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The Irish Sun
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
We've always wanted to be a big band, but we stay the right side of the fine line between cool and sad, says Sports Team
THERE is always a political angle to Sports Team's songs but it is delivered with energy and humour. With their third album Boys These Days, the six-piece set out to make something that was all that — and more — delivering a satirical take on everything from social media to our obsession with nostalgia. Advertisement 3 There is always a political angle to Sports Team's songs Credit: © Julianna D'Intino 2025 3 With their third album Boys These Days, the six-piece are delivering a satirical take on everything from social media to our obsession with nostalgia Credit: © Julianna D'Intino 2025 Sometimes it's a critique, at other times it feels more like an endorsement. 'It's not Modern Life Is Rubbish, it's more like modern life is OK,' says rhythm guitarist and vocalist Rob Knaggs, name-checking Blur's 1993 album. Singer Alex Rice adds: 'Three albums in, we're finally at a point where we have the confidence to make the record we want to make. It's maximalist and hedonistic — a big sound that's in your face. We've been inspired by people like Bryan Ferry, Prefab Sprout and Joe Jackson.' It's a busy morning when I meet Rice and Knaggs at their North London HQ — a hybrid of their management company and record label. Advertisement READ MORE ON BANDS Libertines frontman Carl Barat pops in for a meeting, promo plans are being thrown around for upcoming releases, and in the middle of it all Rice is proudly showing off photos of his newborn daughter, just a few weeks old. 'It's organised chaos and that's how we like it,' says Rice, settling into the sofa, ready to chat. Out of control 'We actually had more time with this album,' explains Knaggs, after the first two records by the band — which also comprises lead guitarist Henry Young, bassist Oli Dewdney, drummer Al Greenwood and keyboardist Ben Mack — were made amid non-stop touring. Knaggs jokes: 'We could have hit that old, bloated, egotistical stage and thought, 'Do you know what? Maybe I'll make Tubular Bells now'. Advertisement Most read in Music 'With the first records, we were constantly playing live. Nobody knew who we were, and we had to win over cold crowds. 'But with this third one, it's different, we're not the 22-year-old kids we were when we started. Iconic 70s rock band announces lineup change as frontman quits and replacement is revealed 'Our lives have changed, our music taste has changed, and you don't want to end up a parody of yourself. You want to make music you genuinely love. Otherwise, what's the point of doing this? 'We've always said we want to be a really big band, and it's a fine line between very cool and very sad, and you want to pull the right side of that.' Advertisement The album is a journey through all the events, all these other things that come into your life Rice With that in mind, Knaggs says: 'At the start, because of our band name, we'd be asked to do silly sports-theme ideas. 'Hey, we've got a photoshoot idea. We are going to dress you as pins from ten-pin bowling, and we will bowl a ball at you down the lane.' No thanks!' Rice adds: 'The album is a journey through all the events, all these other things that come into your life.' Boys These Days kicks off with the catchy sexy sax song I'm In Love (Subaru). Knaggs says: 'It was fun to do songs with an '80s palette, with really corny saxophones — so yes there is a saxophone on there. Advertisement 'And Subaru was the most '80s song we'd written. It was us consciously trying to write a Prefab Sprout song. And then it spiralled out of control from that point.' "Humour is a key ingredient in Sports Team's songs, and the title track Boys These Days is no exception. That one is meant to be taken ambiguously,' explains Rice. 'It's about how the generation before you always think you've lost your way. 'I've always been fascinated by nostalgia culture. There's a Facebook group called Who Remembers Proper Binmen that really got us thinking about this idea.' Advertisement 'It's like boomer memes. Or nostalgic phrases like Who remembers chippy teas? Who remembers playing on bombsites? And everyone nods that they remember,' says Knaggs with a laugh. Rice adds: 'Boys These Days is a phrase that whatever the side of the political spectrum you're on with gender, you take it in a different way.' There's a line in Boys These Days about 'now it's all vaping and porn' and the topic turns to the rise in the number of students using the platform OnlyFans to fund university costs. There's a weird divide between older people who expect you to do certain things because you're in a band, like have groupies. It's weird Rice Knaggs says: 'We were actually approached by OnlyFans in the early days of the band — I think they were trying to get artists on board to give them a good image. Advertisement 'I guess 'And Lily Allen makes money selling photos of her feet. I'd do hands and feet stuff on OnlyFans, if my feet weren't so grotesque!' Rice says: 'There's a weird divide between older people who expect you to do certain things because you're in a band, like have groupies. It's weird. 