Until today I knew nothing of Pete Doherty, but this poor woman knew far too much about him. She had the extreme misfortune to live next door to him.
Ms Latteck, who shared a wall of her maisonette in Bethnal Green, east London, with Doherty, said she had decided to speak out after being incensed by the glorification of the singer as a modern rock legend. “He is presented as some kind of hero. He is not. The truth is that he made me very sick with incessant loud music, day and night,” she said. “It was like having a 100 watt speaker at full volume in my bedroom. The walls and furniture would shake.”
That is the Telegraph version of this horrible creature.
Here is the kind of thing that Ms Latteck was complaining about:
He went into jail rambling and incoherent, but is set to emerge as a poet. Pete Doherty, the drug-addict pop star, will find himself pursued by publishers as well as paparazzi when he emerges from HMP Pentonville tomorrow after being jailed following a rumpus that left a documentary-maker with two black eyes and a broken nose.
Already famous for his drug-fuelled antics as the former frontman for The Libertines, as well as his on-off relationship with the supermodel Kate Moss, Doherty is being seen as a hot property after agents learnt that he had been scrawling volumes of verse since his teens. Publishing houses are bidding to sign up the wayward star, who is due to be released tomorrow on bail after being charged with robbery and blackmail. A source close to Doherty, 25, said that he had been approached by a number of publishers.
Now I know what you are thinking. How good is the Horrible Creature’s poetry? Well, ask a stupid question.
I would like to see the Horrible Creature’s poems make an enormous amount of money, and for all the money to be given to Ms Latteck, with just enough set aside to enable the Horrible Creature to buy enough drugs to kill himself. That is surely what the wiser sort of publishers would prefer. The Horrible Creature is the kind of person who does more good for his fellow humans when dead. When he does die, which surely will not be long now, those who want to can enjoy his poetry and have fun telling each other what it all means, without anyone having any longer to put up with him. Art is often like that, I think.
Rows of dutiful school children in matching desks and matching school uniforms can then study his poems for their GCSE English exams.
Won’t Ms Latteck require the services of a state to such a redistribution of wealth from Mr Doherty.
Surely Mr Doherty is the type of person who is much more likely to keep a gun on top of his Popper?
Personally I’d just settle for this deeply unpleasant creature getting the “whoops I just dropped my soap, pick it up boy” treatment in HMP Pentonville’s showers, let’s see how good his incoherent drug-induced poetry is after a few memorable real life experiences.
The only person I really feel sorry for out of all of this must be for Kate Moss’ poor daughter. It does seem to be a question of six of one or half-a-dozen of the other in relation to either the unfortunate Kate Moss’ behaviour or this dreadful Peter Doherty’s.
Hmm, I must have missed a trick somewhere. When did this switch from being a libertarian blog to a conservative blog? (and, on this post, not one of conservatism’s better sides, either)
His drug-taking is irrelevant; it’s a personal choice which, although we don’t have to approve of, have little right to condemn beyond a belief that he’d be better off not taking drugs. Whilst I fear I am being a little unserious, I can help but think that if he can hold down a career as media darling and pop star due to his drug-taking, it would seem that continued drug-taking (and thus continued media interest) might even be a rational choice – the only risk being that of overdose.
Of course, it’s quite likely that the possiblity of his death is being factored into the calculations of his value; the possibility that he might die and become the ‘English Kurt Cobain’ probably makes him more attractive to potential publishers. Still, it’s all rational economics; one might find it distateful, but that’s about all that one really ought to be able to do.
So you want to confiscate his entire property, save the amount necessary to buy a packet of paracetamol? For playing some loud music and being in the newspapers too often? What did the saintly Ms Latteck do to deserve such a windfall, save live next to a pop star for a period of time?
I’m becoming less shocked at it these days, but it still surprises me to see how quickly libertarian notions disappear when confronted with an individual the author personally dislikes. Over the course of the post, you advocate the confiscation of his property and, whilst not actually suggesting that he should be killed, state that ‘his fellow humans’ would be better off with him dead – as if our opinions should make any difference! At the heart of individualism is the right of individuals to behave as they choose and suffer the consequences of their actions, in proportion to those actions. Until he kills someone, he has as much right to live as anyone else. Any loss of property he suffers should be in proportion to the losses he inflicts on others – if Ms Latteck wants, she could probably sue for compensation (and probably sell her story to the highest-bidding tabloid too).
Now, I’m no particular fan of Pete Doherty. But I’m not fan of self-appointed hanging judges either, and given the choice between the two I’m (regrettably) on the side of the druggie singer.
Julian – You don’t feel sorry for Ms Latteck? Kate Moss was in it of her own free will.
