The Libertines

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The Libertines are an Indie Rock, Post-Punk revival band from London, England. They rose to fame in the early 2000's with their two albums, Up the Bracket and self-titled album The Libertines. They were famed for their warts-and-all performances and the intense, romantic friendship between their two lead-singers, Carl Barât and Pete Doherty. The Libertines split up in 2004 over escalating problems with Pete Doherty's heroin addiction and the friction that it caused between the four members. Despite this, they have remained consistently popular throughout England and are still regarded as one of the greatest British Bands of all time.

They reformed in 2010 for the Reading and Leeds festivals, although it is unclear when they will perform together again as a group. A film by Roger Sargent titled "There Are No Innocent Bystanders" chronicles the reformation of The Libertines and covers their early years. It will reportedly be released on DVD and shown on television.

Tropes used in The Libertines include:
  • Affectionate Nickname: Pete and Carl called one another "Bilo" and "Biggles."
  • All Drummers Are Animals: Averted. Gary could get just as wild as the rest of them in live performances, but the rest of the time, he seems subdued when compared to Pete Doherty.
  • Ho Yay: Pints and pints and pints of the stuff. To the extent that most people who discuss why they like the band will mention things like "the romance", or "the relationship between Pete and Carl." It doesn't help that they are very fond of sharing one mic between them and getting very, very close. It is harder to find a picture of them not being physically affectionate than it is to find one where they are. This is probably the most famous example.
  • Nobody Loves the Bassist: Not nearly as extreme as the trope name might suggest. John just has a more stoic personality compared to the rest of them, which sometimes makes him seem more boring. The mammoth popularity of Pete and Carl, as well as Gary's outgoing nature have a little to do with it. In the band itself, they all have equal status.
  • Self-Titled Album
  • What Do You Mean It's Not Heinous?: "Time For Heroes" has a hilarious example.

"There are fewer more distressing sights than that of an Englishman in a baseball cap."