A Day on Tour with Pete Doherty
A Day on Tour with Pete Doherty: Photographing an Icon and His Inner Circle
In the early 2000s, Pete Doherty was a colossal influence on the culture. He was the poster boy of rock 'n' roll for my generation. I’ll never forget the experience of buying him a double rum and coke (okay, maybe two) and sitting together, talking about our kids and Polaroid pictures. It was a true privilege.
This is the story of my brief but meaningful experience with Pete, his family, and his amazing team, captured over a couple of days in March this year.
Pete was playing a gig at Catford Halls in South London, which also ended up being the venue for his interview with Fenners, part of a project he was working on. When a friend like John calls with opportunities like this, it’s something I never take for granted. I get a buzz every single time.
“PETE DOHERTY? … YEAH, I’LL CLEAR MY DIARY!”
Pete settling for the interview with Fenners.
The Setup: A Quiet Morning Before the Storm
I’ve worked on several projects where the main focus is filming, and that’s totally fine. But I always aim to capture more than just behind-the-scenes (BTS) content. If the talent is prepared for stills, I’ll try to get some shots, though it can be tricky when they're not prepped for it.
I made it clear that it would be great if Pete and his team could spare a little time for me to capture some moments too.
When we arrived at the venue for setup, the tour bus was parked in the lot at the stage entrance. Pete, his wife Katia, daughter Billie-May, and the rest of the crew were still asleep, having just arrived from the previous night’s gig in the early hours. This gave me the perfect chance to explore the venue and scout potential spots for shooting Pete.
To be honest, when working with enigmatic figures like Pete, 99% of the locations I scout don’t end up being used. I’ve always preferred being steered by the vibe and mood of the subject, rather than rigidly sticking to a plan. To me, that feels like a much more organic experience, and until now, I didn’t realise how much I value this approach.
If I just grab Pete and say, "Right, stand here, look there," the whole process can feel cold and soulless. But when it comes to writing about the experience, you’ll see how much more alive it feels when it’s guided by the subject’s mood and energy.
“Enter Stage Right”
Catford Halls was a great venue, old with character. The main space had a school hall vibe, and it was set up for an all-standing gig. As the sound techs set up and tested the equipment, Pete appeared through the side door, wearing a dressing gown and slippers, closely followed by his dog, Gladys.
“Morning, everyone,” he greeted the group, going around to chat with everyone in the room before catching up with Fenners about the day ahead.
Time is a luxury, especially when photographing someone as iconic as Pete. As photographers, we’re often on the clock and don’t get much time with talent. On this occasion, though, we had the whole afternoon with Pete, and I was staying for the gig that night, too!
As the crew began to trickle in from the bus, I met the rest of Pete’s team: Jai, Pete’s childhood friend, Paul the tour manager, and guitarist from Scarborough, Chad, who handles Pete’s marketing; and, of course, Pete’s family, wife Katia, daughter Billie-May, and Gladys, the super-chilled dog who follows Pete everywhere.
Getting Comfortable: A Morning Walk with Pete and Gladys
Whenever I have time, I like to introduce myself and then just blend into the background, observing the room. Most of the crew were hanging out in the car park around the tour bus, chatting and smoking. Pete decided to take Gladys for a walk, and I saw my opportunity.
“Pete, do you mind if I walk the dog with you?” I asked. At first, Pete hesitated but then agreed, and we took Gladys out of the venue and around the block to a local church. It was lovely to share that quiet moment with him, just walking in silence, him lost in his thoughts. I did apologise and explain that I’d be shadowing him for the rest of the day.
The shots I took during the walk were nearly perfect, but more importantly, they captured that moment of Pete “sizing me up” before letting me in a little. We bonded over my own Nanna Gladys sharing a name with his dog, and just like that, we found common ground. There are always moments you wish you could visit and the below B&W frame is one of those, if only Peter’s eyes were open! As we were on this initial walk and we were breaking the ice the moment had gone and he wasn’t up for any ‘posing’ at this point, I was playing the long game!
a Double rum & coke Please Ben!
When we returned, Pete and Fenners sat down to record the interview. It was an informal but engaging conversation, as Fenners always manages to make them. Pete even mentioned my Nanna Gladys — I’m hoping that bit makes the final cut!
Afterward, I was lucky enough to overhear Pete and Jai discussing nipping out for a pint. “I’d love to buy you lads a pint, if you don’t mind?” Pete said. So we walked down the high street to Blackheath village, where people shouted out of their car windows and sang Pete’s songs back to him. It gave me a real sense of his reach and influence.
“Double rum and coke, please, Ben,” Pete ordered. By the time I had a sip of mine, Pete’s was already gone. And just as I was about to pay, “Another” I asked…“If you don’t mind?”
The barman was shocked, but I was just happy to be sitting there with Pete and Jai, chatting about kids, the world, and their journey together. Pete, though known for his charisma and eloquence, is even more captivating in person — softly spoken and thoughtful. It was a thoroughly enjoyable hour that I’ll treasure.
The Gig: All-Access Pass
Back at the venue, it was almost showtime. More incredible access from Pete and the crew. In the dressing room, we were joined by Jack Jones, a dear friend and collaborator of Pete’s, and enjoyed an impromptu, raw rendition of one of their songs. Jack played acoustic guitar and sang, while Pete added percussion by tapping on the table. It was such a moving performance that it brought Jack to tears.
The gig itself was fantastic. I had full access to the stage and was free to roam wherever I wanted. Shooting a gig is a whole new ballgame, and I slightly underprepared for it. Next time, I’ll definitely check in with my good friend Neil Bedford for some tips.
The Unexpected Follow-Up: Stockton
A few days later, after a quick stop at LN-CC and Harrods, Olivia from 2812 Marketing reached out. “Pete’s playing in Stockton on Saturday, you know?” she said. I didn’t know, but when I heard he was only 30 minutes away, it would’ve been rude not to go and say hi!
I reached out to Chad, Pete’s marketing guy, on WhatsApp, and just like that, I was in! The crew welcomed me back with open arms, and Chad explained that Pete’s new vinyl had arrived, and they’d love me to shoot some promo images for it. That’s how I ended up shooting the official announcement images for Pete’s new project. All it took was a chance gig and a quick WhatsApp message!
A Personal Moment
After some fun shots of Pete and Katia, messing around backstage with the new vinyl I moved Pete centre stage where I got my favourite shot of him and one of his hats that are synonymous to the man. I sat with him on the stage and we talked about life, about Trump, about his deep rooted interest in history. Pete told me about his hats — and, unbelievably, he explained that the trilby he was wearing had once belonged to John Lennon! John’s son had given it to Pete as a gift. It was surreal to hear that.
Unfortunately, I had to miss Pete’s gig in Stockton, as it coincided with my daughter Coco’s 8th birthday weekend. She wanted me to watch Gladiators with her, so I promised to catch the gig next time. I said my goodbyes to the crew and headed home, ready to enjoy The Eliminator with Coco before bed.
Final Thoughts:
This experience was truly special. Getting the chance to shoot Pete and his team, while bonding over personal moments, gave me a new perspective on the art of capturing not just images, but memories and emotions. It’s moments like these that make photography more than just a job — it’s about connection.
b x
