Patrick Walden, the Babyshambles party animal that even Pete Doherty couldn't keep up with, dies

When the Libertines kicked Pete Doherty out for being too out of line in 2004, the kingdom's biggest hooligan formed a new band that wouldn't interfere with his drug dealings, the Babyshambles . The lineup was guaranteed to make headlines: himself, the sons of legendary rocker and junkie Peter Perret, Peter Jr and Jamie, and a guitarist named Patrick Walden who would soon break records for his drug addiction.

During that early period, Walden co-wrote many of the songs on their debut album, Down in Albion, including hits like "Fuck Forever" and "Pipedown." But that lineup, surprisingly, lasted only a short while. Our protagonist, Patrick Walden, lasted until early 2006, when his personal hell broke loose. His excesses, too wild even for Doherty, were compounded by on-stage behavior and a complaint from his girlfriend for assault , and the accumulation of misdeeds ended with his expulsion.

However, the girl admitted it was a fight between her partner and eventually dropped the charges , and Walden returned to the group in spurts, appearing at this concert after that. But he never became a full member again, and in 2009, he stopped playing with them permanently.

By 2007, Walden had formed another band called Big Dave with drummer Seb Rochford and Ruth Goller on bass. In the first half of 2008 they played a few small venue shows and it was even announced that they would be recording a debut EP, but plans were cancelled without explanation. The following year he performed a solo performance in London, covering some songs from Babyshambles , but in 2010 he was back in the tabloids for a grotesque crime incident . After being spotted acting suspiciously in a Wilkinsons branch in Sutton, the musician was pursued by security officers and found in possession of stolen goods and methadone prescribed for another user.

In April 2011, Walden completed a stint in rehab and began working on a new project with former Rebecca member Robert Mannall. The duo recorded 32 demos that have been posted on various websites, and that same year previewed a selection of new material at the Hawley Arms with Drew McConnell.

Walden had always been a good guitarist, in fact, having worked as a session musician for stars like James Blunt and Whitey. So in 2014, he took the plunge and dived into jazz to learn all its secrets, while waiting, now as a spectator, for the inevitable end of Babyshambles, which arrived that same year.

In 2023, Walden reflected on his departure from the band in an interview with the 22 Grand Pod podcast. “It was like stepping out of a whirlwind,” he explained. “I left, but I also felt like I was being kicked out to a certain extent. I don’t know how much of that was true, but it felt that way.” And in a bit of self-deprecation, he added: “I do regret some things . It depends on how you feel the day you wake up, like sometimes, I think, no, things worked out the way they were supposed to. I’m still friends with everyone.” It seemed as though the musician had found some stability, but last weekend, the news that many of his fans had been fearing for years came: Walden had died, with no cause disclosed.

In March, Walden's former bandmates (Doherty and second-generation members like bassist Drew McConnell and drummer Adam Ficek) reunited for a gig playing Babyshambles classics. And interestingly, Walden's death comes amidst strong rumors of a band reunion . Even Doherty himself has taken the heat by hinting that a reunion will happen sometime this year. "It's in the works," he recently told New Musical Express. "We'll get back together and get in a room with instruments and play the old songs, then get up on stage and do it. But it's the 'who' and the 'when' that needs to be worked out. I think we'll keep that on the horizon and deal with it next year."

Asked if he wanted to record another Babyshambles album, he replied: "I have no idea. I wrote a new song the other day that I think would really work as a 'Shambles song.' Who knows? It's a long way off. It'll be next fall, so we'll see."