Patrick Walden
Encyclopedia
Patrick George Walden is best known as the former guitarist for Babyshambles
. Prior to joining Babyshambles, Walden belonged to a variety of London groups, among which were Fluid, the Six Cold Thousand, and The White Sport. He played guitar for The White Sport alongside another future Babyshambles member, drummer Adam Ficek
. Walden also worked as a live guitarist and as a session musician, playing bass and guitar for numerous recording artists. Among those acts were Whitey
, James Blunt
, 500 and Crave, Ed Laliq, and, very briefly, The Honeymoon.
once again found himself cast out of The Libertines
because of his drug use, he brought Babyshambles to the fore with Walden on lead guitar. The band's line-up underwent several changes before stabilizing during the late summer of 2004 with Doherty on vocals, Patrick Walden on guitar, Gemma Clarke
on drums and Drew McConnell
on bass. Walden co-wrote a number of Babyshambles songs with Pete Doherty. One of them, "The Man Who Came To Stay," was released as the B-side to the Killamangiro
single in November 2004. Other Doherty/Walden compositions include Top-10 single "Fuck Forever
" and "Loyalty Song," "352 Days," "In Love With a Feeling," "Up the Morning," "Pipe Down," "32nd of December," and "8 Dead Boys." He co-wrote six of the sixteen tracks that made it onto Down In Albion
, Babyshambles' debut album.
At Babyshambles' live shows, he usually performed using an Olympic White 1960 Fender Jazzmaster
, with a 1985 Jazzmaster and a 90s American Stratocaster as backups. Often citing experimental guitarists like J Mascis
, Thurston Moore
and Jimi Hendrix
as early influences, Walden's unusual playing style set Babyshambles apart from other bands in the East London music scene. Marshall magazine "Marshall Law" lists him as using a JCM900 head with a 1960A cab.
In December 2005, Walden left Babyshambles. The band continued to perform under the same name, but did not replace Walden with a different guitarist immediately. In the 10 January 2006 issue of NME, Walden's departure was officially announced. However, on 23 January 2006, Walden turned up to play guitar for the Babyshambles at a gig in the Junction, Cambridge. He returned once more to the band in February and played several of the gigs on that tour, but has not appeared with them onstage since.
Walden's reason to leave the band was his heavy drug abuse. In April 2006 Babyshambles went on tour without Walden who was accused of assaulting his girlfriend, arrested and spent nine days in Pentonville prison. All charges against Walden were eventually dropped. He left London
in order to get clean of drugs and Mick Whitnall
became Babyshambles' new guitarist. Walden was supposed to have played with Babyshambles on their Nov/Dec 07 Arena tour. The band released a statement saying that he had dropped out at the last minute, even after travelling with them on the tour bus. Walden later stated that he did not appear on stage because there were drugs about, even though it was supposed to be a drug-free tour. Furthermore Walden stated that his successor, Mick Whitnall, did not want him to play with the band anymore.
's band Fulborn Teversham, but cancelled the appearance.
A message was posted on The Official Libertines Forum that stated (as of 8 May 2007) he has been 'clean' of heroin for six months, 'even off the methadone', and on 30 June he appeared onstage, for the first time in London since leaving Babyshambles, with the Rebecas at the Vice Magazine run venue, The Old Blue Last.
Walden appeared at the Rock Against Racism 30th Anniversary Show at the Hackney Empire
on 19 July 2007. He played Babyshambles' classics with his old band mate Drew McConnell. The set list included "The Man Who came To Stay" and "8 Dead Boys"
On 3 August 2007 played a small gig in Hackney
with all of his former Babyshambles bandmates (as well as Mick Whitnall) for friend Peter Wolfe's birthday.
On 6 November 2009 Pat played a few songs with Babyshambles including "Pipedown" and "Black Boy Lane" at a gig at Halo in Battersea.
will be recorded in 2008. But so far, nothing much has been heard since then.
Walden returned to Sutton Magistrates’ Court again on August 9, 2010 to face further charges for being caught with 21 tablets of class C drug Diazepam on June 22. During the two hearings, he pleaded guilty to all four charges and was handed two six-month conditional discharges. The court heard Walden, who suffers from depression, left the band in 2006 but developed a dependency on drugs and had been taking methadone since 2008.
On 1 May 2011 Walden previewed a selection of new material at the Hawley Arms, as part of Camden Crawl 2011, with Drew McConnell.
In August 2011 Walden and Mannall were joined by Ruth Goller on bass and Jamie Morrison on drums. The quartet are rehearsing in preparation for UK/European dates in autumn 2011.
On 27 August 2011 Patrick Walden announced that the new band is called bête noire.
