Barat: 'Libertines fights were real pain'

Carl Barat has rejected suggestions that The Libertines were too polished at their recent Reading and Leeds festival shows.

The co-frontman told The Quietus that those who thought the band were over-rehearsed and lacked spontaneity were wrong.

Barat said: "What were they expecting? These are the kind of people who want us to f**king punch each other, vomit and then jack up - and then cancel the gig. If that's what they want, then f**k 'em.

"Those people can go f**k themselves. That's never what I've promoted, or what I've been in this band for. That's just something that's occurred. If people want to see that, there are other bands who like to fight."

He added: "The people who want to see that, do they not realise that it hurts somebody? That's why I'm being defensive about it. It's like somebody wants to see me f**king up.

"Do they want to see me put in front of a firing squad? This s**t hurts, it's real pain. Do they not realise that? What do they want for entertainment?"

> Barat thanks Libertines fans for support