'We're a mixed band where there's five guys. Music is still going through that transition but music for us has always been a positive masculine space. Advertisement 'Small venues are where you find a lot of community. It was for us when we were young and we are trying to create that as well.' The band — who formed while at Cambridge University — believe their privileged academic background has often been a double-edged sword. Knaggs points out other acts, including He adds 'Although I was always a bit annoyed, because we'd get branded as posh, whereas Rina Sawayama would be called an academic queen.' Advertisement Smiling, Rice says: 'I've always liked these fun little narratives, these beefs. Like when Boys These Days was made in Bergen, Norway, where Rice and Knaggs say they made the most of the different environment. Rice says: 'We loved it and worked Scandi hours, like 10am till 4pm which we'd never done before. And it was the end of January so had the heaviest of snow which was so beautiful. 'Me and Rob visited the Cold War bunkers there and walked a lot. We swam most days too. It was a great place to work.' Advertisement Knaggs says: 'But the Norwegians know how to live. We saw A-ha playing at a festival. Morten Harket is still a dish. 'We were backstage and he came straight off stage, got a ski jumper on and drove straight into the mountains. He's living very well that man.' Rice says: 'We worked with [CMAT and Girl In Red] producer Matias Tellez who was experimental with the band and our way of working. 'He's so comfortable in the studio. There are no preconceptions about how music should be made. In the past we've thought everything needed to be played live, or it's not credible. Advertisement After robbery ordeal, song felt very personal Sports Team 'Matias's methods were very freeing, the way he worked on the vocals and made us try things again and again. He made it spontaneous. He has a very sunny vibe and is incredibly energetic.' Knaggs adds: 'Also he doesn't come from that guitar world. We love guitar rock and are super nerds in that sense. With that comes a weird set of rules to how you record guitars, drums and bass. 'Brutal welcome' 'But Matias is happy to do whatever. He's about Scandi-Norwegian pop, which has separate rules to the UK or New York or LA music scene.' Other standout tracks on Boys These Days include Head To Space, a song about billionaires blasting off to the moon, and Moving Together, which includes a clever Coronation Street intro sample, (through copyright laws, the soap now own 20 per cent of that song). Advertisement Bang Bang Bang tackles the issue of gun violence — eerily written The boys had been enjoying breakfast when two masked men stormed their rental van at gunpoint, forcing tour manager Lauren Troutman to the ground and stealing thousands of pounds' worth of equipment and personal belongings. It left them shaken but determined to carry on with the tour, with Rice describing it as a 'brutal welcome to America'. He adds: 'We wrote the song months before and so the timing seemed strange. Advertisement 'It went from being this song about how jarring it feels to go into bars in the US, where people would show you their guns, or gun holes in the wall, or in shops, weaponry would be next to other things, which felt odd. Then suddenly it felt a very personal song. 'What was weird though was having the media come out and to see the massively different angles on the gun argument. We were doing all these interviews and just describing what happened rather than the (pro-gun) political line that some people wanted out of us.' Shaking his head, Knaggs says: 'It happened in a petrol station, so if we had a gun, we could have had a little shootout in the petrol station. No problem.' The band began a record- store tour last night in Edinburgh before summer shows in London and Margate and festivals. Advertisement Being in Sports Team is about having fun and creating a narrative about life — we've grown up a lot since we started — but it's just given us more things to write about Rice Rice says: 'We are playing Truck, Y Not, Kendall Calling and Leeds. There's a few more to be announced, and a big autumn tour. They have also been supporting Supergrass during their ongoing I Should Coco 30th anniversary tour — and will perform at their Mexico gig in September. 