The Libertines Talk To VIVA

Sophie Parkin | 10th December 2015

sadfefdsdAhead of The Libertines releasing a new single You’re My Waterloo; taken from the bands Top 3 new album Anthems For Doomed Youth. Pete, Carl, John and Gary will be playing their biggest UK tour to date in January, joining us in Manchester on the 23rd January 2016. With the excitement of the English Rock band’s comeback looming, I spoke to the bands vocals/guitarist John Hassall to talk all things tours, travels and changed ways.

VIVA: Congratulations on the new album which came out in September and thank you so much for interviewing with us. How have you been?

JOHN: (Laughing) Tired. We’ve just had a baby girl three weeks ago so not had much sleep. But things are really good. 

VIVA: Congratulations! That’s amazing, so its been a hectic few months?

JOHN: A hectic year actually. With festivals, tours and writing the new album. 

VIVA: You guys wrote the new album Anthems For Doomed Youth in Thailand, how was that?

JOHN: I went over to Thailand about three times to write with Pete and we all went out in April to write. But yeah Thailand was amazing. We also filmed Gunga Din there, which was great.

VIVA: Was it hard being in Thailand with the baby being due and for the other band mates?

JOHN: Yeah, I mean, I’ve got an older boy, he actually came out for a week or so. We actually had quite a lot of our families come out, which was nice and kind of made it bearable. So it was great, and an amazing experience, it’s hard to believe it was this year, it seems like a long time ago. 

VIVA: I bet it’s been a crazy year for you, with the new releases Gunga Din and You’re My Waterloo? (Featured above)

JOHN: Yeah, we’ve done a lot this year, bringing out the new singles has been fun. A lot of festivals, gigs and stuff too.

VIVA: And now yous have the tour coming up?

JOHN: Yeah, it’s gonna be great we’ve got this arena tour coming up in January.

VIVA: After this album, is there hope for another album or a greatest hits? Or are the plans to just relax after this?

JOHN: Hopefully another album actually. We’ve already had a greatest hits which we’d only had 2 albums out at that point so it was a little bit funny to have a greatest hits, so we’ll probably leave that one for a while and try and get another album in the mean time as soon as possible.

VIVA: Will the upcoming tour focus on the new album or be past hits as well, as this is the 1st album you guys have done in 10 years?

JOHN: Well, I think we’re gonna do more of the new tracks at the minute. As the new releases like You’re My Waterloo, hopefully people will know them, so it’s going to be slightly different.

VIVA: How is it with the new label (Virgin EMI) has this affected the way the band is?

JOHN: Erm. not really. It maybe reflects a bit on the past but we are a slightly different band (laughing) to what we were. So I think it reflects through a different label.

VIVA: Calmed down a bit you mean?

JOHN: (Laughing) Yeah, exactly, we was in a different place back then, which is nice now.

VIVA: You’re currently living in Denmark, do you spend time with the band now in your own time, following conflicts?

JOHN: (Laughing) Well I do see them a lot anyway, but when I’m in London I go and see Gary and Cole. Pete lives in France which is a little bit more difficult, but I think me and the family are going to go out there at some point to take the kids and hang out.

VIVA: Why did yous change the name of new album from Hallelujah Day to Anthems For Doomed Youth?

JOHN: Well, Hallelujah Day, we was always just gonna call it that. But then, erm, only Pete and Cole were keen on the name really (laughs) it’s hard to completely dismiss it you get kind of attached to it, we had it, but you know.

VIVA: Have separate projects influenced this new album?

JOHN: They definitely have, yeah. We’ve all had different projects in the mean time apart from The Libertines and we’ve still got them now, like me with my other band. You kind of learn different stuff from doing your own thing, with different ways and developing in the studio and writing, then you all bring it together and hopefully create something new and exciting.IMG_3980001197

VIVA: What would be the best memory of Albion Road?

JOHN: (Slowly) Erm, my best memory is probably during the video of Up The Bracket, which erm, was just funny. (Sets off laughing)

VIVA: An experience to say the least?

JOHN: (Still laughing) Yeah exactly, one of many.

VIVA: Are you looking forward to the new tour then?

JOHN: Really looking forward to it. it’s almost like the beginning of a new Era. So it’s really exciting, we keep developing as a band and we’re in a completely different place than we were, which is really nice.

VIVA: So you can appreciate it more?

JOHN: In a way were almost like how we was when we first started, were hanging out together, just as mates, which is how it used to be, it’s great yeah!

See the Libertines on their biggest UK tour to date with seven arena dates (Including Manchester Arena) in January.

Follow The Libertines on Twitter