Carl Barât: 'The Libertines will reform next year'

Carl Barât says a reformation of The Libertines is likely to happen next year.

The band split in 2004, though Barât and his co-front man Pete Doherty have reunited for one-off events since then, most notably at London venues Hackney Empire in 2007 and The Rhythm Factory in May last year.

Doherty told NME last year that he wanted a full band reunion for 2010, but has since begun work on a new Babyshambles album. And with Barât planning work on his first solo album, a later date for the full band reunion seems inevitable.

Barât told The Evening Standard: "It's not definite definite. I can say 2011, but it's hard to plan The Libertines until next Tuesday. But 2011 is where there's room for that to happen. So if everything's all right, then, yeah, it would be glorious to get on the old jacket and venture forth, into the known."

Barât said that he and Doherty would have meet up before any decision was made to see if there was still chemistry between the pair.

He admitted: "If it works, and there's a window for that … no, a window makes it sound like a business meeting. If there's a doorway, then certainly we'll go through it."

As regards Doherty's well-documented drug problems, a major factor in the original split, Barât said: "Well, once he's settled into his grooves, and he's fine, and he's not hurting himself or anyone else, then that's all fine with me."

To read a further interview with Carl Barat, make sure you pick up a copy of NME's Albums Of 2010 issue, on newsstands across the UK now.

The special issue features exclusive in-the-studio interviews with the likes of Radiohead, MGMT, MIA, Klaxons, Vampire Weekend, Empire Of The Sun, Babyshambles and much more on this year's essential albums.

Photo gallery – 50 albums you have to hear in 2010

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