The personal life of Babyshambles and Libertines frontman Pete Doherty has always tended to overshadow his astonishing music, more so recently than ever.

Now the regular subject of both tabloid gossip and earnest broadsheet debate, Doherty has survived a tragicomic couple of years, which have included drugs, fights, burglary, a prison sentence, and several attempts at rehabilitation.

Yet, through all of his problems, Doherty has been touching people's lives with his music.

Many have been captivated by his riotous yet romantic songs, and by his countless impromptu shows in pubs, his flat, other people's flats, car parks, a bandstand, a boating lake, and very probably your front room.

At last night's slightly more conventional Fibbers show, it transpired that Babyshambles share much of the Libertines' very English Clash-meets-Jam clatter, and the band transcended the usual half-baked appearance of many stars' musical side-projects.

However, the highlight of the evening was the solo acoustic set with which the reasonably bright and relaxed Doherty introduced himself.

As he charged through a number of Libertines favourites, his gift for songwriting was obvious, and the remarkable adoration and devotion expressed by the crowd clearly meant the world to him.

If Doherty is able to tame the more damaging aspects of his personality, he has a real chance of making an indelible mark on music.

It is to be hoped that he can find salvation in the songs which have enthralled so many others, and that his remarkable story has the happy ending many feel he deserves.

Updated: 09:37 Tuesday, July 20, 2004