He's seen more docks than the Ark Royal and had more knocks than Joey Barton's opponents, yet Peter Doherty is soldiering-on despite his troubles - you could never accuse the man of having a lack of conviction (he's had a few of those, too).

Buoyed by reactions to The Libertines brief reformation and appearances at Reading and Leeds, Doherty has announced an extensive solo UK tour for May this year. In the current climate of talent-show dummies and greedy bankers, it could be argued that figures like the Babyshambles frontman represent a 'time for heroes' after all.

His lengthy tour begins in Leamington on 3rd May, followed by stops in the usual cities including Leicester, Oxford, Folkestone and many more, including a show at the Shepherd's Bush Empire on the 10th and a final stop in Leeds on the 19th.

Tickets go on sale this Friday at 9am, priced from £18. It doesn't take a scientist to work out that these tickets will fly out, despite no new material looming on the horizon - still, he's got a vast array of tunes to pick from!

Update - special London pre-tour date added for Weds 2nd Feb!

Just added this morning is a special pre-tour solo date by the Libertine himself - Wednesday night (2nd Feb) at the Macbeth in Hoxton, East London. Tickets are in limited supply for £20 plus fee. His Shepherd's Bush date on 10th May has almost sold-out, by the way! Other regional dates selling fast...