X-clusive: Babyshambles' Bassist On Doherty
Xfm caught up with Babyshambles' bassist Drew McConnell at the Mercury Music Awards to talk about his erstwhile bandmate Pete Doherty.
Speaking backstage at the Mercury Music Awards 2007, Babyshambles' Drew McConnell took some time out to have an X-clusive catch up with Xfm.
Turning first to news from the Babyshambles' camp McConnell was understandly pleased that Doherty would be spending the next month in rehab and not behind bars as feared.
"Things are going spendidly, our singer's taken a little hiatus. I found out last night [that Pete was going into rehab] and I was overjoyed with the news.
"I think Peter needs a little rest some place and to be on the lemonade, not wearing pyjamas with arrows on them and receiving packages surreptitiously sneaked under the door. Well that’s what happens in prison you know?
"Last time I saw him [Doherty] we had just headlined a small tent in Weston Park", he continued, "And we were in soaring spirits and I haven’t seen him since. I hear from our manager and our lawyer that he’s doing swimmingly thank you."
But it was clear that McConnell had no plans to rest upon his laurels while the Babyshambles' front man took some time out.
Currently playing and touring with Mercury nominee Fionn Regan - whom he had accompanied to the awards that evening - McConnell has also been working on his own side project, as Jamie Morrison from The Noisettes was quick to inform us.
"Drew's got some songs and he goes under the name Helsinki", he revealed. "I christened him [McConnell] Helsinki, the Saint Helsinki. We’ve got Albert Hammond Junior from The Strokes and Steve Large from Squeeze.
"He goes by the name Lord Large", McConnell interjected, "He’s played on Shambles records and he plays with Paul Weller and Graham Coxon. We’ve just been in the studio doing some Helsinki songs and one's going to appear on a ‘Love Music Hate Racism’ CD that’s gonna feature as a cover mount, second week of October. It’s gonna be great."
You can listen to the entire interview now by clicking here.
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