'We are excited. I love Supergrass. We've played with a lot of bands now and they are the people you want to be like that. They are fantastic live and the nicest people. 'I'm just looking at how touring will work now I'm a dad. 'There will be a lot of time when I'm probably around way more than with a normal job. It's the balance you strike. And this year, we've taken it a bit easier than we would do normally and my partner has been great and is a great mum. Advertisement 'Being in Sports Team is about having fun and creating a narrative about life — we've grown up a lot since we started — but it's just given us more things to write about.' Boys These Days is out today. SPORTS TEAM Boys These Days ★★★★☆ 3 Boys These Days is out today Credit: Supplied by PR
Times
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Peter Doherty: Felt Better Alive review — charming poetry and silliness
Two decades of wild living, often played out for the fascination of the tabloids, have done their work on 46-year-old Pete (now Peter) Doherty. The co-leader of the Libertines, the band that for much of the Noughties found the missing link between the Clash and Chas & Dave, revealed earlier this year that if he doesn't do something about his rich diet, excessive boozing and cigarette habit, his toes will have to be amputated. This horrific scenario comes after Doherty finally managed to quit heroin, leaving behind the carousing of years past with Kate Moss and the like for a quiet life in Normandy with his wife, Katia, and their toddler daughter. Now comes an album that sounds like a visit to the last chance saloon, a final throw of the dice, an attempt to get his life back on track before it is all too late. And it is delivered with the mix of insouciance, resignation, poetry and silliness that has always been at the heart of Doherty's charm. • Peter Doherty interview: 'I can't wear normal shoes at the moment' 'I tiptoed around gravestones digging up old songs, felt better, oh my,' he sings over a haunted fairground rhythm on Felt Better Alive, one of a handful of songs in which Doherty addresses his life's calling as a salvation from himself. With its elegant strings and bright melody, Pot of Gold starts out as a seemingly innocent lullaby to his daughter, before Doherty reveals more venal intentions. 'If that lullaby is a hit, dad can buy you loads of cool shit,' he sings, also suggesting that if his child is silent for a few moments more, he can write 'the kind of thing they pay millions for'. Rarely has such naked intention been laid out so barely in lyrical form. You wouldn't think Doherty, being a beloved indie rock singer of ill repute, should be worrying about money, but it turns out that all those years of addiction, which included three spells in jail, did not lead to the most prudent investment choices. 'I'm in serious financial shtuck,' Doherty told The Times last year, before revealing that he was facing a £200,000 tax bill, a black hole of debt for the Libertines' residential Margate studio the Albion Rooms, and three grand a month in child support for two older children from previous relationships. 'Why do you think I'm doing this tour?' he elaborated. Doherty is equally honest about his motivations on this album, while infusing it with a romantic sensibility that stops things from getting unpleasantly transactional. • Pete Doherty live review — you can't help but be charmed Prêtre de la Mer and Stade Océan, eulogies to Doherty's local priest and Normandy's football stadium respectively, take inspiration from his adopted country and have a rollicking Gallic quality, equal parts maudlin and celebratory. Sometimes Doherty's attempts to write his way out of trouble reek of desperation — Fingee is a bit of nonsense poetry about not much at all — but in the main there is ragged appeal, as Doherty has matured from public enemy No 1 to an ageing roué. It's a role that suits him. (Strap Originals)★★★★☆ Follow @timesculture to read the latest reviews
Daily Mirror
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Pete Doherty 'party row' death investigation closed despite 'new evidence' claim
