Pete Doherty's Health Crisis: From Sobriety to Amputation Fears
Pete Doherty, the iconic frontman of The Libertines, has opened up about a severe new health battle, warning that "death is lurking" despite achieving sobriety. The musician, who turns 47, now faces the risk of having his toes amputated due to complications from Type 2 diabetes, a condition exacerbated by his current addiction to cheese and saucisson.
A Turbulent Life and Career
Doherty's life has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Born in Hexham, Northumberland, to military parents, he was an exemplary student, achieving 7 A*s in his GCSEs and touring Russia with the British Council at age 16. He moved to London to study English Literature but dropped out to co-found The Libertines in 1997 with Carl Barat. The band's 2002 album Up the Bracket propelled them to mainstream indie stardom, but Doherty was kicked out less than two years later due to his spiralling drug addiction.
His personal life has been equally tumultuous, including a high-profile relationship with supermodel Kate Moss, which ended acrimoniously, and fathering children with Lisa Moorish and Lindi Hingston. Doherty has also been linked to tragic deaths, such as those of friend Alan Wass in 2015 and Robyn Whitehead in 2010, though he has denied direct involvement.
Struggles with Addiction and Recovery
Doherty's battle with addiction has been long and public. In his early days in London, he funded his drug habit by working as a gay prostitute, as detailed in The Libertines' biography Kids in Riot. He has attempted rehab numerous times, including a stint at a Thai monastery arranged by EastEnders star June Brown, but relapsed repeatedly. In a 2019 interview with The Guardian, he admitted, "My heart wants to know what the f**k is going on. Why am I wasting my time and money and friendship and love and energy and creativity on some grotty dessert?"
After years of estrangement, Doherty reconciled with his father, who researched drug slang to connect with him. In 2024, he achieved sobriety by moving to Normandy with his wife Katia de Vidas and their daughter, finding stability at The Libertines' renovated hotel, the Albion Rooms, in Margate.
New Health Battles and Amputation Fears
Despite getting clean, Doherty's health has taken a serious downturn. He revealed that swapping heroin for cheese binges has led to a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol. During a concert in Munich, he told fans, "I saw the doctor today and he said you need to stay off your feet as much as you can otherwise you'll lose your toes." Medics have warned him that without dietary changes, he could face toe amputation due to poor circulation and nerve damage common in diabetes.
In an interview with The Guardian's Saturday Magazine, Doherty confessed, "I gave up the main poisons and my health improved. Then you get told alcohol and cheese and sugar are just as bad and you were healthier when you were on heroin." He added self-deprecatingly, "It's not a joke. I've been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. And at the moment I'm lacking the discipline to tackle cholesterol."
On BBC's Louis Theroux Interviews, Doherty was shown coughing and gripping his chest, stating, "You are looking at a very sick man. I've battered it, haven't I, I've f***ing caned it. The heroin and the crack... I surrendered to that, and then it was cocaine and the smoking and the alcohol, and now it's cheese and the saucisson, and the sugar in the tea." His doctor bluntly warned him, "Death's lurking, you know what I mean? That's why I carry that stick."
Doherty now performs from a chair to reduce pressure on his feet, highlighting the ongoing challenges in his health journey. His story serves as a stark reminder of the long-term consequences of addiction, even after sobriety is achieved.
