February 10, 2009 14:35

Pete Doherty reveals Libertines Reading And Leeds Festival offer

Frontman says he and Carl Barat have had an offer

Photo Gallery: The Libertines

Pete Doherty has revealed that The Libertines were offered the chance to headline the Reading And Leeds Festivals this August – but had to turn it down because Carl Barat wasn't happy to go ahead with a reunion.

In an interview in this week's NME, on UK newsstands tomorrow (February 11), the frontman said he was keen for the reunion to go ahead, but the plan was scuppered after Barat's concerns about his old partner's "energy".

"We had some ridiculous offers to headline Reading," he said. "Like £2 million to headline this festival, £1 million to headline that festival. I said, 'Why don't we just do it? Let's get the old band back together.'

"He (Barat) said, 'We have to be friends, we can't just do it for the money'. I said, 'OK, let's be friends! Friends who go and make lots of money', because I haven't got any money and I know he's skint.

"I had to go and see an energy consultant, some new age guru who is going to measure my energy levels and see if I'm surrounded by darkness.

"If I am I'm not allowed to go near Carl because I'll tap into his good energy and I'll sap all the good energy and bring nothing but darkness into his life."

See the new issue of NME, out tomorrow, for the full interview. Watch a video from the cover shoot now.

Meanwhile, NME.COM has a song from Pete Doherty's forthcoming solo album, 'Grace/Wastelands', available to download free.

To download the song, 'New Love Grows On Trees', head to the NME Office Blog – where three further songs from 'Grace/Wastelands' can be heard streaming.