November 24, 2007 17:59

Babyshambles in no-show drama

But it's not Pete Doherty who has quit their UK tour

Photo Gallery: Babyshambles
Photo: Emilie Bailey

A Babyshambles reunion with former member Patrick Walden was dashed when the guitarist quit the band's UK tour on the opening night in Manchester (November 22), it has emerged.

The on-off guitarist travelled to the MEN Arena with Pete Doherty and his bandmates, intending to join them onstage for a couple of songs, but just hours before the band hit the stage he performed a dramatic u-turn backstage and headed home.

Speaking exclusively to NME.COM, guitarist Mick Whitnall said that "complications" caused Walden's sudden change of heart.

"He came up to Manchester on the tourbus with us, he was going to come out and play on a couple of songs, but there were complications and he had to go home. Personally, I just found it all a bit strange," he said.

Whitnall, who eventually replaced Walden after he quit the band in late 2005, said there were no were no hard feelings between the pair.

"It was a very amicable decision, he just didn't want to do it in
the end. He's got other projects on the go and I wish him well. There's no animosity there, none at all."

The on-off guitarist has recently appeared onstage with his old bandmates, joining them at a surprise show at the Scolts Head pub in north London in August, and appearing with bassist Drew McConnell and drummer Adam Ficek at the Love Music Hate Racism show at Hackney Empire in July.

The tour continues tomorrow (November 25) at Brighton Centre, before heading to:

Bournemouth International Centre (26)
London Wembley Arena (27)
Birmingham NIA (28)
Nottingham Arena (30)
Glasgow SECC (December 1)