Patrick Walden passed away at the age of 46 on Friday, with his bandmates paying tribute – but as Daily Star reveals, this was not the only time the band has come close to death
Babyshambles have had their fair share of near-death experiences over the years.
Fans were left heartbroken on Friday (June 20) when it was confirmed that guitarist Patrick Walden had passed away. The band – who have released majorly successful albums including Shotter’s Nation – posted a touching tribute to their bandmate after he died at the age of 46,though the reason for his death has not been confirmed.
However, while the rockers were at the peak of their career, several of their members came close to death themselves. From unfortunate accidents to intense drug addictions, the band have come close to the reaper on several occasions.
So, as the band continues to mourn the loss of their dear co-star, Daily Star looks at some of Babyshambles’ brushes with death.
Drugs
Throughout the peak of their fame, lead singer Pete Doherty developed a rather hefty drug addiction. Among the narcotics of choice that Pete was found to take included heroin, cocaine and cannabis.
During one particularly uncomfortable incident, the singer had been due to perform at a festival in the Australian city of Sydney. However, after he got onto the stage, the former lover of supermodel Kate Moss, appeared onstage showing off his bare chest and tattoos, and was later helped back to the hotel by his bandmates from the Libertines.
Back in 2017, he was caught by customs attempting to smuggle heroin into Italy from Switzerland, but was able to get away with just a fine from local police. Since then, the singer has opted to leave the drugs alone and swap the party lifestyle for something more quiet.
Previously, in an interview with The Big Issue, he said of heroin: “The more time that passes, the more realistic it seems that I can live without heroin. Because I am living without it. But for a long time, it was very hard to imagine – heroin was always there for so long.”
Cycling horror
In 2010, Babyshambles confirmed that bassist Drew McConnell had been involved in a serious collision that left him with horrific injuries. It was later revealed that he had been knocked off his bicycle by a driver who had been running a red light in London.
Drew was eventually taken to hospital to be treated for his injuries, with the potential that he could have never walked again, after his spine was left shattered. However, in an interview with Hot Press over two years after the incident, Drew said he was refusing to let the crash get to him.
“Humans are designed to deal with trauma of a physical and emotional kind,” he explained, “it’s the stuff of life.” He went on to say that thanks to the help from the hospital, as well as ditching the booze, Drew said he was the “healthiest he’s been for years”.
Riotous fans
During the band’s early days, the group became known for their wild and bold performances, attracting a passionate fanbase, determined to the see the them play. However, while they were making it big, lead singer Pete Doherty’s drug and alcohol addictions began to impact the gigs they were playing.
In December 2004, the band were due to play the London Astoria – a well known venue near Charing Cross Road. With the gig set to start at midnight, Pete never showed up to play the venue, resulting in a last-minute cancellation.
This resulted in a major riot amongst fans, who took their frustrations out on the band’s equipment and setup, with security struggling to regain control of the furious crowd. Speaking to NME at the time, one security guard recalled: “The curtains were torn down, drinks were thrown, the drum kit was smashed and essentially the entire contents of the stage were destroyed; security forced the kids back to the other side of the barrier.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
