Libertines reform at secret Highgate gig

Indie noise-merchants The Libertines returned to the stage for the first time since 2004 at Highgate's Boogaloo last night.The tabloid-bothering rock aesthetes have reformed after a five-year hiatus, ahead of appearances at this summer's Leeds and Reading festivals.

Since the band's dissolution in 2005, frontmen Pete Doherty and Carl

Barât have each been engaged with their own musical projects. Barât fronted Dirty

Pretty Things until 2008, while Doherty's work with Babyshambles is

ongoing.

A reunion has long been anticipated by fans, with rumours

escalating since Barât and Doherty performed together at a tribute gig

last May.

The volatile Britpunk popinjays played a set of favourites including "Can't Stand Me Now" and staged a brief press conference at the pub. Doherty told the conference, "Looking back, we did produce things we are so proud of and we want to get back to that." The band would not confirm if new material will be produced before the festival season.

Tickets for the Reading festival have sold out, but if you'd like to see the dandy rockers strut on stage this summer, tickets for Leeds are still available.