With The Libertines currently on a nationwide tour, Kristian Breeze, director of healthcare at Ascend Health, told Health & Protection about how his cold calling skills led to supporting Pete Doherty’s other band, Babyshambles.
The night two decades ago has become one to remember for Breeze who reflected on the “circus” surrounding Doherty when in the spotlight.
But he emphasised that Doherty’s on camera persona did not reflect the more down-to-earth reality of the frontman.
Being inspired
“I was 14 or 15 when I first saw The Libertines at the Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club,” Breeze said.
“They used to play all the time and one of my friends said, ‘you’ve got to come and see this band’.
“I went and saw them and there was an instant change in me.”
Inspired by frontmen Pete Doherty (pictured) and Carl Barat’s performance, the next day Breeze bought a pair of skinny jeans and ripped them, put on his dad’s old tattered brogues and a leather jacket, and resolved to form a band immediately.
“So I found some guys, formed a band, and we were playing gigs around London,” he continued.
“We were playing the Infinity Club in Mayfair. We were doing the full London circuit and then somehow I managed to get Babyshambles’ manager’s telephone number.”
Cold calling
Back in 2004 and aged just 17, Breeze first learned he was cut out for a career in sales as he took the decision to cold call the band’s manager.
“So I called him and he said, ‘Hello,” Breeze said.
“And I said, ‘I’m in a band and we’d really like to perform with Babyshambles at their pre-Glastonbury gig’.
“This was at the height of all the Kate Moss madness as well when Pete was with Kate Moss.
“And their manager said, ‘You know what? I’ve never had anyone call me and ask me that. I’m going to give you a shot.’
“So we sent him an mp3 and he said, ‘Yeah, come and do it’.”
And while the band would ultimately break up, Breeze, who no longer plays in a group, added that his band did that show and a few others around London.
Full on circus
As for his experience playing with Babyshambles, Breeze noted it was overwhelming and somewhat chaotic.
“Playing with Babyshambles was like a full on circus,” he continued.
“It was a big venue. It was amazing for a group of young lads, but backstage, we felt really out of our depth.
“We met Pete. When cameras were around, he would act up, but if it was just you and him, he was a really lovely, intelligent, articulate bloke.
“But he would definitely play up to the circus.”