Pete Doherty reveals solo album artwork

Pete Doherty has revealed the cover art of his forthcoming solo album, 'Grace/Wastelands'.

The art-work for the album (pictured), out March 16, was made French artist Alize Meurisse in collaboration with Doherty.

Speaking to NME.COM about the artwork, Meurisse said, "For me, the inspiration was Oscar Wilde's 'Salomé' – it's the first play he wrote directly in French. I gave that painting to Peter (since he's got a song called 'Salome' [that features on the album]) and he added some of his blood to it.

Speaking about her artististic relationship with Doherty, Meurisse added, "Sometimes he asks me to draw something in particular, and talks me through it if I don't get it straight away.

"Other times I'll just be drawing some of the trinkets lying around or ideas I get while spending time with him and give him the drawings which he then add his bit too – adding lyrics, blood etc.

"I'm not very precious about my drawings. I like him to mess about with them, I trust his eye. He sometimes asks me to add something to one of the paintings he's been working on by himself.

"It's great for me to work with him because it's frustrating to be out of inspiration, and drawing and painting 'for' or 'with' someone, in correspondence with someone else's art, helps unfold my own creativity.

"It's very inspiring. I'm a writer so I spend a lot of time working on my own. When I paint and draw I love being able to exchange ideas, artistic emulation makes me feel enthusiastic."

The tracklisting of 'Grace/Wastelands' will be:

'Arcadie'
'Last Of The English Roses'
'1939 Returning'
'A Little Death Around The Eyes'
'Salome'
'I Am The Rain'
'Sweet By And By'
'Palace Of Bone'
'Sheepskin Tearaway'
'Broken Love Song'
'New Love Grows On Trees'
'Lady, Don't Fall Backwards'

See the new issue of NME, out tomorrow (February 10) for a cover interview with Pete Doherty including the lowdown on the album, his thoughts on a Libertines reunion and the future of his current band, Babyshambles.

Meanwhile, NME.COM has a song from the album, 'New Love Grows On Trees', available to download free. Head to the NME Office Blog to download it now – where three further songs from 'Grace/Wastelands' can be heard streaming.