Pete Doherty and Carl Barat, founder members of The Libertines, reunited onstage last night (12 April) in Hackney, East London.

The gig was billed as An Evening With Pete Doherty, the second of a two-night residency at the Hackney Empire, but after a brief interval Barat joined Doherty to play a set of Libertines songs. According to fan reports, the pair ran through songs from both the bands' albums, including What a Waster, Time For Heroes and Death On The Stairs as well as a cover of the Mamas and Papas' Dream A Little Dream.

The reunion continued after the show, when Barat and Doherty performed an impromptu performance of Can't Stand Me Now at to fans waiting at the backstage door, while Kate Moss looked on.

Doherty's current band, Babyshambles, has a huge arena tour booked in November and December, and Barat’s Dirty Pretty Things are working on the follow-up to their debut album, Waterloo To Anywhere. Both bands are reportedly playing Glastonbury. The rumour mill goes into overdrive...

Ben Patashnik