Benn: 'Libertines reunion was hard work'

Reading and Leeds organiser Melvin Benn has admitted that arranging the Libertines reunion was "hard work".

It was confirmed yesterday that Peter Doherty, Carl Barat, Gary Powell and John Hassall would perform together again at the summer festival. The group, who released two influential studio albums, split in 2004.

"It's been a lot of hard work as you would imagine getting the boys all back together in the same room," Benn told BBC 6 Music. "But they're absolutely committed to it. I think it's something that's so important for the British music fan.

"I don't think there was anything else that would have tempted them out of their self-imposed separation. Reading and Leeds is their core audience."

The Libertines scored hits with singles 'What A Waster', 'Time For Heroes' and 'Can't Stand Me Now', but tensions between frontmen Barat and Doherty prompted them to part ways.

> Reading and Leeds 2010 reveals lineup