Once a Libertine...
Carl Barat taks to The Guide
Carl Barat, formerly of The Libertines, is heading our way and will be performing at Whitehaven Civic Hall, on September 10. Our gaffer, Steve Murphy, caught up with Carl and picked his brains for you, our lovely readers.
SM: What are you busy with, Carl?
CB: A bit of acting - touring, the last album went down really well overall and I am now working on another album. Also our new EP, Death Fires, has just been released. The tracks on the EP are: Death Fires - Song I never wrote for You - Sing for my Super, this is a cover from The Langley Sisters and there is also an old song I wrote with my old Libertines band members that we never recorded or released, that's called The Ballad of Grimaldi.
SM: The last album is theatrical and conjures up images of Vaudeville.
CB: That's good, that's kind of what I like, really
SM: You are a family man now; do you find you have a different perspective of life?
CB: I feel like I've found the path again. I felt I was rattling around but since having a baby I find I'm a bit better behaved.
SM: Have you penned a track for Eli?
CB: No, I'm not about to write beautiful boy 2, but I did write him a song when he was in the womb.
SM: You studied acting at college, is this something you want to concentrate on?
CB: I'm actually filming in Newcastle for a film, called The Man Inside; I don't know the release date yet.
SM: You directed a Harold Pinter Play at college; would you toy with the idea of directing music vids?
CB: Err, yeah, I suppose I would, I have been writing scripts. I'm not very good at it, yet, but practice makes perfect and I'm enjoying it.
SM: It has been reported that you have had stage fright since your years at college and throughout your musical career. Do you feel that if you're not feeling anything before a gig you're not actually living?
CB: I guess I do feel that way; I would be quite worried if I wasn't petrified.
SM: Artist - writer - actor, what are you?
CB: I don't know really, I like to keep my muscles trimmed, I think it's important to be creative and keep it up.
SM: You where integral to a whole new sound which hit the airwaves 10 years ago do you think musically things have changed much?
CB: No, not really, it's just ghosts and echoes sort of.
SM: Who are you digging at the moment?
CB: Kracaowa, I saw them last night, they have great energy, and another band Nightmare and The Cat. They are Dave Steward's kids.
SM: You're on the way up to Whitehaven where the crowds are receptive and it will be jam packed with lots of young musicians, what advice could you give?
CB: Don't take advice from me, that's difficult man; I'm not in the business of giving advice.
SM: What was the last song that moved you to tears?
CB: Probably Bonnie Prince Billy, I Seek Darkness, which was pretty moving.
SM: You have three tracks to add to your iPod, which ones and why?
CB: Probably Killing Moon by Echo and The Bunny men - I've Just Seen a Face, The Beatles and a Doors track, any would do.
SM: In the past you have had a wild ride and you've had some fantastic fun on the road, what is the most outrageous item on a rider that you have asked for and been given?
CB: We were told that in America that white-socks meant cocaine, so we ended up with a crate of literally white-socks, it was a very healthy tour.
SM: What's the weirdest thing a fan has given you?
CB: In Japan someone gave me some fighting beetles. They were really good, they were a good present; two in a match box, one ran away so I let the other one go.
SM: Regarding the future what's the main motivation that drives you now.
CB: I don't know. I want to do everything that I spent 10 years burning my brain out, I want to be creative, and I'm enjoying the freedom of getting everything done. I want to write every song I need to write but I think it comes down to having a kid.
Carl Barat will play The Whitehaven Civic Hall on Saturday September 10. Supported by House of Three Hands and I am Spartacus.
