Pete Doherty shares his love of Kneecap, Fontaines D.C. and “really good acts coming out of Ireland” 

Pete Doherty has spoken about his love for the “really good acts coming out of Ireland” including Fontaines D.C. and Kneecap.

• READ MORE: Pete Doherty on survival, family, and the future of Libertines and Babyshambles

The Libertines and Babyshambles frontman recently sat down with NME as part of the In Conversation series, and opened up about new material, his time as a father and the plans he has for 2025.

During the interview he also opened up about the acts he has been inspired by in recent times, naming both Kneecap and Fontaines D.C. as two that have particularly caught his eye.

Recalling the pro-Palestine gig done by Paul Weller, Primal Scream and Kneecap last year, he explained that it was the appearance of the latter that caught his eye.

“That probably would have piqued my curiosity [25 years ago] to know that there was a mob of Irish rappers who wear tricolour balaclavas on stage. But 25 years ago, they were probably like toddlers or something or not born,” he began.

“If I’d have known about that, then I could have nicked the whole idea. I could have done some freestyle in Gaelic. I’d basically have only been able to say ‘a thousand welcomes’ a lot,” he joked, before adding: “They’re good lads, though, and really talented. There have been a lot of really good acts coming out of Ireland this year.”

When asked who else had caught his eyes in recent times, he named psychedelic-folk artist Junior Brother, folk soloist Lisa O’Neill, as well as the Grian Chatten-led band, Fontaines D.C..

“Obviously they’re very well known now. They’ve got a few tunes,” Doherty told NME, going on to name one standout song in particular. “I was listening to them in the car and listening to ‘Starburster’. Somehow it had passed me by. I knew about it but hadn’t actually heard it. I listened to it all the way through a couple of times, and it’s just a belter of a tune.”

Elsewhere in the NME In Conversation interview, which you can watch in full above, Doherty teased a Babyshambles reunion for next year to commemorate the 20th anniversary of their debut album, ‘Down In Albion’. He also shared his New Year’s Resolutions for 2025 and reflected on his journey – both professionally and personally – during the past 24 years.

When asked where he imagined he’d be in 2025 if he were asked back in 2000, Doherty responded: “I’ve got a 20-year-old son now but I wasn’t a hands-on father. I wasn’t really there in many ways. So, it’s what I always wanted, I think. I always wanted a close-knit family that I was there with and for. I’m married as well and settled in a lot of ways, I suppose, maybe I’m wrong.”

“I mean, that’s what a lot of people want, isn’t it? really? That sort of nest and a loving environment,” he added. “I don’t know if I dared to dream it was possible. I think at that time, turn of the century, 2025 seemed a hell of a long way off.”

He also opened up about some fibs he created during his career, included the time he lied about supporting Supergrass on tour and his bandmate pretending to be in Radiohead.

Last year The Libertines released a new album ‘All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade’ – their first album in nearly a decade and first to top the charts in 20 years.

As for 2025, the band will be touring throughout the year, with a headline show at London’s Gunnersbury Park on Saturday August 9. Visit here for tickets and more information.

In terms of Fontaines D.C. and Kneecap, last month Grian Chatten joined Kneecap on stage during their biggest-ever headline show to perform ‘Better Way To Live’. Both bands shared huge albums in 2024 too and made their way onto the list of NME’s Best Albums Of 2024 list. For Fontaines D.C. this came in the form of ‘Romance‘ and for Kneecap it was their massive debut ‘Fine Art’.