He had all the demeanour & coherence of Shane MacGowan on a good day.

Peaches didn't pinch Pete
July 12, 2005 - 12:59PM

Poor old Pete Doherty. So lily-white and pure, he was in such a state of shock after having his bum pinched he was left incapable of performing. Or so he says.

Sir Bob Geldof's daughter has rubbished rocker Pete Doherty's claims that his dismal Live 8 performance was the fault of her squeezing his bum.

Doherty, now singing with Babyshambles after being ejected from The Libertines over his drug problems, appeared dazed and confused as he blundered through T-Rex's Children of the Revolution with Elton John in London's Hyde Park.

Doherty pointed the finger for his embarrassing rendition at 16-year-old Peaches Geldof.

"I wasn't lost for words and I wasn't out of it on drugs," Doherty told London's Daily Mirror from the Spanish island of Ibiza last week.

"Just before I went on stage, Peaches squeezed my bum hard and whispered something rather suggestive to me. It left me in such shock I didn't know where I was.

"Bob Geldof has organised this amazing global event, I was facing 210,000 people, the cameras were rolling, and f---ing Elton John is dueting with me. And Bob's daughter has secretly made a pass at me. It's all I can think about. It did my head in. I didn't think Bob would be very happy."

Now Peaches has slammed Doherty to the same newspaper, saying "I was standing with my dad and my boyfriend of two years at the time. It is ridiculous to say I would make a pass at Pete in front of them.

"And how could I whisper over the noise of the band?"

Doherty has admitted he went to the Live 8 gig on his own after yet another row with his supermodel girlfriend, Kate Moss.

Fourteen years and counting: Catching up with Pearl Jam

Last week, Pearl Jam was named the top American rock band by Pop Candy readers.
This week, the band's lead guitarist, Mike McCready, was kind enough to answer some of your questions via e-mail. See below to learn more about the group's new album, the hardest PJ tune to play and, perhaps most importantly, the name of McCready's favorite American rock band.

What can you tell the fans about the new album and the next tour in North America? — Kasey Lawson, Murfreesboro, Tenn.

The new album is about halfway done. It sounds incredible. Ed (Vedder) is singing like I have never heard. He has raised the bar on all the songs. I think we all have pushed each other to make (dare I say) a really classic and rockin' album. There's no release date set for the record or the tour yet, but we hope to be out playing in the States next year.

Later on this year, you will be opening for the Rolling Stones in Pittsburgh. Can you tell us how that came about, and what kind of set list you guys are planning? — Chris Mishler, Johnstown, Pa.

I believe someone called our manager and asked if we'd open, and we said sure. We'd done this once before, and it was an amazing experience. I am not sure about the set list yet, as we will decide that the day of the show, per our usual. We might play an hour ... I can't wait; the Stones are my favorite band!

How does Pearl Jam decide on the set list every night? I think a lot of Pearl Jam fans would say that half the fun of going to see your shows is the surprise of not knowing which songs you're going to pull out of your hats. — Lauri Mancinelli, Cambridge, Mass.

We like to keep the fans surprised, and we like to keep it fresh for ourselves, too. A lot of the times Ed will sit down an hour before the show and look over the previous night's set. We will add or subtract songs according to how we feel or what we think will feel right in that particular town. At some shows, the set list gets changed while we are on stage. I know Ed thinks about the set very hard throughout the day in order to make the best show possible for the fans and for us.

The signing of Pearl Jam to J Records seemed to go under the radar. Was there anything specific that swayed you guys from Epic and/or to J? — Clint Brownlee, Seattle

I think our relationship with Epic had run its natural course, and it happened to coincide with the fulfillment of our contract. We decided not to resign with them. The opportunity to start a new relationship was exciting to us. We met with a lot of great labels, including J. We like Clive Davis and his staff a lot. There's a level of respect there that went both ways. The band felt great about what J could offer and the way they would allow for us to do our thing creatively. We already put a record at with J last year —Live at Benaroya Hall — so this next record will be our second with them.

After 14 years in one of the most well known and highly regarded rock bands in the world, how are you and your band members able to keep such a low profile? Your names never pop up in any magazines unless it is regarding your music. Is it difficult to maintain that anonymity? — Trey Busch, Walla Walla, Wash.

