Carl Barât: 'The secret to being a rock star is hard work not hellraising'

Tricks of the trade: Carl Barat says hard work is the key to being a rock star
Dave Benett
Alistair Foster27 July 2017
The Weekender

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Carl Barât says the secret to being a rock star is hard work, not hellraising — but knowing the tricks of the trade helps too.

The Libertines guitarist and singer, who has had a long and turbulent career with bandmate Pete Doherty, will be sharing his advice with budding musicians at a BBC masterclass he has helped to set up.

Amplify, which takes place at ExCel in October, will also feature members of The Courteneers, Hurts and Blossoms, as well as radio DJs Annie Mac, Jo Whiley and Huw Stephens.

Topics will include how to write a hit record, using social media and whether or not artists need a manager.

Barât, 39, told the Standard: “The obvious thing to say to an aspiring musician is practise, practise, practise ... but actually what is more important is to know the ins and outs of everything.

"It’s not just about knocking tables over and getting w******* — this is a great event to give young people the tools they need. If you wait around waiting for your music to be heard, you’ll never be found.

"We tried all sorts of tricks when we were first starting. We’d pay for taxis for record label people to come to our gigs, we would exaggerate the amount of fans we had and try to make it look like we had a proper following.”

Together again: The Libertines reform

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The Libertines split in 2004 but made a comeback a decade later. The have been defined by Barât’s fiery relationship with Doherty, who has battled drug addiction.

Barât said: “Sometimes you should embrace the conflict rather than change the rhythm. If the band is greater than the sum of its parts and creating something unique then you have to fight for it.

"The major pitfall most people face is giving up. When you feel like you’re not getting anywhere, you try some more. Then you try more and more. If things still aren’t working, you change your name, mix things up, and try some more.”

He also revealed The Libertines’ latest project — buying a house at the seaside. “Things are good at the moment,” he said. “We are all going to be under one roof soon, get an Albion factory down by the sea.

“We want to live there together for a while, write and record our next album there. It will have its own bar, obviously...” Asked about Doherty, Barât replied: “Pete is Pete — he will never let you down!”

Amplify, organised by BBC Music Introducing and SME London, runs from October 6 to 8. Tickets cost £26 from introducingamplify.com/tickets

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