12 February 2026
Since Doherty got clean (2019) and lives in France with his family (wife and two children) and his big dog, far away from the temptations of parties and drugs, he has become very busy.
He released albums with one-time outfit Puta Madres (2019), with French musician Frédéric Lo (2022), with his first-and-forever band The Libertines (2024), and a solo
one (2025).
And when he wasn’t in the studio, he went on tour with all
the above bands, that other group, Babyshambles, too, and
solo.
Who wants a fanzine?
Last Sunday, he was in Belgium again after two appearances last year (with The Libertines and solo), assisted by a full band including The Smiths‘ drummer Mike Joyce (now aged 62).
And like I witnessed last year, solo in Bruges, he was in an extremely happy mood, selling old Libertines fanzines (no joke) between the two support acts and playing a formidable show.
He was strolling around the stage, fooling around with band members and interacting with the audience in between songs. Talking about the songs. It was a sort of best of set, with songs from all his projects and, yes, two The Smiths covers (There Is A Light That Never Goes Out / How Soon Is Now?), and a Velvet Underground one, all delivered with a joyous flair and an effervescent spirit.
At the end of the night, three thoughts crossed my mind. He’s (as we know for a long time) a exquiste singer/songwriter who has musical components in his DNA. Secondly, he’s a most entertaining live perfomer and thirdly, he obviously embraces life again after too many turbulent years. Way to go.
.
Some of my favorites he played.
THE LIBERTINES
SOLO
BABYSHAMBLES
With Frédéric Lo
THE PUTA MADRES
SETLIST
Last Of The English Roses
Fantasy Live Of Poetry And Crime
I Don’t Love Anyone
Felt Better Alive
Ed Belly
Epidemiology
I Am The Rain
Pot Of Gold
The Day The Baron Died
Salome
Uncle Brian’s Abattoir (Trampoline)
Calvados
Kolly Kibber
Ride Into The Sun (The Velvet Underground)
Stade Océan
How Soon Is Now? (The Smiths)/ Albion
Who’s Been Having You Over?
Time For Heroes (The Libertines)
Fuck Forever (Babyshambles)
Encore
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (The Smiths)
Live photos by Turn Up The Volume