his drug and alcohol abuse were so out of control, but someone in his inner circle knows what happened and I feel for his family not having answers.

It's easy to see how people were drawn into his orbit. He's clearly intelligent, softly spoken, creative and fun. But there's a damaged, dangerous, unpredictable edge to him. Maybe attractive and exciting to some as a young man, but tragic now. He's not a happy man.

I just thought Carl Barat was on coke when he was being interviewed

I have no idea why that woman married him…. I saddled myself with my very own Pete Docherty years ago so I’m slagging her off but even at 24 I wasn’t daft enough to have kids with somebody so unstable.

I don't get the comments about him being truthful about MB and that there is something good about that? There's a way to say 'I don't remember what happened' while still considering the role you played in that scenario. He says he doesn't remember, MB was annoying and he doesn't really want to be connected to it, despite being there and running away from it. There are a million other ways to talk about it to demonstrate you've thought about what happened and feel some regret for your own part in it (however small that may, or may not, have been).

I found it very interesting but it didn’t really scratch the surface and was a bit tame.

I was never a fan and thought the Libertines were massively overrated and, as has been said by another poster, I remember wondering back in the day what a supermodel like Kate Moss saw in a junkie like him.

I was surprised by how intelligent and sensitive he seemed to be. I liked him and I didn’t think I would. He definitely had a certain charm. I think a lot of what went on back then he can’t even remember because he was out of his tree most of the time.

There is no doubt in my mind that he’s hanging on by a thread. He’s desperate to be back on the heroin and for the time being his wife and child are keeping him off it, but it’s only a matter of time. Once an addict, always an addict.

Re KM I think it was a case of birds of a feather.

I saw PD with Kate Moss a few times at parties and backstage gigs. They seemed very genuinely in love and into each other and of course made a very compelling couple for those times.

I just remembered this little clip of them singing KP Nuts in a bedroom and rewatched it. A sweet, fleeting glimpse.

I wonder how difficult it was for Lila (Katie's daughter) when her mother was in that relationship.
She might not have had much exposure to it, but if she did, it might have been traumatic.

@MirandaGreenwood
You don’t understand how privileged people can become addicted and find it hard to stop their addiction? What a very strange comment.
Have you never heard the cliche that money can’t buy happiness? It’s a cliche because it’s true. And look at the many, many examples among the rich, famous and titled. It’s incredibly obvious that money does not protect you from depression and addiction.

Kate Moss went through a "I want to be Marianne Faithfull" phase. Glad she changed her mind.

Nothing has changed for PD in 20 years and I suspect never will.

I knew PD for a time in the early 2000s (not romantically).

He was quite likeable and could be fun with some talent although nowhere near as much as the first libertines album hinted at, but was never trustworthy even in the smallest of ways unless there was something in it for him. That said, a lot of his relationships and friendships were transactional. Drugs, fame, so it wasn't just him.

It seems he hasn't developed any empathy or reflection or maturity from his intelligence or life experiences. Instead he still has that simple addict's selfishness and eye for a freebie.

I suspect he is doing this documentary and upcoming album because he needs to keep public interest brewing for income stream plus a bit of attention.

I just get the impression he allows himself to be wheeled out periodically for these purposes but doesn't really have much new to say.

It's a shame he has this role as an 'interesting character' that lets him make enough to live on without having to have any desire to sort himself out or move on.

I was sad to see his alcoholism.

The bits like bringing Kate Moss's name into it were deliberate on his part to generate interest, I've no doubt.

I didn't know Mark Blanco or anything about what happened but his behaviour around that has been disgraceful. The very least he could do would be to explain what he did know (or was willing to admit to) in a more compassionate Way.

We haven't been friends for a very long time but I was hoping for more than the same old routine.

He seemed to be on the verge of tears all the time and full of pain. It was quite a difficult watch.

As someone who has had stomach ulcers, he's for sure got stomach ulcers!

He also needs to get rid of that moustache as it makes him look like a paedo. But it was quite interesting despite the very real distraction of the tasche.

I expect they got married for inheritance reasons. That is why he was so coy.

In France the wife and dependant DC[s inherit it all I believe.
He said she gave him an ultimatum.

I thought it was interesting.
Agree with @LambriniBobinIsleworth on all counts!

he was a bit rubbish at handling his own baby

He's like a living overdraft that's he's paying off with great reluctance.

An addict - which explains the charm, mawkishness, and poor me pour me.

I do not think he will ever be as interesting as he was for that first Libertines record, and then... nothing

I was truly gripped by this moving documentary. I couldn't take my eyes off PT for a second. I thought he came across as really vulnerable yet so charismatic, articulate, gentle and insiteful. He's clearly not well and, although easy to believe that it's all self inflicted, I think navigating life with a mind like his can be a complex thing.
Louis clearly fell in love with him as much as I did - a beautiful soul .... I wish him well with his life and recovery ......

Agree!

I sensed that off-camera he doesn't actually do it very much. He didn't strike me as a very hands-on dad. His world totally revolves around himself.

How strange, that some people see a gentle soul in pain and others see a selfish chancer showing off for the cameras.

I did love Pete and Katya’s little cottage though.

Respect to him if he did marry for inheritance reasons. Make sure that she is at least financially secure if he dies

As Louis Theroux documentaries go this wasn’t one of his best. I will have to watch the whole series to decide if he has lost his touch or if it’s just a one off.

What I wondered about PD and ex-drug addiction turned alcoholism, is that wouldn’t it be better for him to quit alcohol and take a heroin substitute in a controlled manner? The health implications of doing that have got to better that drinking day in day out.

He also needs to get rid of that moustache

I thought it made him look like Rene from Allo Allo.