Babyshambles
Babyshambles are an English indie rock band established in London. The band was formed by Pete Doherty during a hiatus from his former band The Libertines, but Babyshambles has since become his main project . Babyshambles has released two albums, three EPs and a number of singles...
. Prior to joining Babyshambles, Walden belonged to a variety of London groups, among which were Fluid, the Six Cold Thousand, and The White Sport. He played guitar for The White Sport alongside another future Babyshambles member, drummer Adam Ficek
Adam Ficek
Adam Ficek is an English musician who performs under the 'Roses Kings Castles' name, and was a song writer and member of Babyshambles....
. Walden also worked as a live guitarist and as a session musician, playing bass and guitar for numerous recording artists. Among those acts were Whitey
Whitey (musician)
-Career:In 2004, he released an album named The Light at the End of the Tunnel is a Train. The album predated the electro rock movement by several years, and was greeted at the time as a critical triumph, going on to make numerous Best Of Year lists worldwide....
, James Blunt
James Blunt
James Hillier Blount , better known by his stage name James Blunt, is an English singer-songwriter and musician, and former army officer, whose debut album, Back to Bedlam and single releases, including "You're Beautiful" and "Goodbye My Lover", brought him to fame in 2005...
, 500 and Crave, Ed Laliq, and, very briefly, The Honeymoon.
Babyshambles
In the early summer of 2004, when Pete DohertyPete Doherty
Peter Doherty is an English musician, writer, actor, poet and artist. He is best known musically for being co-frontman of The Libertines, which he reformed with Carl Barât in 2010. His other musical project is indie band Babyshambles...
once again found himself cast out of The Libertines
The Libertines
The Libertines were an English rock band, formed in London in 1997 by frontmen Carl Barât and Pete Doherty . The band, centred on the song-writing partnership of Barat and Doherty, also included John Hassall and Gary Powell for most of its recording career...
because of his drug use, he brought Babyshambles to the fore with Walden on lead guitar. The band's line-up underwent several changes before stabilizing during the late summer of 2004 with Doherty on vocals, Patrick Walden on guitar, Gemma Clarke
Gemma Clarke
Gemma Clarke is a professional musician who was previously the drummer for The Suffrajets, The Krak and Babyshambles.-Babyshambles:For a year, Clarke played drums for the ex-Libertine Pete Doherty's band Babyshambles...
on drums and Drew McConnell
Drew McConnell
Drew McConnell is the bass guitarist and backing vocalist with Babyshambles, the band formed and fronted by frontman of The Libertines, Pete Doherty. He lived in Tenerife, Spain, for much of his childhood, and he speaks Spanish fluently...
on bass. Walden co-wrote a number of Babyshambles songs with Pete Doherty. One of them, "The Man Who Came To Stay," was released as the B-side to the Killamangiro
Killamangiro
"Killamangiro" is a song by English band, Babyshambles, released in November 2004 through Rough Trade Records. It achieved respectable chart success, peaking at #8 on the UK singles chart....
single in November 2004. Other Doherty/Walden compositions include Top-10 single "Fuck Forever
Fuck Forever
"Fuck Forever" is a song by Babyshambles. It was released as a single on 15 August 2005 and is their most successful single, peaking at #4 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was in danger of becoming a lost single due to its controversial title and lyrics, but it was eventually released and has...
" and "Loyalty Song," "352 Days," "In Love With a Feeling," "Up the Morning," "Pipe Down," "32nd of December," and "8 Dead Boys." He co-wrote six of the sixteen tracks that made it onto Down In Albion
Down in Albion
Down in Albion is the debut album by Babyshambles, Pete Doherty's post-Libertines band.Down in Albion was released on November 14, 2005 on Rough Trade Records, although it was leaked on to the Internet on October 19, 2005. Produced by Mick Jones, Down in Albion contains a rerecorded version of...
, Babyshambles' debut album.
At Babyshambles' live shows, he usually performed using an Olympic White 1960 Fender Jazzmaster
Fender Jazzmaster
The Fender Jazzmaster is an electric guitar designed as an upmarket sibling to the Fender Stratocaster. First introduced at the 1958 NAMM Show, it was initially marketed at jazz guitarists, but found favor among surf rock guitarists in the early 1960s...
, with a 1985 Jazzmaster and a 90s American Stratocaster as backups. Often citing experimental guitarists like J Mascis
J Mascis
J Mascis is an American musician, best known as the singer, guitarist and songwriter for Dinosaur Jr.. In 2011, he was ranked in Rolling Stone's list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.- Biography :...
