Rock and roll was always destined to evolve. Despite nostalgic complaints about “better days,” the genre thrives when someone reinvents its core. While bands like Radiohead ventured beyond the genre, The Libertines proudly upheld punk’s rebellious spirit. But Noel Gallagher didn’t initially get Pete Doherty’s appeal.
When Up the Bracket first hit, its raw energy seemed at odds with the more polished indie sounds dominating the time. This divisive style made The Libertines stand out. But as people listened closer, they began to appreciate the band’s everyman punk sensibility, showcased in tracks like “The Boy Looked at Johnny” and “I Get Along.” After all, great art is often divisive.
The Libertines’ music felt like a modern, tuneful take on the hardcore punk ethos. U.S. bands like The Replacements had similar disaffected punk energy, and now that spirit had crossed over into the next generation.
Noel Gallagher, however, wasn’t impressed. In an interview with Stuff Magazine, he bluntly stated, “He’s overrated. He’s marginally talented but not anywhere as good as me. If he wasn’t f**ing a supermodel, no one outside of NME would give a shit about him.”
This kind of comment is typical of Gallagher, whose persona is built around tearing down anything he deems unworthy of rock and roll. But despite Gallagher’s harsh view, The Libertines undeniably had the right ingredients to be a great rock act.
Behind the scenes, the chemistry between Doherty and Carl Barat echoed the dynamic of legends like Mick Jones and Joe Strummer, crafting memorable pop songs through their tension and collaboration. Songs like “Can’t Stand Me Now” aren’t meant to be deep—they’re about making you feel something.
Gallagher’s dismissal of Doherty is baffling considering his admiration for the Sex Pistols, a band that also built their legacy on attitude and image. So why doesn’t the same principle apply to Doherty and The Libertines?
Doherty never sought to replicate the first wave of British punk, but rather, he infused it with his own messy, charming energy. While Gallagher cemented his place in rock history with Oasis, The Libertines, much like The Strokes, revived the gritty, boozy rock sound of grimy clubs—and made it fun again.
