Pete Doherty: Riots Were 'Terrifying' Reaction To Consumer Society - Video

Pete Doherty has spoken about the recent riots in London and other cities across England, describing them as a “dark, destructive force”.

The Babyshambles and former Libertines frontman said he was shocked, but not overly surprised, when the riots and looting took place last month.

“The whole system is just completely corrupt. The youngsters right the way through to the people who are supposed to be our leaders,” he said.

“We do live in a material world and we have it dangled in front of us all of the time.

“What got me is the people getting into bookmakers leaping up the walls trying to get the LCDs and screens. It's insane. It's not that it's not on, it's almost like the perfect reaction to the consumer society we live in – it's like they've been asking for it.”

Doherty, who was in London at the riots following his release from prison, described the violence as “terrifying”.

“I’ve got this tag thing when I came out of prison because I have to stay on a curfew so I literally wasn't allowed outside my front door,” he told BlagSound.

“But at the same time all down Camden High Street where I was staying there were police vans, people running around with baseball bats and masks, and I stuck my head out and it was like: 'What the f*ck is going on'.”

He added: “You sing about riots and pontificate about riots, but when you actually see it and feel that energy it's a dark, destructive force.”

Doherty was speaking at the Reading festival, which marked his first major release since serving his prison sentence for drugs possession.

Pete Doherty - live photos