Doherty praises British penal system

Troubled English singer Pete Doherty has branded the British prison system a success, insisting jailing criminals stops them offending.

The "Babyshambles" frontman has spent several periods behind bars during his seven-year battle against heroin and crack cocaine addiction, including a stint in 2003 for even burgling his former bandmate Carl Barat's apartment, reports contactmusic.com.

He is adamant time in prison won't help to reform criminals, but insists jailing them works because crooks can't offend while they're locked away.

"It keeps you off the street, doesn't it? It works in that way. But it doesn't stop you offending... Not through rehabilitation. Prison works, because it stops you committing crime," he said.

The Specials Confirmed For V Festival

The Specials will be performing at this years V Festival, along with other Coventry band, The Enemy. The recently reformed SKA band will be playing on Saturday 22nd August and Sunday 23rd August 2009 at Weston Park in Staffordshire and Hylands Park in Chelmsford.

Headlining the V Festival are Oasis and The Killers, with a whole host of top bands and artists including -Fatboy Slim, Snow Patrol, Keane, Elbow, Razorlight, Ting Tings, Pendulum, MGMT and Lady Ga Ga.

Also appearing will be James, Lily Allen, Katy Perry, The Wombats, James Morrison, Pete Doherty and The Streets..

Tickets go on sale Friday 6th March at 10am, find out more at http://www.vfestival.com/ . Prices are £73 for a single day, £132 for both days or £152 for weekend entry that includes camping.

Here are the list of artists confirmed for this years V Festival:

The Killers
Oasis
Razorlight
Elbow
The Streets
MGMT
The Wombats
The Script
Lily Allen
The Ting Tings
Bify Clyro
Keane
Pendulum
Snow Patrol
Peter Doherty
James
Katy Perry
The Saturdays
Ocean Colour Scene
Happy Mondays
Lady Gaga
Seasick Steve
Fatboy Slim
Paolo Nutini
The Enemy
The Specials
Dizzee Rascal

NME Awards 2009: The Winners

The NME Awards took place at the Brixton Academy last night and the winners list is printed below, with Oasis, Pete Doherty (pictured above - PA Photos), Kings of Leon and Muse were all winners at the ceremony.

For the full details, pictures and videos - check out: http://www.nme.com/awards

Best British Band: Oasis

Best International Band: The Killers

Best New Band: MGMT

Best Live Band: Muse

Best Solo Artist: Pete Doherty

Best Album: Kings of Leon Only By The Night

Best Track: MGMT "Time To Pretend"

Best Video: Last Shadow Puppets "My Mistakes Were Made For You"

Best DVD: Arctic Monkeys At the Apollo

Best Album Artwork: Muse HAARP

Best Venue: London Astoria

Best Live Event: Glastonbury

Best Blog: Noel Gallagher

Best TV Show: The Mighty Boosh

Best Dressed: Alexa Chung

Worst Dressed: Amy Winehouse

Godlike Genius: The Cure

Outstanding Contribution to British Music: Elbow

Hero of the Year: Barack Obama

Villain of the Year: George W. Bush

Worst Band & Worst Album: Jonas Brothers

Sexiest Male: Matt Bellamy

Sexiest Female: Hayley Williams

Best Website: YouTube

Philip Hall Radar Award: The Big Pink

Babyshambles Banned From Moonfest Festival By Police

Babyshambles on stage (pic: Guardian)

Pete Doherty and Babyshambles have been banned from performing at the Moonfest festival, that was set to take place on August 29-31 in Wiltshire by police, according to the NME website.

Doherty's band were due to play at the bash on the opening Friday night (August 29), but a police investigation into Babyshambles' stage manner led them to draw the conclusion that their performance would be likely to incite violence.

Chief Superintendent Julian Kirby, divisional commander of Wiltshire Police, said: "We carried out an analysis of what Pete Doherty and his band does.

"What he does as part of his routine is to gee up the crowd. They speed up and then slow down the music and create a whirlpool effect in the crowd.

"They [the crowd] all get geed up and then they start fighting."

Police presented their findings to North Wiltshire Magistrates on Monday (August 17), who ordered festival organisers to cancel any appearance from Doherty or Babyshambles.

Reacting to the police's decision, Babyshambles drummer Adam Ficek said he was angry, but said that the band would try to organise an alternative show. "The whole thing is a farce, it's almost comical,"

"The organiser of the festival is now on the verge of bankruptcy," he continued. "Why? Because we intentionally speed up and slow down the tempo of our songs. We're now in the process of trying to make it happen in a different venue. Watch this space."

More updates and news at: NME.COM

Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty Winemouse Videos

Amy Winehouse pictures:
HERE

Amy Winehouse and the "Winemouse" video

This must be the most bizarre video of 2008, yet somehow compelling viewing as singer's Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty filmed together with tiny mice. The press are having a field day mentioning drugs, dirty hands and animal cruelty.

Judge for yourself by watching the two videos below, the first one has been "banned" by YouTube (I think someone was pissed off because it was getting so many hits!):


Winemouse - Part 1


Winemouse - Part 2

Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty pictured by Splash in London

Read: "robmacca In YouTube 'Winemouse' Controversy": HERE