It’s not cool right now to be technically extraordinary. The Libertines couldn’t play guitar to save their lives. The attitude that you can pick up an instrument that’s out of tune and thrash away at it, singing to your heart’s content, is massively inspiring. We’re fed up with supershiny pop records, and the monster stadium-rock bands. When I produced some of the Libertines’ records, Carl Barat would come up with the simplest riffs and he’d not be able to play them properly, and it was brilliant. He didn’t think in terms of complex scales and notes, just something to sing along to.
Bernard Butler – my favourite guitarist, on the guitar – my favourite instrument, namechecking The Libertines – my favourite band. A good read.
It hasn’t been cool since 1976…
tbh, the liberteens were nothing new, but did (and PD still does…) provide mild amusement.
Musically, perhaps you’re right – but it was about the songs, and the performance. Saw ‘em at Brixton Academy towards the end, and it was absolutely the best live performance I have ever witnessed.
PS. What happened in 1976?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Rose