November 25, 2012 10:07

Pete Doherty: 'Amy Winehouse and I were lovers'

The Libertines singer talks about his relationship with the late singer and the death of actor Mark Blanco

Photo Gallery: Pete Doherty
Photo: James Quinton

Pete Doherty has talked about his relationship with Amy Winehouse, and has revealed he was in love with the late singer.

Speaking to the Daily Mail in a Parisian café, The Libertines man told the newspaper that he and Amy Winehouse were once lovers, but said that their relationship ended sourly.

A tearful Doherty said: "This is difficult for me to admit. But, yes, it's true. Amy and I were lovers. I loved her then and, well, I still do today. But towards the end, as only lovers can, she became quite mean and cruel to me. She didn't suffer fools… and believe me, she had a mean right hook."

Doherty went on to say that he believes the pressure of being famous ultimately led Amy Winehouse along the path to alcohol and drug addiction, saying she was "physically small and increasingly frail".

"She came back to my hotel after the Libertines reunion warm-up gig at the Forum in Kentish Town in August 2010," he said. "When she left the hotel, the paparazzi followed her. It brought back unpleasant memories of when I was with Kate [Moss] and how they would follow us around everywhere."

He continued: "Amy couldn’t step outside her front door without a mob of about 30 blokes thrusting cameras at her. If you then include crack in the equation, it becomes a real killer – especially as Amy didn’t do things by halves."

The Libertines singer said that he a written a song about the late singer. Titled 'Flags From The Old Regime', the song, according to Doherty, is like nothing he has ever written before as it's "very slow and melodic".

Meanwhile, Doherty has also spoken out about the death of actor Mark Blanco, who died after suffering severe head injuries after falling from a balcony at a party attended by The Libertines man.

Doherty was cleared of any wrongdoing last year when authorities ruled there was insufficient evidence to bring charges over the incident, but the actor's mum, Sheila Blanco, has campaigned tirelessly for answers over her son's death, who she claims was pushed, and recently filed a complaint over how the case was handled.

"I can understand how it looks dodgy," he admitted. "How ashamed do you think I am that I stepped over the body and legged it down the street? In my heart, I pray and pray that his mother will stop punishing and torturing herself because she is convinced that there was foul play. But I am certain there wasn’t. The door was bolted and there wasn't anyone from the party outside on the balcony with him."

Video: At Home With Pete Doherty

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