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14 October 2022, 09:13 | Updated: 18 August 2023, 14:24
Up The Bracket - 20 Years of The Libertines sees exclusive interviews with Peter Doherty, Carl Barât, John Hassall and Gary Powell.
Up The Bracket - 20 Years of The Libertines: official podcast trailer
To celebrate 20 years of The Libertines’ debut album, Up The Bracket, one of British music's most seminal albums, Global Player has launched a brand new podcast featuring exclusive interviews with the band: Up The Bracket - 20 Years of The Libertines. Seven episodes will be released on Friday 14th October, exclusively on Global Player.
The podcast, hosted by Radio X’s Sunta Templeton, will lift the lid on the recording process of the era-defining debut album through interviews with Peter Doherty, Carl Barât, John Hassall and Gary Powell, plus James Endeacott (the A&R who discovered the band) and Anthony Thornton (the band’s biographer).
Listeners will hear stories from before the sell-out shows, before the world tours, before the massive singles, before the headlines, before the highs and before the fall outs. From the first gig to the moment they felt like they’d "made it"; the inspirations behind the songs and the stories never heard before, told by the band themselves. Fans will also be able to enjoy an accompanying documentary on Global Player, featuring interviews with Carl, Peter, John and Gary.
Peter Doherty on his first impressions of his future songwriting partner, double standards in the recording studio and selling the Arcadian dream.
Carl Barât on the band's 'love on the dole' existence, studio fights with Britpop royalty and stealing copies of Up The Bracket.
Gary Powell on his emotional connection to The Libertines, the alternative career he could have had, and what a 'Christmas curly' is.
John Hassall on picking up random drummers on the way to gigs, riding The Libertines party bus and how the band became a family.
James Endeacott, who signed The Libertines to Rough Trade, on impromptu train gigs, chaotic showcases and falling under the spell of Peter and Carl.
Anthony Thornton, author of The Libertines Bound Together, on hearing their first demo, a knees up at The Albion Rooms and joining the band in Arcadia.
Peter & Carl on throwing themselves into eternity, pioneering internet-announced guerrilla gigs and somebody they call "the worm lady".
The Libertines kick-started the indie revolution 20 years ago and what followed was a riotous mix of outrageous talent, devoted fans, and escapades that made the band and its members go down in musical history. Shortly after their 2004 self-titled sophomore album hit Number 1, the band disbanded until 2010 when they reformed to play Reading and Leeds Festival.
In April 2014 the likely lads announced they would reform for a show at London's Hyde Park and a third full-length LP Anthems For Doomed Youth followed in 2015, as well as a headline set at Reading and Leeds and a surprise set at Glastonbury which earned them NME’s Music Moment Of The Year award in 2016.
Radio X’s Sunta Templeton, who hosts the podcast, said: “Twenty years on, we’re jumping aboard the good ship Albion with Peter, Carl, John and Gary and journeying back to where it all began. The story of The Libertines is fascinating, chaotic and totally captivating, and this is an essential listen for fans of their trail-blazing brilliance.”
Global Player is Global’s entertainment hub, which allows listeners to enjoy all of Global’s radio brands, award-winning podcasts, video content, and expertly-curated playlists, in one place in app, on web and on smart speakers.