The Libertines

United Kingdom, 2001–now

English rock band formed in London in 1997 and led by co-frontmen Pete Doherty and Carl Barât. Up the Bracket (2002) and The Libertines (2004), the latter produced by the Clash's Mick Jones, paired ragged punk energy with a romantic, distinctly English 'Albion' mythology — a foundational influence on the mid-2000s British indie wave.

MusicRoots documents 5 artists who influenced The Libertines and 2 artists The Libertines influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced The Libertines?

• The Clash — The Clash were central to The Libertines' sound and myth — Mick Jones produced their first two albums and taught them to embrace mistakes as long as a recording captures its spirit.
• The Smiths — Pete Doherty was principally inspired by the Smiths — he has singled out 'Still Ill' as a song that means a great deal to him.
• The Kinks — The Kinks' wry, quintessentially English songcraft is a cornerstone of The Libertines' 'Albion' romanticism.
• The Jam — One of the four acts Pete Doherty named as his principal inspiration.
• Sex Pistols — One of the four acts Pete Doherty named as his principal inspiration.

Which artists did The Libertines influence?

• Arctic Monkeys — The Libertines were a key teenage touchstone for Arctic Monkeys, feeding their ideas about song structure and their scrappy early energy.
• The Fratellis — The Fratellis' raucous debut was received as post-Libertines Brit-rock, sharing that band's scrappy garage energy.