Early on we decided to keep a lower profile all around to let the music speak for us. It was by design that we mostly used pictures that you could not necessarily see what was going on, and that didn't really focus in on the band, but instead focused in on a theme. This was done to maintain our anonymity a little bit so we could all live normal lives and keep our focus on music. There are some really cool video pieces out there, though — we have done some videos that I've really liked and we may do them again. At this point, because we have stayed the same course for so many years, I feel like we are freer to make choices that are motivated by what feels right creatively at a given point in time.

Mike, I'm 16 and have been listening to you since my dad first bought Ten. My question is that you said once that Corduroy was your least favorite Pearl Jam song, so what would be your favorite? — Kyle Cunningham, Sarasota, Fla.

My favorite slow song is Nothing Man; it is dark but gives hope at the same time. My favorite rocker is Go because it is heavy and chaotic.

Would you please take just a minute to address your personal struggle with Crohn's disease, the strides that are being made in finding a cure and what each of us can do to help? Thanks for all you do. — Matt Thompson, Oklahoma City

I have had Crohn's for about 19 years. It is a debilitating disease that affects my colon. I have lived most my life with chronic inflammation and constant pain with immediate diarrhea. Due to the symptoms, it's one of those topics that doesn't make the "dinner conversation" list and that a lot of people feel embarrassed to talk about. I started talking publicly about it because I didn't want people to have to suffer silently — it's disempowering.

More than two million men, women and children suffer from Crohn's disease and/or Ulcerative colitis. I am currently on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet along with medications such and Imuran and Colazal. The diet, I believe, is the only thing that has worked for me, though. People like you can help by contacting the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America and finding out more about these diseases, or by donating money for research at www.ccfa.org. The CCFA helped me figure out that I was not alone with my disease anymore. Every time I make a new IBD connection I feel hopeful!

Mike, I've seen many of your shows from the states to Japan. What show is the one that stands out for the group as your best show ever? — Willis Harold Bassett, Des Moines

I think the best show was the second night at the Key Arena in Seattle in 2000 (I think?). Whatever the date, the hometown crowd was incredible. It was also at the end of our tour, so we were firing on all cylinders.

What is the hardest Pearl Jam song to play? — Bill Hayden, Cleveland

Definitely In Hiding. I am constantly watching Stone (Gossard)'s fingers. I try not to mess it up but usually do … There are many changes and notes to remember.

What do you think about the state or rock music? Is it in a lull, dying, or does hip-hop just have everyone fooled? What bands out there have what it takes to really put rock back on the map? — Sean Fader, Phoenixville, Pa.

I think rock 'n' roll is still kicking with bands like Social Distortion, Death Cab for Cutie, Sleater-Kinney, Supersuckers, Queens of the Stone Age, The Killers, The Strokes and others. I believe it goes through cycles every 10 years or so.

I've read that you consider your playing spiritual. Can you elaborate on this a bit? — Leslie Scott-Russell, Palmyra, N.Y.

I get into a state of consciousness that I can't explain. It is about feeling and not thinking. I get positive chills and insight into things that I can't get to any other way. It is Healing of the Soul.

What do you think has contributed to the staying power of Pearl Jam? — Melissa Parker, Anniston, Ala.

The fans. They have been with us through thick and thin. I am constantly amazed at their support over the years. I also think it's the fact that we kind of operate under the radar when it comes to non-musical aspects of our lives. We also take time to be away from each other to live our separate lives, which allows us to be excited when we come back together to play music.

I'd like to know how you managed to quit smoking while still hitting the studio and touring. — Sharon Sherman, Toronto

I was running around on stage out of breath and I couldn't stand it anymore. I decided before an Australian tour that I had to quit. It wasn't working anymore. (It never was!) I read a book called Allen Carr's Easy Way To Stop Smoking. It has been almost three years, and I am so glad I stopped.

Who do YOU feel is the greatest American rock band of all time? — Chris Lemanski, New Britain, Conn.

I think everyone in the band would answer this question pretty differently. But KISS inspired me personally to pick up a guitar and go for it. My life would have been different without Paul Stanley or Ace Frehley. They would have to be the greatest on my list as an influence to my life at 11 years old.

Crowded did I hear you ask? I’ve had sex that was less intimate!