Ficek is leading from the front

Published on Friday 19 September 2008 09:51

IN his role as a member of the band fronted by possibly the most notorious rock star of his generation, Adam Ficek has seen the best and worst of life at the casualty-laden core of the music industry.

But what many people don't realise is that Pete Doherty's stickman is a genuine musical talent in his own right.

Intervals within his day job are a frequent occurrence for the Babyshambles drummer – what with all the cancelled gigs, Doherty's time spent at Her Majesty's Pleasure, and so on – so there's been plenty time for him to get stuck into his solo projects.

A health freak who is into martial arts, Ficek can't be bothered with the rock 'n' roll lifestyle adopted by his infamous friend, and often moonlights as a DJ, spinning everything from indie to electro behind the decks.

He also records under the Roses Kings Castles moniker, and releases a self-titled album of acoustic pop songs next month.

Before then, Ficek has a double date in the Capital, with an acoustic session at Avalanche record store tomorrow followed by a DJ set at Edinburgh University's Freshers Ball later the same evening.

Recorded in his bedroom over a two-week period that presented itself when Doherty took time out from Babyshambles to work on his own material, Roses Kings Castles is a short, sharp and savvy burst of sorrow-pop perfection, shot through with jingling melodies, toe-tapping acoustics and a wry lyrical nous.

Not one for caning it after gigs, you're more likely to see Ficek rushing back to his hotel room to update his Myspace page after tomorrow's DJ set than to find him trying to score drugs on streets of the Capital, ala Doherty.

"I'm quite clean living and I don't really find it very difficult to abstain from things. In fact, the only thing that I have a problem with is sleep deprivation," he says with a laugh.

It's unlikely he'll be accompanied in Edinburgh by his narcotics-guzzling pal, but Ficek reveals that Doherty is more focused than ever following his most recent stint behind bars.

According to their drummer, Babyshambles are keen to get started on their third album, and they head into the studio later in the year.

"It's an interesting time right now," he explains. "Myself, Pete and Drew (McConnell) have all been working on solo stuff as well as playing dates with the band, plus I've been DJing at lots of festivals.

"We did a gig last Saturday in Paris, and that was our last date of the summer. I think we are going to have a month off now, because I'm trying to promote this record and Peter is finishing his solo record. But we'll reconvene at the beginning of November and start demo-ing, and then in December we've got a massive tour kicking off."

It's well documented that Doherty has been battling addictions to heroin and crack cocaine for five years, and is notorious for failing to show up for gigs, but Fizek says the singer is "in better shape than he's been for years", which bodes well for the future of Babyshambles.

"It used to be more disorganised in the old days, but it's more on form now," he says. "(Pete] doesn't really fool around now ... saying that, he did miss a few festivals actually, so ... But no, it's better now – though there's always room for improvement," he adds.

Doherty's talent is unquestionable, but it must be trying being in his band.

"It is frustrating," admits Ficek. "But it's one of those things you learn to deal with. You've got no choice, really.

"You can get frustrated about things, and you can have a word in his ear, and say 'Let's sharpen up a bit' when things go wrong, but you usually just have to take it on the chin. There's not much choice, because nobody's forcing us to be in the band – though I will admit, that doesn't make it any easier. Deep down you just know this is kind of the way that it is.

He continues: "Pete is just one of those characters who fortunately – or unfortunately – will always do what he wants to do, so ...

"But he has got himself a bit more together, so that's good. He's moved out of London and he's surrounded himself with slightly more positive people, which is a very good thing," he adds.

Ficek, who came to the Citrus Club to play a DJ set at Kinky Indie earlier this year, says on this visit he'll be spinning "a cheeky selection of jump-up indie tunes, fused with block-rocking anthems".

"I was in Ibiza ... last night was it? ... I can't remember. Anyway, I was in Eden and the guy says 'Okay, it's going to be indie/electro' and I was cool with that," he says. "I had a whole good bag of indie/electro, like the Ting Tings, MGMT ... kind of more the dancey side of things.

"I knew within about 20 minutes that I could just do what I wanted. The crowd were really into it, and I didn't have to worry about keeping it really drumbeat-based. I was playing everything from the Beatles to Guns & Roses, and the guy comes over to me and he says 'I thought you were going to keep it indie/electro', and I was like 'Well, look outside mate'. The crowd were loving it.

"It was probably refreshing for them," he muses, "being in this high-end Ibiza nightclub where they're used to hearing serious house music, and there's me throwing in even The Proclaimers. That's an odd thing, but I got away with it."

&149 Roses Kings Castles, Avalanche, Cockburn Street, tomorrow, 5.30pm, free, 0131-225 3939; Adam Ficek DJ set, Edinburgh University Freshers Ball, Teviot Row House, Bristo Square, tomorrow, 11pm, contact student union for ticket details.