Babyshambles banned from headlining festival

United Kingdom | | 19 August 2008

Police have banned Babyshambles from headlining a festival in Wiltshire for fear the band could incite fighting in the crowd.

Pete Doherty's band were billed top slot at Moonfest, which is due to take place from 29-31 August, but police have ordered the festival to cancel their appearance.

They claim the band could spark violence in the crowd because of their manner on stage, although currently the festival has sold only 150 tickets.

Chief Superintendent Julian Kirby, divisional commander of Wiltshire Police, said: "We carried out an analysis of what Pete Doherty and his band does.

"What he does as part of his routine is to gee up the crowd. They speed up and then slow down the music and create a whirlpool effect in the crowd.

"They [the crowd] all get geed up and then they start fighting."

Police presented their 'analysis' to North Wiltshire Magistrates on Monday (August 17), who in turn ordered festival organisers to cancel any appearance from either Doherty or Babyshambles using Section 160 of the Licensing Act (2003).

Herald and Gazzettes also reports that police were unhappy only 10 licensed stewards had been employed. Apparently only 150 tickets have been sold for the 5,000 capacity festival.