“Ladies and gentlemen, we are The Libertines!” hollers Doherty - the band’s only words to the packed HMV Forum of fortunate ballot-winners. Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again’ plays over a slideshow of rare photos of the band, forcing the waiting audience to tear their eyes away from the empty stage. After chants of “Who are ya” at Amy Winehouse as she watches from a balcony, a hushed silence passes over the crowd before a deafening roar as the likely lads (all four!) take to the stage together for the first time in six years.

As promised by Carl, they kick off with Horrorshow which aptly marks the beginning of a set which showcases a cross-section of their back catalogue. From #2 single ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’ to b-side ‘Lust of the Libertines’ and a nine song encore, fans were treated to tracks spanning their career to a backdrop of the memorable photo from the cover of ‘Up The Bracket’. The swift pace of proceedings, partly down to the lack of interaction with the crowd, doesn’t give the audience a moment to breathe as they are swept back and forth across the Forum’s beery floor. Spotted are: Amy Winehouse pilfering beer from a fan, Mik Whitnall of Babyshambles (remember them?) enjoying a raucous ‘Boys In The Band’ and James Endeacott - the man who signed The Libertines to Rough Trade - being restrained by security as he sings ‘What A Waster’ from the balcony.

‘Don’t Look Back Into The Sun’ proves too much for a couple of members of the crowd in the upper seated section, who make a brave dash for the stairs down to the standing area. Hopefully they didn’t miss Pete n Carl’s trademark jostling for the mic as they share the cries of “let me go!” and “oh no”. Much to the confusion of security guards, the “you see these two cold fingers, these crooked fingers I show” lyric of ‘Up The Bracket’ sees a venue of adoring fans return Doherty’s two-fingered salute in unison. They finish on ‘I Get Along’ like the good old days at the Forum (Libertines pun intended) and Pete hurls his harmonica into the baying crowd. An embrace between Pete and Carl raises a huge cheer, then they are joined by John and Gary, a final bow and, ultimately, darkness.

If you’re going to Reading and Leeds, nice one, you’re in for a treat. Albeit a sweaty, riotous one. I hope you like being elbowed in the face and, now I mention it, Up The Bracket; the set was more weighted towards their first album. So it seems that The Libertines were tired of hanging around (so they picked up a guitar and spun a web of sound). Everyone at The Forum last night has partaken in music history, and anyone who wasn’t there can surely bear witness to the ongoing legacy that is The Libertines in the near future. All the clichés happened: Pete was late, Carl wore a vest, Gary was shirtless and John was…well…John. These are givens. But what can never be said enough is how much of an impact the dilly boys have had on British music since they exploded onto the scene in 2000. The Albion sailed on course, of course.

By Julie Tanner

The Libertines played:

Horrorshow
The Delaney
Vertigo
Last Post On The Bugle
Tell The King
Boys In The Band
Music When The Lights Go Out
What Katie Did
Can't Stand Me Now
Death On The Stairs
The Ha Ha Wall
Don't Look Back Into The Sun
Time For Heroes

Encore:
Campaign Of Hate
Begging
Lust Of The Libertines
What Became Of The Likely Lads
The Good Old Days
Radio America / Up The Bracket
What A Waster
I Get Along