, Thurston Moore
Thurston Moore
Thurston Joseph Moore is an American musician best known as a singer, songwriter and guitarist of Sonic Youth. He has also participated in many solo and group collaborations outside of Sonic Youth, as well as running the Ecstatic Peace! record label...
and Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
as early influences, Walden's unusual playing style set Babyshambles apart from other bands in the East London music scene. Marshall magazine "Marshall Law" lists him as using a JCM900 head with a 1960A cab.
In December 2005, Walden left Babyshambles. The band continued to perform under the same name, but did not replace Walden with a different guitarist immediately. In the 10 January 2006 issue of NME, Walden's departure was officially announced. However, on 23 January 2006, Walden turned up to play guitar for the Babyshambles at a gig in the Junction, Cambridge. He returned once more to the band in February and played several of the gigs on that tour, but has not appeared with them onstage since.
Walden's reason to leave the band was his heavy drug abuse. In April 2006 Babyshambles went on tour without Walden who was accused of assaulting his girlfriend, arrested and spent nine days in Pentonville prison. All charges against Walden were eventually dropped. He left London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in order to get clean of drugs and Mick Whitnall
Mick Whitnall
Mick Whitnall is the English lead guitarist for Pete Doherty's rock band, Babyshambles, replacing former guitarist Patrick Walden...
became Babyshambles' new guitarist. Walden was supposed to have played with Babyshambles on their Nov/Dec 07 Arena tour. The band released a statement saying that he had dropped out at the last minute, even after travelling with them on the tour bus. Walden later stated that he did not appear on stage because there were drugs about, even though it was supposed to be a drug-free tour. Furthermore Walden stated that his successor, Mick Whitnall, did not want him to play with the band anymore.
Post Babyshambles
Walden was rumoured to have been playing at The Cheltenham Jazz Festival (27 April–2 May) as a special guest with Seb RochfordSeb Rochford
Sebastian "Seb" Rochford is a British drummer who spans many musical genres.He comes from Aberdeen and has a large family of 2 brothers and 7 sisters...
's band Fulborn Teversham, but cancelled the appearance.
A message was posted on The Official Libertines Forum that stated (as of 8 May 2007) he has been 'clean' of heroin for six months, 'even off the methadone', and on 30 June he appeared onstage, for the first time in London since leaving Babyshambles, with the Rebecas at the Vice Magazine run venue, The Old Blue Last.
Walden appeared at the Rock Against Racism 30th Anniversary Show at the Hackney Empire
Hackney Empire
The Hackney Empire is a theatre on Mare Street, in the London Borough of Hackney, built in 1901 as a music hall.-History:Hackney Empire is a grade II* listed building...
on 19 July 2007. He played Babyshambles' classics with his old band mate Drew McConnell. The set list included "The Man Who came To Stay" and "8 Dead Boys"
On 3 August 2007 played a small gig in Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
with all of his former Babyshambles bandmates (as well as Mick Whitnall) for friend Peter Wolfe's birthday.
On 6 November 2009 Pat played a few songs with Babyshambles including "Pipedown" and "Black Boy Lane" at a gig at Halo in Battersea.
Big Dave
In late 2007 Walden formed the band Big Dave with drummer Seb Rochford and Ruth Goller on bass. In the first half of 2008 the band played a few gigs in small venues. Walden announced that a debut EPExtended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
will be recorded in 2008. But so far, nothing much has been heard since then.
Continued Drug dependancy
On 6 August 2010, Walden appeared in court charged with receiving stolen goods and possessing heroin substitute methadone. The appearance came after Walden was spotted acting “suspiciously” by a security guard in the Sutton branch of Wilkinson’s on January 9. Police were called and Walden was then seen darting into an alleyway off Throwley Way in Sutton. He returned with a HMV bag containing £200 worth of DVDs, Blu-ray discs and a sat-nav and was arrested. He also had in his possession two containers of Class A drug methadone which had been prescribed to another, unnamed man.Walden returned to Sutton Magistrates’ Court again on August 9, 2010 to face further charges for being caught with 21 tablets of class C drug Diazepam on June 22. During the two hearings, he pleaded guilty to all four charges and was handed two six-month conditional discharges. The court heard Walden, who suffers from depression, left the band in 2006 but developed a dependency on drugs and had been taking methadone since 2008.
April 2011
In April 2011 Walden completed a spell in rehab and began work on a new project with ex Rebecas member Robert Mannall. The duo have recorded thirty two demos that have been posted on various sites on the internet.On 1 May 2011 Walden previewed a selection of new material at the Hawley Arms, as part of Camden Crawl 2011, with Drew McConnell.
In August 2011 Walden and Mannall were joined by Ruth Goller on bass and Jamie Morrison on drums. The quartet are rehearsing in preparation for UK/European dates in autumn 2011.
On 27 August 2011 Patrick Walden announced that the new band is called bête noire.