WHEN troubled guitarist and co-frontman Pete Doherty acrimoniously parted ways with pop favourites the Libertines, the band's future looked bleak.

This was hardly due to a lack of talent amid their ranks, merely the fact the wayward singer had become a much-fawned-over focus for their angst-ridden sound.

But his old friend, Carl Barat, was hardly about to throw in the towel after they'd grafted away together to forge a raft of impressive sharp-edged indie anthems.

Hence the uneasy birth of Dirty Pretty Things, who against the odds trumped their former work returning after a year-long break with a chart-conquering debut album, Waterloo To Anywhere.

Receiving widespread praise in the national media and stealing the show at a raft of high-profile gigs and festivals, it was as if they'd never been away.

Though he's keen to look to the future with his present act, the band's drummer, Gary Powell, acknowledged there were some fine moments in their early days.

"I look back on our time as the Libertines fondly. When Pete left the band we knew that we wanted to continue touring and carry on with the music so it was not hard for us to make the transition to being Dirty Pretty Things," he added on their rocky rise, fall and re-birth.

"I haven't seen Pete for a while the last time was over in Paris while we were doing a gig over there but I didn't have much time with him. He's still a mate as we went through a lot together. I never wanted him not to be with us, but he's doing his own thing now and having a good time."

One incident to linger long in his memory was of the old line-up's first and only appearance in Kent at the Tap 'n' Tin in Chatham.

"I can remember that show well. That was the time I was late as I'd got on the wrong train. It ended up being a pretty drunken gig with Tim Burgess," recalled Gary, who grew up in Birmingham before moving to America.

As with almost any drummer, he's happy enough to be their anchorman, safe in the knowledge that he's fairly anonymous behind his kit. Yet that doesn't mean he or his bandmates have become aloof like some indie outfits as they rise to become bona fide stars.

"We've always been a pretty approachable band. If people have been cool with us we will be cool with them and hang out with them after our shows."

With the success of their first album and its subsequent singles, Carl and the lads have been writing in Wales. But do they have the difficult second record in the bag yet?

"I don't think so," he laughed. "We've always left things right to the last minute, but when it needs to be ready it will be."

Right now they've a major UK tour to contend with which includes a date at the Leas Cliff Hall. Although he's genuinely enthused by the prospect of gigging, his tone appeared concerned when I explained the unique nature of their Kent show.

Adopting a BA Baracas voice he added: "I ain't playin' on no cliff," and then laughing assured me that they have few hang-ups where they gig, so long as there's a decent audience. There's no fear of that being anything other than the case as this much anticipated gig has long-since sold out.

Dirty Pretty Things play Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall on Friday, December 15. Contact box office for returns 01303 228600.