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From Drug Addiction to Diabetes: The Rise and Fall of Pete Doherty

BBG News

Unable to speak clearly and visibly shaky, Pete Doherty kept trying to insert the key into the lock of his old car multiple times.

Struggling and finding himself unable to go on his own, he implored me for assistance, emphasizing that he needed a ride since he wanted to travel nearly ten miles from his apartment in Hackney, east London, to watch his favorite football team, Queens Park Rangers, in west London, where he had been invited to the director’s box.

Every time he failed to make it into the slot, eventually, I took his keys from him and instructed him to hail a cab instead.

It was 2006, and the Libertines singer’s fame was then at its height – as was his drug addiction.

On that bustling Saturday morning, I found myself knocking on Pete’s rather unkempt doorstep – all in the pursuit of a juicy scoop for my latest article. The rumors about his relationship with supermodel, Kate Moss, had sparked quite the media whirlwind, and I was eager to get his side of the story. While the specifics have since faded from memory, it’s clear that Kate was at the heart of our conversation that day.

In that place, I came across an individual who clearly hadn’t slept the previous night, reeked strongly, and sported filthy fingernails. This seems to support the stories about his notorious lifestyle of self-destruction.

(or)

Upon arrival, I found a person who was evidently sleep-deprived, had a terrible body odor, and had neglected his nail hygiene. His state appeared to validate the legends of his destructive habits.

(or)

There, I encountered someone who clearly hadn’t been to bed, smelled awfully, and had unkempt nails – all signs that seemed to align with stories about his excessive self-destructive behavior.

Upon learning this week that Pete has been seated during his last five performances, even though he’s just 45 years old, my initial reaction was: It’s astonishing he’s still managing to stay healthy.

In a recent conversation with his fans in Munich, the singer shared that due to his type 2 diabetes, his physician advised him to minimize standing for extended periods to prevent losing his toes.

Since last Friday, he’s switched from wearing slippers or socks on stage to wearing lace-up orthopedic shoes with straps due to his swollen feet, a common issue among people with diabetes.

It was truly disheartening to witness, especially since I frequently encountered him during his high-spirited years in the mid-2000s. Despite his notorious struggle with heroin and cocaine addiction, he was the epitome of liveliness on the social scene, always sporting a dashing hat.

Currently, Pete’s life stands in stark contrast to his past, encompassing extravagant social gatherings and his once humble dwelling in Hackney that ultimately led to his eviction due to unpaid rent. Notably, the musician was present at an East London gathering held in December 2006, where it is said that Mark Blanco, a 30-year-old aspiring actor and Cambridge graduate, fell from a first-floor balcony. Tragically, he succumbed to his head injuries the following day.

At a party, surveillance cameras captured Doherty and his bodyguard, Johnny Headlock, leaving the scene without stopping, even though Blanco’s body was lying in the street near them.

Jeannevol initially admitted to the police that he had committed a murder, but subsequently withdrew his confession. No charges were filed against him.

In 2020, Doherty decided to leave the UK and settle in the tranquil Normandy countryside of France. He attributes this life-saving move to the fact that urban areas, such as Marseilles, Paris, Lille, and Perpignan, made it too convenient for drug dealers to locate him. As he shared last year, “It was just too simple for them to find me in cities.” It wasn’t until he moved to rural Normandy, where he now resides with his French spouse Katia, that he discovered tranquility.

The news about having diabetes was a harsh setback for him. Previously, during the springtime discussions, the topic of this disease had come up, as being overweight significantly increases the risk of developing it. He admitted to struggling with self-control regarding cholesterol management, and he confessed that he tends to indulge his appetite quite frequently.

In another conversation, he mentioned that he’s consulted with a specialist for the liver, who advised him to modify his eating habits due to excessive consumption of cheese and milk.

Although I’m facing health concerns regarding cholesterol and diabetes, I still choose to remain here due to the exceptional cheese. However, I manage these conditions with medication, which significantly helps.

Today, he prefers Brie, Camembert, and Comté – a type of Alpine cheese from France – as his preferred choices, although at least they’re not illegal substances.

As a lifestyle expert, I often share stories about individuals embarking on new journeys, and when it comes to Pete, I must say, he found himself at a crossroads. He didn’t choose this change but embraced it wholeheartedly as an opportunity to start anew in another land.

According to a friend, Pete’s life was spiraling downward in London and he urgently needed a change. Had he not left, his fate might have been dire. He believed himself to be hip and well-off, but the truth was, he possessed very few resources. It was unfortunate, they said.

Pete, who hails from Hexham, Northumberland and was raised by a military family, relocated to his grandmother’s apartment in London following his A-levels, feeling it was his preordained place. It was during his English literature studies at Queen Mary University in London that he crossed paths with Carl Barat. Together they established the Libertines and achieved chart success with their 2002 debut album “Up The Bracket.

The subsequent year saw a turn of events for Pete as he was prohibited from performing with his band due to his drug addiction problem. This restriction prompted him to establish a new band, Babyshambles, and also led to an unfortunate incident where he broke into Carl’s apartment. His initial six-month sentence was later commuted to two months.

In the year 2004, a music magazine named NME declared him the most stylish man in Britain. His friend noted, “That’s when it really went to his head.” He began to believe that he was unbeatable.

Next came supermodel Kate, which stunned her friends.

In his memoirs, Pete recounted his past relationship by stating: ‘I believed we could simply ignore all else and focus on us as a couple, but she took a different stance, insisting that I needed to clean up first before things could work out. This was the ongoing struggle for approximately two and a half years – my drug use versus her concern with the tabloids, her own image, and our relationship.’

Despite spending time in a rehab facility in Arizona, he persisted with heroin use, and in 2007 they parted ways. Kate, who was captured seemingly using cocaine during her relationship with Pete, recognized that his drug abuse was negatively impacting her career. However, I’ve been informed that the arguments were what ultimately ended their romance.

Despite sharing numerous common interests, such as an enthusiasm for social gatherings, their lifestyles simply didn’t mesh. Frequent disagreements ensued, ultimately leading to an inevitable separation.

On that Saturday in 2006, I certainly returned Pete’s car keys to him – but under the condition that he wouldn’t drive. As I departed, he dashed off and leapt over a wall. Up until now, I remain unsure if he climbed into the car. However, it’s clear that he managed to make it all the way to West London to support QPR.

After our encounter, my friend phoned me, reporting that Pete had been discovered using heroin in the bathrooms at the stadium and subsequently kicked out. She had previously commented: ‘He can’t enjoy football without being hooked on smack,’ before we lamented the tragic downfall of this talented musician.

Twenty years on, the singer is fortunately free from drug issues. It’s hard to believe from those earlier days, but now it’s cheese that poses a risk to his health.

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2025-02-20 05:07

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