More about: The Libertines

Babyshambles drummer Adam Ficek has said that the band’s days of cancelling gigs are over.

Ficek made the comments in relation to the group’s upcoming Arena tour – which will see them play their biggest shows ever.

"It's a statement of confidence, we've let people down by cancelling gigs before,” Ficek told Teletext. “This is us saying that those days are over, that we know we can't muck about any more."

The drummer also said that the arena tour shows that the band are popular enough to play bigger stages, although, he added that they still “prefer intimate venues.”

Speaking about Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty’s ongoing battle with drugs, Ficek said: “Peter can take care of business on drugs, but it's easier when he isn't [on drugs].

“His arrests and the court cases have made it hard for us to find time to write as a band. We're planning the next album, and it'll be the first one where we've had time to properly rehearse songs."

More about: The Libertines