Afew months ago, a seemingly preposterous rumour began floating through the digital gutter press. It was alleged that Pete Doherty, the ravaged young Britpop drug addict, was actually a former Buddy Holly impersonator who had been plucked from obscurity and hired to play the part of an overnight sensation in a giant hoax.
The story gave several Internet gossip writers pause for a moment to reflect on the possibility that maybe, just maybe, Doherty's epic problems with drugs, his tortured affair with Kate Moss, the onstage collapses, fistfights, burglaries, car thefts, riots and never-ending scandals really had all been staged.
"Before you roll your eyes [as we initially did], think about how truly absurd and drug-addled Doherty seems to be, and ask yourself: How could this man still be alive?" wrote the New York Gawker.
But this month, his band's only album, Down in Albion, was released in North America to critical praise. So the 27-year-old singer-songwriter is still very much alive. We rest our case.
March 12, 1979: Peter Doherty, the son of a British Army officer, is born in Hexham, Northumberland. He goes on to study English literature at the University of London. After dropping out, he moves into a flat in North London with his close friend Carl Barat. They form a band called the Libertines, described as "Britpop meets Baudelaire."
June 3, 2002: What a Waster, the Libertines' first single, enters the British charts at No. 37.
Oct. 14, 2003: Up the Bracket, the Libertines' debut album, is released to wide acclaim, soon goes platinum and ends up at the top of several magazine year-end polls.
June, 2003: Doherty skips out on a European tour and forms a new band, also called the Libertines. The name is eventually changed to Babyshambles.
July 25, 2003: Doherty is arrested and charged for breaking into the flat of former band-mate Barat and stealing an antique guitar, laptop computer, video recorder, CD player, mouth organ and several books. He pleads guilty and is released on bail.
Sept. 29, 2003: Doherty is sent to prison for six months. The sentence is reduced to two months on appeal.
Oct. 9, 2003: Doherty is released from prison. Within hours, he has reunited with the Libertines. They perform a comeback show that evening in Chatham, Kent.
May 10, 2004: Babyshambles releases a limited edition, self-titled debut single.
June 9, 2004: The Libertines cancel a number of festival concerts after Doherty checks himself into a Buddhist monastery in Thailand known for its heroin-and-opium drug-rehabilitation program.
June 30, 2004: Doherty appears in court, charged with possessing a dangerous weapon. The Libertines announce that he is no longer a member of the band.
Aug. 30, 2004: The Libertines release their second, self-titled album. It reaches No. 1 by the end of the week.
Sept. 1, 2004: Doherty is given a four-month suspended prison term after he admits to possessing a flick knife. He arrives at the courthouse playing a guitar through the sunroof of a car.
Nov. 25, 2004: NME, the influential British music magazine, names Doherty Cool Icon of 2004.
December, 2004: The Libertines wrap their final tour without Doherty and temporarily disband; Babyshambles' new single, Killamangiro, tops the charts.
Jan. 16, 2005: Doherty begins dating British supermodel Kate Moss.
Feb. 3, 2005: Doherty is arrested for assaulting Max Carlish after the documentary filmmaker sells photos of the singer smoking heroin to a tabloid. The charges are later dropped.
Feb. 22, 2005: Babyshambles play its biggest gig so far at Brixton Academy in London. The show ends early when Doherty and guitarist Patrick Walden get into a fistfight.
July 6, 2005: Babyshambles are kicked off a tour with Oasis when Doherty fails to show for the first concert and instead skips off to Paris for a fashion designer's birthday party.