Rob
Fare comments. If I was adjudicating this for real, I probably wouldn’t strip the man of his entire property, and I certainly wouldn’t execute him. But I do think he is horrible, and in particular that he behaved horribly towards Ms Latteck. I got angry with him. For playing loud music all around the clock, relentlessly, despite being begged by his next-door neighbour to let her get some sleep.
This was a little more than “playing some loud music”. You make it sound like one noisy Saturday night, when according to Ms Latteck it was a great many nights, and many more mornings. I take it you do concede that such impingements of one person on another can be a real and serious problem.
I agree that drug taking shouldn’t be a legal issue, but behaviour, drug influenced or not, should sometimes be, and certainly if it is the kind of behaviour that Ms Latteck was apparently subjected to. She ought to have had some legal recourse, but apparently had none. Unless of course she made it all up, which I suppose is possible.
If I minded Pete Doherty getting media coverage I would not have added my pennyworth to that coverage. On the contrary, I think that such coverage is a good thing. As I say, Ms Latteck could have made it up, and if so, she deserves public criticism. And noise nuisance is a serious issue that deserves public discussion and debate. The relationship between personal artisticness and personal disgustingness is an endlessly fascinating one.
I haven’t read Doherty’s poetry. Maybe, if someone prints it out legibly and I read it, I will find that I like it a whole lot more than I like its author.
Taking drugs may be a personal choice initially, but once addicted to heroin and crack the addict has essentially lost the freedom of choice,even if he gets of the stuff he will always be an addict.
It is obvious that Doherty has completely lost control to the point where his choices are damaging others as he continues his drug fueled rampage through life.
A libertine not a libertarian.
Bollocks. I’m sorry Brian, but a captive-bolt gun to the temple of this excescence would be a mercy, One should be grateful that Ms Latteck did not succeed in her plan of retribution, lest she be languishing in Holloway awaiting trial, but better that someone rid the world of this odious hobbledehoy forthwith. I can find no redeeming feature, and adduce his ‘poetry’ for the prosecution’s case.
Rob, since when was it “libertarian” to assault one’s neighbours with incredibly loud racket? Very loud noise is an assault and many property contracts, such as a leashold, explictly make that clear.
Of course if the fella wanted to carry on in this way, I am sure he could have bought an isolated country cottage.
I am sure that the NME crowd probably hope he does a “Cobain”, they have had some pathetic selfish wanker, of dubious talent, to idolise for quite a long time. The fact that he has been nominated in every catagory by NME just shows how lame that magazine has become.
Well said Rob.
I do love to watch principles fly out the window of a Monday afternoon.
The guy appears to be selfish, unbearably rude, and drug addled – rather like a more pleasant and younger version of Taki Theodoracopolous.
His loud music must have made life quite unpleasant for, at most, around 5-6 people. This very rude behaviour is morally somewhere on perhaps the level of cheating at cards for money, or at worst cheating on your wife. It’s considerably better than say, white collar crime such as fraud, and far better than casual disregard for human life, as in extreme drink driving. So I fail to see why people like Peter are spewing the most ludicrous purple prose onto this blog about what a vile creature he is.
He’s a wild and crazy 25 year old doing a jolly good job of returning rock and roll to its genuinely counter-cultural roots. It’s like punk before the marketing.
He’s getting rich and famous playing loud guitar, doing drugs and shagging super models.
So, how about less of the silly, jealous, pompous, self satisfied preaching, and a big ‘rock on’ to critically irrational individualism!
J
Errata:
In the above post, I mean to say it is David Gillies who is writing purple prose, not Peter, who is in fact writing sense.
Exactly. Peter Doherty should therefore face whatever consequences are set out either by the law or the contract he signed. That, rather than arbitrary “fitting” punishment, is what libertarian philosophy tells us should be done.
First off, the poem you linked to has its moments. Doherty is cearly literate and aware, and it’s not incoherent. Very self-centred though, and overdoes the poesy.
As for the “noise”, that tends rather to be in the ear of the behearer. Certainly in Britain people seem unusually exercised by the playing of music by the neighbours, and often regard it as a kind of invasion of privacy. Mrs Whatsername protests too much: “walls shaking,” I don’t think so.
No doubt Mr D is a bit of a thug as well, plenty of those in showbiz. The Gallagher brothers are a pretty lethal pair. So hellraising, as they call it in entertainment speak, is par for the course.
There is a difference between hell-raising and being a smack-addict. One is a natural thing for a rocker to do, the other is a wonderful way of ending up dead early. I do not understand why a certain set of music fans/journos love to see rockers who are junkies. Generally the musicians this lot idiolise are not as talented as they are made out of to be and make money for other people, by dieing early.
Do the self-proclaimed utltra-hip NME types really need another martyr?
Rockers who are junkies have produced some great work, from Jagger/Richards through Lou Reed all the way through to Elliot Smith.
