The Libertines Boys in the Band Rough Trade 2005 Fuckin' hell, you fools. "An ending fitting for the start/You twist and tore our love apart..." Yeah. Pete and Carl Libertine, the couple; two wayward troubadours who would, at their best, reach rhapsodic fury on stage. Posed in rather curious affection on the cover of their second and seemingly final album, Boys in the Band (which contains a small assortment of videos, live footage, photos and extras), the two lovers faithfully display their modest "libertine" tattoos. Drummer Gary Powell and bassist John Hassell aren't in the picture here. This is strictly the fabled and tormented love story of the two Libertines. In the interview section, Hassell says, "It's not often you get friends that have such a deep relationship." As a photo by Roger Sargent of the two lads interlaced flashes - Carl's limp, lithe arm flung around Peter's neck - as the two boys look particularly feminine and dainty. A volatile, but nonetheless fervent relationship they shared, with their best, most blissful and spirited moments flourishing on one mic, brushing each other's lips for a split second in lushed harmonies wherever they could find a place to set-up (kebob shops, squats, various cafes, and [London's] clammy-crammed Filthy McNasty's for an intimate and sweaty "Busking for Beer" gig). At one point in the interview, Powell recalls his most gripping seconds during their live shows: "Carl would turn around and look at me with this look of complete grimace, which meant he was actually really putting his all into it, and I'd look at him and I'd think, 'Hell yeah, you go on with your bad self, that's cool. And then I'd see Peter and he'd look at me with a complete look of joy on his face, having the best time in the world." When Carl and Pete and the rest of the 'Tines go up to receive the NME award for Best U.K. Band, the two frontmen, puffing cigs nonchalantly, decide to recite a poem. On cue, Pete starts: "I knew a simple soldier boy..." and Carl chimes in, "...who grinned through life an empty joy..." and so on. The audience claps and claps when it's over. The band's at its wobbly, tapered denim zenith and Pete puts his arm around Carl to embrace him, almost reaching his mouth... But alas, "Love goes cold in the shades of doubt," right? And in the end all of the barflies sit on their stools sipping whiskeys and pints in the penumbra of a dusky saloon, lonely and thinkin', What became of the likely lads?[...] ...... ... ... ... - Omar Sommereyns Back