June 28, 2007 17:29

Pete Doherty signs book for fans

The Libertine launches Book Of Albion at tiny London shop

Photo Gallery: Babyshambles
Photo: Emilie Bailey

Pete Doherty signed copies of his new book for fans in London today (June 28).

The Babyshambles frontman made a surprise appearance at tiny bookshop Red Snapper Books, inking his name into the ’Books Of Albion’, as fans queued down the length of the quiet London mews.

Arriving wearing a sharpe suit and crushed, velvet tophat, the singer made his way through the queue and into the tiny book shop which admiited just a handful of fans at a time to sign books.

With a scrum of photographers and a TV crew following him fans were eventually allowed in to get copies of the hard back book signed.

Chris Ledsham, a fan who travelled up from Tunbridge Wells for the signing said: "He got all these people outside but he still has time to talk to us.

"He wanted our names and he chatted to us. He's not some big shot he was on our level, he was really great."

Another fan Mohamed Charkaoui said: "I told him I saw him at a gig and he was asking which one. He let us take pictures, took his time signing the book and did a little drawing of himself."

As previously reported on NME.COM, the singer chose the shop, which stocks beat generation and alternative literature – as he has been a regular for several years.

'The Books Of Albion' features copies of the former Libertine's private journals, including diary entries, lyrics, prison confessions and a host of cutting - including some from NME - collected by Doherty since 1999.