Indie icon Pete Doherty has lashed out at the British National Party during a performance at the Love Music, Hate Racism festival in Stoke.
Pete Doherty is a long term supporter of Love Music, Hate Racism. An organisation founded to educate people from different backgrounds via music, the group battle racism at a time when the BNP are making large gains in the electorate.
Having already had members nominated for town councils across Britain, the BNP have targeted the upcoming European elections as the next step for the party. The British National Party were formed from the ashes of the National Front, whose skinhead followers were often openly fascist.
Under the leadership of Nick Griffin, the BNP have graduated to receive a form of political acceptance. Arguing that they are entitled to freedom of speech, the party now field more candidates in more constituencies than ever before.
All of which is unarguably a bad thing. The BNP operate by targeting areas of mixed ethnicity, spreading fear and division – especially in uncertain economic times.
Taking place at Stoke’s Britannia Stadium the event saw artists and speakers urging people to vote against the BNP in the upcoming Europeans elections.
Pete Doherty has worked with Love Music, Hate Racism before. The singer took to the stage to play a four track set, opening with The Libertines classic ‘What A Waster’ changing the lyrics to “you two bob racist cunt”.
The indie star finished with ‘Time For Heroes’, saying “in times of crisis it’s time for heroes”.
Of course, Pete Doherty has been re-visiting the past recently. At a benefit show in London’s Rhythm Factory venue three quarters of The Libertines reformed to play a very special show.
Uniting Pete Doherty and Carl Barat onstage for the first time in over a year, the collaboration lead to rumours of a full scale re-union. However with Doherty set to begin work on a new Babyshambles album, it seems that fans will have to wait for the pair to set aside their differences.
Other performers at the all day event include one time Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, and returning indie mavericks Reverend & The Makers.
Led by outspoken singer Jon McClure, the band were thought to have split up last year after McClure told fans he was quitting music. However the star has been busier than ever, forming the group Mongrel and working on new material with The Makers.
Reverend And The Makers are set to release their new album ‘A French Kiss In The Chaos’ later this year.
Speaking to the NME Jon McClure said “the Britain I know is the one of harmony where we live together and alongside each other, the idea of the BNP repulses me. But there’s a feeling here that we can change things, it’s exciting times.”
