The speculation is over; with the official line up announced today, it’s now confirmed that The Libertines will be reforming to play a last set for their fans at the twin festivals.

So have they finally put their differences behind them? Perhaps – but there could be other reasons playing their part too. Earlier in 2010 Pete said:

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

“And [Carl] said, ‘Yeah, but we can’t travel in separate cars’. [I said] ‘Well, why would we?’ and he said, ‘We have to be friends, we can’t just do it for the money’. I said, ‘Ok, well let’s be friends! Friends who go and make lots of money together’, y’know, because I haven’t got any money and I know he’s skint.”

Pete also claimed that Carl has some pretty unusal stipulations:

“I shouldn’t tell this to you… he said I had to go and see an energy consultant, like some new-age guru who is going to measure my energy levels and see if I’m still surrounded by darkness”

Given today’s news, it seems he passed his new-age MOT and the pair have been able to hang out. Reports are that they were spotted, along with bandmates John Hassall and Gary Powell, having a drink in London last week.

If their few reunions since their split are anything to go by, it should be a good set. Here’s them in The Prince of Wales pub in Kentish Town back in 2008.


Picture courtesy of Dan Strange