Police told the mum of Mark Blanco, 30, who died after falling from the balcony of a flat where Libertines star Pete Doherty was partying, that his death 'will not be actively investigated further' Police have closed the case of a man who died after a row with musician Pete Doherty despite claims of new evidence that he was murdered, the Mirror can reveal. Nobody has ever been charged over the death of actor Mark Blanco, 30, who fell from the balcony of an East London flat in 2006 where the Libertines star was partying. A 2023 documentary claimed to have uncovered expert evidence that Mark was killed. Mark's mother Sheila, who has hired a lawyer who helped wronged subpostmasters win justice, filed a 30-page complaint to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, claiming cops have shown little interest in the case and barely spoken to her in the last three years. A senior officer has now told Sheila her son's death "will not be actively investigated further". Detective Chief Superintendent Neil Cochlin wrote: "I am sorry to inform you that the police investigation team has not identified any new lines of enquiry which would assist in providing conclusive answers to what happened to your son at the time of his death. "Taking into account the substantial information gathered since 2006, there is insufficient evidence to prove that a homicide has occurred. Consequently, the death of Mr Blanco will not be actively investigated further." Sheila told the Mirror: 'This letter from DCS Neil Cochlin does nothing to restore confidence or trust in the MPS dealings of Mark's murder. Operation Deckertown, as it was named, has been ongoing for almost 19 years. I consider the tone of this letter to be distasteful, dismissive, inaccurate and in part, insulting." The letter reveals that officers reinterviewed the tenant of the flat, Paul Roundhill, but he provided "no new evidence or insight". Doherty's minder Johnny 'Headlock' Jeannevol told police he had pushed Mark off the balcony but later retracted this, stating he was high on cocaine at the time. CCTV analyst and FBI instructor Grant Frederick claimed in 2023, based on fresh analysis of footage of the fall, that "there couldn't be just one person on the balcony". He told the Mirror: "What I would see is that Mark has come out and somebody has taken Mark and is putting him over the balcony. "If the measurements and the distance are correct, then Mark was thrown over the balcony, Mark was murdered." But the Met made contact with Mr Frederick and concluded "this material does not take the investigation further forward". DCS Cochin's letter adds: "There was no change to the scientific or medical evidence and there was nothing to demonstrate conclusively whether Mr Blanco fell, was pushed or jumped. It was also assessed that it would be difficult to establish that Mr Jeannevol's admissions were reliable ... In summary, no further lines of enquiry have been identified against Mr Jeannevol during the police investigation or by the CPS." The Sunday Mirror spoke to Mr Jeannevol, 46, outside his East London home in March. When asked what happened to Mark, he said: 'Go and ask Pete.' He later told us: 'If I had done it I would be in prison, someone would be in prison if they had done it. We just saw that he [Mark] had fallen and Pete ran and I followed him because that was my job, to look after Pete.' In October 2023, a month after the Channel Four documentary aired, Doherty said that he needed to get in touch with Sheila because 'she believes that I killed her son' and the story is 'just not going to go away'. He admitted there was "a bit of friction between us", adding: "We all had an altercation with Marco Blanco. There was pushing and shoving. The next thing he's on the floor and his skull's cracked open." The documentary included CCTV footage showing Doherty stepping over Mark and fleeing the scene. But he insisted he didn't see what happened and that he fled because he didn't want the "inconvenience" of being caught with class A drugs. Sheila says Doherty hasn't been in touch, adding: 'I have not been approached by Pete Doherty. Nor was I, or my lawyers, consulted ahead of the publication of his book in 2022. I would prefer if he spoke to the police and the police spoke to him, especially in the light of the new and important evidence from the C4 documentary.' Retired college lecturer Sheila has enlisted the help of expert lawyer Mike Schwarz, who represents some subpostmasters wrongly accused of stealing in the Horizon IT scandal. In her letter of complaint to the IOPC, she said that the 'police have failed to investigate this offence promptly or seemingly at all' and haven't treated it as 'potential homicide'. Sheila wanted a 'a fresh investigatory team, tasked with a full reinvestigation (so not a simple review) of Mark's death', the letter explained. The IOPC has passed this letter to Scotland Yard for its response. Detective Chief Superintendent Neil Cochlin told the Mirror: 'There have been numerous police investigations into Mark's death since 2006. Last month we wrote to update Ms Blanco on the case and informed her we have concluded there is no evidence to suggest his death was suspicious. "We understand this news is upsetting to Ms Blanco and our sympathies remain with her and all those who knew Mark. Although we are no longer actively investigating his death, if further information comes to light it will be assessed to see if there are any viable new lines of enquiry.'
