"It's through going through shit," ponders The Libertines' John Hassall, "that you have opportunity to develop yourself and develop as a band. It's quite hard to see it at the time that it's happening, but if you're strong enough to get over that shit and those problems then you develop as people."
Watch our video interview with The Libertines, and check out their playlist below
The Libertines have had to overcome more strife, drama and obstacles than most - and thank the stars that they did. Off the back of their astounding third album, Anthems For Doomed Youth, and judging by the sheer demand for tickets to their massive UK arena tour, it seems the Albion boys are finally enjoying the champagne years that once seemed lost. They're at the peak of their powers, or as Hassall tells us "I feel younger now than I did then - it's about the youth an spirit of the band".
"We didn't know how to deal with that type of thing beforehand," admits drummer Gary Powell. "I mean, how do you when you're thrust into the lion's den, as we were at that point in time? Over time, we learned from it, and actually matured as adults as well - we were able to put certain things to bed.
"Without going through that, maybe we wouldn't be here now? If it was just a plain run and the band had considered along the same path, without any break whatsoever, maybe we wouldn't have stood the test of time - the chemistry would always be there because the band's foundation is friendship."
Watch our interview with The Libertines below
Meanwhile, Gary also provided us with this awesome playlist of what he's been enjoying and listening to on the tour bus recently:
Dates are below for the band's 2016 arena tour. For tickets and more information, visit here.
21 January - GLASGOW, SSE Hydro Arena
23 January - MANCHESTER, Arena
25 January - NOTTINGHAM, Capital FM Arena
26 January - CARDIFF, Motorpoint Arena
27 January - BIRMINHAM, Barclaycard Arena
29 January - BOURNEMOUTH, BIC
30 January - LONDON, The O2
