Apr 7, 2007, 11:00 GMT
Razorlight frontman Johnny Borrell has credited Pete Doherty with getting him off drugs.
02/18/2007 - BabyShambles - Pete Doherty and the BabyShambles Perform Live at Brixton Academy - Brixton Academy - London, England © Solarpix / Photorazzi
Borrell, 26 - who was hooked on a variety of hard drugs, including heroin, in the late 90s - claims the junkie Babyshambles star inspired him to get clean.
He revealed in an interview with Q magazine: "It was in 1999. Pete was inspirational, telling me to get clean. He didn't take drugs back then."
Borrell had been kicked out of the band Serafin because of his drug addiction before a short stint as bassist with Doherty's band at the time, The Libertines.
The 'America' singer started experimenting with drugs in an attempt to emulate his rock heroes, because he believed it was "cool and dangerous".
He explained: "There were four men who got me into drugs, Jim Morrison, Hunter S Thompson, John Lennon and Bob Dylan."
Doherty is now infamous for his own drug taking, and Borrell admits: "It's reasonably ironic how things have turned out."
Doherty, who is engaged to supermodel Kate Moss, has been convicted of a series of drug-related offences and is still in the middle of an 18-month drug rehabilitation order.
His descent into drug abuse has seen a significant drop off in his musical productivity, while an energised and drug free Borrell has stormed the charts with latest album 'Razorlight'.
'Don't Go Back To Dalston', a track from Razorlight's debut album 'Up All Night', is said to have been written as a plea to Doherty to get clean and repair his friendship with Borrell.
(C) BANG Media International
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