To suggest that taking heroin automatically makes you a great artist is silly. To suggest that it automatically prevents you from being one is equally so…
Heroin has destroyed more musical talent than it has created,star with Charlie Parker and scroll up to the present day.
Not that Doherty is as talented as Parker.
Bit of a thug? Have you seen the scrawny little git? There is more meat on a squirrel.
Loud music coupled with today’s sound systems is an assault. It elevates the blood pressure of those exposed to it (and I believe it also elevates the heart rate, but I’m not sure of that point), it does indeed shake walls and make floors vibrate, it damages the eardrums of the listener and, if it is forced on one (rather than being exposed to it by choice), it makes concentration on any mental task impossible.
If what she claims is true, Ms Latteck was assaulted and should be able to seek damages.
I’ve never heard of this little git, but if he’s assaulting people with his noise, he should have to pay the price. I hope Ms Latteck has sought counsel’s opinion.
Anybody who says Pete Doherty is better off dead is a moron. Sure he could be a despicable person, but there are tons of people like him out there, he just gets all the attention because he is a brilliant writer and a good guitarist on top of that. His lyrics are on a completely different level then anything else out there-not only am i not surprised that hes getting so much attention, im disappointed he isnt getting more praise, or the Libertines for that mattter
… after failed stints at The Priory and under a tough regime in a Thai monastery.
Why is it that just about every time we hear of The Priory, in terms of drug or drink rehab, it always seems to be preceded by “failed rehabilitation” (George Best, Pete Doherty Liam Gallagher etc. etc. ad nauseam)? Mind you, going for heroin rehab in one of the few countries where heroin is produced in large quantities (Thailand) doesn’t exactly sound like the best idea. How about 6 months forced rehab in a British military jail in Basra?
I love Pete’s music, I’ve lost loved ones, I’ve been disrupted, I’m a libertarian, I’ve also sold my soul, try not to believe everything you read. Life’s too short to be so fucking negative.
How can any of you say that Pete DOherty is a “Horrible Creature” he is a brilliant songwriter and musician, his drug habit is completely irrelevant. He is not a “thug” either, many of you do not know anything about him but presume he is because of what you read in the gutter press. He is one of the most talented musicians of our generation and for this he should be praised and not condemned.
Correct me if i’m wrong but you guys have no right wotsoever to call him a “horrible creature”, his drug taking habits are completely his own choice and only affect him, and to be fair he is now off the drugs after a short but apparently successful spell in rehab. He is innocent until proven guilty on all his assault and blackmail charges, and the same goes for the accusations (maybee lies) of “making a racket at all hours of the night, on several occasions”, these things have a habit of being over exagerated by the accuser and then again by the press.
Anyway, his personal life is no-ones business but his own (and his accusers) and as members of the general public should concentrate more on the mans carreer, anyone who considers him a pop star (as i have read several times on this site) clearly don’t understand his music at all. Pop is the kind of drivvel we are forced to listen to by stupid people, its middle-of-the-road nonscence, with no underlying meaning other than happiness and love, pete’s music is more about what people with ‘less advantaged’ upbringings and ways of life experience every day, it’s beutiful poetry set to a punk/indie sounding music and it shook a huge part of my generation out of pop complaicency by giving our feelings and emotions a voice. He makes a point of not following the leader, instead of the pop philosophy of all trying to look like our mothers kopped off with the same milkman, who all try and fit in, and who all suffer from a complete void where their origionallity and artistic side should be located.
I’m sorry to sound up myself and elitest but i fear that anyone who dissagrees with this is wrong and they are too closed minded. And whats more, they should be ashamed to call themselves libertarian, if that is your point of view you are not a liberatarian, more someone who wishes to be, but when it comes to real life examples, really isn’t, more like aconservative right wing nutcase who is living in some alternative reallity where just becaust they think they are right, it makes them so, thats not true, you are in fact wrong, this is the last thing to be sead on the subject, i consider it now closed.
Oh the irony.
It’s amazing how people get so mixed up when they talk about how some people should be allowed to express themselves yet some others aren’t.
This is why we have laws!!!!
Peter doherty is a great man who is highly inteligent in some ways but is also dumb and takes his drug addiction to the limit. The words he sings in his song are very meaningfull to young teenagers and shows emotional expretion. i think that all of may have been pretty harsh on him and since he is screwed up he should not be critisised but helped.
Lets face it; music is better than politics. We all know it. We also all know that we’d rather have loud music played to us constantly at antisocial hours than be chased down the street by a mad secretary with a hammer. So lets just say they are both crappy neighbours and leave it at that.
Also if anyone deserves the death penalty I would say its the drug dealers who continually murder people and ruin many peoples lives AND get money out of it. I think that if we must talk about law and politics the only thing that needs questioning is the fact that a drug dealer , who is basically a mass murderer, does not get as harsh a sentence as someone who only murders one person. Im only 14 and even I can work that out. Stop argueing over petty issiues just because the big ones seem too daunting, your adults and people will listen to you.
