Look To The Stars News: Pete Doherty

Pete Doherty To Join The Who For A Day

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Rocker Pete Doherty is to join The Who’s Roger Daltrey on stage for charity.

The 64-year-old Who legend asked Doherty – lead singer for Babyshambles – to perform with him after Doherty sang at the funeral of Daniel Squires, a teenage cancer sufferer he had struck up a friendship with.

“Roger was really impressed and touched when Pete performed for Daniel,“ a source told Britain’s The Sun newspaper. “He has told Pete to choose a list of Who songs and they will perform them together. They are both really excited.”

Proceeds from the concert – to be held at the Bristol Academy in the UK on January 12 – will go to the Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity supported by Doherty and of which Daltrey is patron.

Pete Doherty Bleeds For Charity

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

It may sound gruesome and even macabre, but Pete Doherty has created a postcard artwork using his own blood, and it will soon be raffled for charity.

A number of local celebrities from the English county of Wiltshire were asked to decorate the cards for the We Love Marlborough initiative, a program celebrating Doherty’s current hometown. The singer used his own blood to create a painting, depicting three band members – two guitarists and a drummer – with musical notes in the air above them. He then used a pencil to write a poem – in French – describing a fumbling man with dirty hands putting on his hat. The postcard is signed on the reverse “Peter Doherty, Babyshambles.”

Doherty’s card will be displayed until the end of July in the Morgan Boyce Gallery in Malborough, when it will be raffled for charity. Raffle tickets cost £5 each –available from the gallery – and all money will go to local and national charities.

The painting can also be viewed online at the We Love Marlborough website.

Pete Doherty Inspires Young Cancer Sufferer

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The press sometimes gives celebrities a hard time, concentrating on their problems rather than celebrating the good things that they do. One recent victim has been singer Pete Doherty, who has been quietly helping sick teenagers – such as 16-year-old British schoolboy Dan Squires, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer last November – without any publicity. Doherty not only invited the boy to one of his Babyshambles gigs, but also struck up a friendship with him.

“I only expected a meet-and-greet, but I got my own dressing room, watched the whole gig from the stage, hung out with the band afterwards and then got taken to the after-show party,” said Squires, who suffered a stroke last month and is now confined to a wheelchair. “It was incredible what they did because they didn’t need to do that.”

Squires, who has also met Oasis star Noel Gallagher and The Who’s Roger Daltrey, took gifts to one of Doherty’s gigs last week, and was surprised at the band’s response.

“I took them each a friendship bracelet for what they’ve done for me, and Pete just took off the bracelet he was wearing and gave it to me,” he told Journal Live. “He had also brought a book and signed the inside cover with a special message. It’s just lovely. I couldn’t believe it. I feel very privileged.”

Doherty also dedicated a recent concert to Squires and pledged to help raise more funds for his treatment.

“All of us have just been incredibly inspired by the Squires family’s stoicism and Dan’s bravery,” said the band’s manager, Adrian Hunter. “And [also] how well he is dealing with the card that life has dealt him.”

Doherty also surprised concert-goers at a Teenage Cancer Trust concert two weeks ago, when his band took to the stage unannounced in London. He had designed a pair of sneakers that were auctioned by the charity, and rushed straight to the gig from Sweden.

“Teenage Cancer Trust has seen on a number of occasions how musicians can really have a positive impact on young people going through a hard time,” said a spokesperson for the charity. “Babyshambles have really helped Daniel through this very difficult period and have been such an inspiration to him. We’re grateful to Babyshambles for deciding to donate to us through their guest lists.”

And Daniel hopes to hear more from his new friend.

“Pete and the band have just been absolutely amazing and hopefully I will be able to stay well enough to see them play again,” he said. “They have given me the goal to stay well. They’ve given me hope and something to look forward to.”

Pete Doherty Scores For Samaritans

Tue, 27 May 2008 11:11:46 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

They came, they saw, but they didn’t quite conquer. Poor old Pete Doherty and his Babyshambles team mates were unable to defend their title at the Samaritans Celebrity Soccer Six football tournament at Millwall Football Club last week.

Despite showing some impressive foot work, Babyshambles lost out 3-1 in the final match to the Faithless team, with Doherty only just making the match… he was released from prison a few days beforehand.

But past misdemeanors were put aside for the game, which raised awareness and money for the Samaritans, a 24 hour emotional support charity.

“Soccer Six allows Samaritans to raise awareness of the 24:7 emotional support that we offer, and in light of the recent suicides in Bridgend in Wales, it is vital that we reach out to young people out to young people at an earlier stage before problems seem much more difficult to manage,” said Claire Duncan from Samaritans. “Samaritans is here to listen, not to judge or make assumptions but to give people the time and space to work through how they are feeling. If you need emotional support then get in touch.”

Doherty has been a longtime supporter of the charity, especially the work they do with prisoners: "Samaritans provide a service called the Listeners where they train inmates so if you’re struggling any time during the night you’ve got someone you can spill your heart out to.”

Other celebrities to take part in the tournament included The Wombats, The Twang, Michelle Heaton, Jade Goody, Dave Gorman, and contestants from Big Brother, X Factor, and The Apprentice.

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