Daily Mirror
05-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Pete Doherty reveals type 2 diabetes 'wake-up call' that turned his world upside down
The Libertines guitarist shared a harrowing insight into his diagnosis, even admitting that he was told to stay off his feet or risk having his toes amputated Rock icon Pete Doherty has shared a shocking update on his health challenges, opening up about his battle with type 2 diabetes, after admitting he was diagnosed with the chronic ailment in 2024. In a startling revelation earlier this year, The Libertines guitarist was cautioned to "stay off his feet" or face the grim prospect of toe amputation. Currently, the 46-year-old is unable to slip into regular footwear and has instead turned to clunky orthopaedic sandals for relief. In a candid chat with The Sunday Times Magazine, Pete admitted that despite his recent diagnosis, the disease likely took hold years earlier as a result of prolonged substance misuse. He disclosed how he confronted a harrowing scenario in January when he lost sensation in his extremities, leading two toes to turn ominously black. Pete shared: "I can't wear normal shoes at the moment. It was a real wake-up call." The star elaborated on the precariousness of possibly losing his toes – calling it a "touch and go" moment – highlighting a dire need for a radical transformation in both his personal habits and diet. Having been clean from drugs since late 2019, Pete acknowledged that excessive drinking exacerbated his condition, adding: "Now I allow myself a gin and tonic once a week, but I've basically not been drinking and have got my blood sugar to a good level, so my toes are healing. But smoking doesn't help... "If the inflammation gets too bad, you can lose your foot." Away from cigarettes and alcohol, Pete shared his other guilty pleasureS: "I like Comté [a type of French cheese], Comté on toast. My guilty pleasure is sleeping." What exactly is type 2 diabetes? The NHS describes type 2 diabetes as arising when a patient's insulin, a hormone, either isn't effective, or isn't produced in sufficient quantities. This malfunction leads to elevated glucose (sugar) levels in the bloodstream. It commonly affects adults but can occur in children as well. What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes? Symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes may result in serious health issues including vision loss, failure of organs, cardiac conditions and sometimes even necessitating amputation, as Pete highlighted. Generally, those with type 2 diabetes exhibit several noticeable symptoms: Feeling very tired Peeing more than usual Feeling thirsty all the time Losing weight without trying to How is type 2 diabetes treated? While diabetes remains incurable, it's manageable through lifestyle alterations. The NHS recommends adopting a nutritious diet replete with fruits, vegetables, whole grains such as wholemeal bread and oats, plus legumes, including chickpeas and lentils. Other professional tips include shedding excess weight, quitting smoking, moderating alcohol consumption and enhancing physical activity levels. For comprehensive details on type 2 diabetes management and treatment, click here to visit the NHS website.
Daily Mail
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Pete Doherty appears to be in good spirits as he takes to the stage in Berlin for his European tour after 'wake-up call' from shock health scare
Pete Doherty appeared to be in good spirits as he took to the stage in Germany during his European tour after revealing his recent health scare was a 'wake-up call'. The 46-year-old Libertines frontman took to the stage Huxleys Neue Welt in Berlin on Friday night for the latest stop on his Felt Better Alive European tour. He cut a casual figure in a shirt and jeans, which he styled with a black blazer and his trademark fedora hat as he sang out his hits for his fans. He was back on his feet singing and dancing after recently being forced to perform form a chair amid some serious health woes. In March, he revealed he is at risk of having his toes amputated after being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes last year. In a video obtained by The Sun at his gig in Munich, Germany, Pete provided his fans with a health update. He said: 'I saw the doctor today and he said you need to stay off your feet as much as you can otherwise you'll lose your toes.' He apparently didn't notice the sores on his feet until two of his toes went black in January. 'It was touch and go,' he told The Times of whether or not he would be able to keep his feet, having lost feeling in them. Those who suffer from diabetes carry the risk of foot-related complications as high blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels, in turn effecting the flow of blood to feet and legs. He admitted it 'was a real wake-up call' and he has 'basically not been drinking' since finding out. Pete continued: 'Now I allow myself a gin and tonic once a week, but I've basically not been drinking and have got my blood sugar to a good level, so my toes are healing.' The artist has been very open about his health over the years, previously claiming in 2023 that he felt 'death was lurking' due to the toll that years of drugs and alcohol abuse had on his body. He told documentary maker Louis Theroux that he was a 'very sick man… I've battered it haven't I, I've f***ing caned it.' 'The heroin and the crack… I surrendered to that, and then it was the cocaine and the smoking and the alcohol, and now it's cheese and the saucisson, and the sugar in the tea.' Last spring, Pete confirmed his diagnosis, saying: 'I've been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. And at the moment, I'm lacking the discipline to tackle cholesterol.' It seems Pete has worked on his lack of discipline after receiving some harsh words from his doctor. The star previously told the Evening Standard that his doctor had told him he had to change his diet immediately. He told the publication: 'I have seen a liver doctor who says I need to change my diet - too much cheese, too much milk. 'But the cheese is so good, that's part of the reason I stay here… It's a cholesterol and diabetes thing now, but there are tablets, it makes a big difference.' The rocker has previously admitted that his larger figure is the result of tucking into his guilty pleasure. In 2021, Pete said he had ditched drugs and was instead indulging on cheese on toast and enjoying long lie ins after staying up for six days straight during his wildest years.