Well wat can i say they are a great band and pete is a genious, but he needs too get his act together and stop fucking about. like i said they are great and have some good rifts in there songs but they are not the libertines are they?
george
well i would like to say i hate all babyshambles songs but i think they are not bad, and i agree with this george fella, pete is a good kid but has bin caught in the wrong croud but he is also a bit of a twat as you well know
carl xxxx stand by you forever if you stand by me pete
Do any of you actually know pete? I’m not saying that I do But Don’t you think you are being a bit harsh on him? A drug addiction is an extremely hard thing to get out of and he should not immedialy be thought of as a “thug” just because of this. If you listen to some of his songs on his website they are very meaningfull and sensetive and if he is such a “horrible creature” then he would not be able to produce such good music. He is a young rock and roll star so he will be having partys and playing his music at full volume… im not saying I dont fell sorry for ms latteck but rather than trying to kill him with a hammer shoudn’t she just move house and let him get on with his life?
Also kate moss isn’t stupid and she wouldn’t be in love with him if there wasn’t a sweet innocent man behind the dark influence and abuse of drugs. I mean she could probably have any one in the world if she wanted!!
I just feel you are judging him a bit to harshly, with your only evidence being storys in the papers…
How wierd to wish someone dead based on hatred which arises purely from what you red in teh ever truthful and honourable british tabloid press. Wierd.
I suppose though that your blog might get a few more hits now that youve included his name – same ploy as the tabloids use to sell papers. Nasty business.
Oh dear the tabloids really do affect people. People who slag off that man tend to be people with little or no knowledge of his music. Quite simply he is a lyrical genius the only person i can think that is better at crafting great songs with great lyrics was the late great John lennon. People always scoff when i say The libertines are as good as the beatles but i believe they were and babyshambles arent half bad either. Listen to the lyrics of Can’t stand me now and you will here genius if you don’t well you are in a bad state. Me being an impressionable teenager find his antics amusing and on the whole fun but i do feel for anyone who has suffered from his actions. His drug taking is no more than others have done previous and his music justifys his status he is the only man to have really connected with the youth for a very long time. Oasis god bless em were a great rock n roll band but there lyrics abysmal and are now a joke and should give up. They were always compared to the Beatles but the libertines truely were that good. I cant tell how much they mean to me and that might sound sad.. well so be it that band saved a waning industry. Pete in particular is a genius although Carl is equally talented. Babyshambles who i recently saw look set to take the libertines mantle of best band. They rock and petes lyrics are amzing. that man means a heck of a lot to his fans and his fuck you attitude represents us and as long as he stays with us the world is a better life. So anyone slagging him off shut up and go back to U2 you middle class boring wankers.
In the words of the other libertine genius Cark Barat:
Peope tell me im wrong……..Fuck em
Oh dear the tabloids really do affect people. People who slag off that man tend to be people with little or no knowledge of his music. Quite simply he is a lyrical genius the only person i can think that is better at crafting great songs with great lyrics was the late great John lennon. People always scoff when i say The libertines are as good as the beatles but i believe they were and babyshambles arent half bad either. Listen to the lyrics of Can’t stand me now and you will here genius if you don’t well you are in a bad state. Me being an impressionable teenager find his antics amusing and on the whole fun but i do feel for anyone who has suffered from his actions. His drug taking is no more than others have done previous and his music justifys his status he is the only man to have really connected with the youth for a very long time. Oasis god bless em were a great rock n roll band but there lyrics abysmal and are now a joke and should give up. They were always compared to the Beatles but the libertines truely were that good. I cant tell how much they mean to me and that might sound sad.. well so be it that band saved a waning industry. Pete in particular is a genius although Carl is equally talented. Babyshambles who i recently saw look set to take the libertines mantle of best band. They rock and petes lyrics are amzing. that man means a heck of a lot to his fans and his fuck you attitude represents us and as long as he stays with us the world is a better life. So anyone slagging him off shut up and go back to U2 you middle class boring wankers.
In the words of the other libertine genius Cark Barat:
Peope tell me im wrong……..Fuck em
I meant Carl … how embarrsing
WTF???? You, sir, are a monstrous carbuncle, bespoiling the noble internet with your inane nonsense! Shame on you, sir, shame on you!
By you, I mean whoever started spouting such shite about Pete Doherty, one of the most talented poets and songwriters that the UK has yet produced.
have any journalists actually listened to his music? it is life changing and inspiring. the words he comes up with are of such quality journalists could only dream of his amazing ability and talent. i ,being young myself have been taught alot by a man i have never met. he inspired me to pick up a guitar and also to think that words have inportance. even if he has taught me how not to live my life he has still taught me more than stupid journalists who must be tired of being so judgemental.