British rock star Pete Doherty looks unrecognisable at rare gig

He was one of the most famous rock stars of the 2000s, but he looked completely different as he hosted a rare gig in the UK.

British singer Pete Doherty has been spotted looking unrecognisable as he took to the stage to perform a gig in a coastal English town this week.

The Libertines frontman, 43, appeared worlds away from his heyday, showing off his long grey locks as he put on a show at an intimate gig alongside his co-frontman Carl Barat, The Sun reports.

The Don’t Look Back Into The Sun hit maker donned a smart blue shirt, and dark trousers held up by colourful braces as he performed for the crowd.

He was joined by his band – who rose to fame in the 2000s – at the English seaside town of Margate on Wednesday afternoon, local time.

The Libertines performed a surprise gig on a bandstand in the coastal English town of Margate, with former wild man Pete Doherty taking centre stage. Picture: Frank Leppard/Triangle News/Mega

Wielding his guitar, Pete, who has swapped his rock star lifestyle to move to Normandy, France, smiled wide as he sang for the crowd.

Pete – who married his bandmate Katia de Vidas last year – now lives in the idyllic French region, where he is said to have developed a passion for Comté cheese on toast.

Pete was joined with co-frontman Carl Barat for the intimate concert. Picture: Frank Leppard/Triangle News/Mega

Doherty, 43, who battled drug demons throughout his career, now lives a quiet life in Etretat, Normandy, France. Picture: Frank Leppard/Triangle News/Mega

He has credited his fuller figure and rosy cheeks for swapping drugs for the dairy product as he admitted he was “mostly clean”.

The frontman, who famously dated British supermodel Kate Moss in the 2000s, previously showed off his trimmer waistline at a UK show.

Pete Doherty and Kate Moss had a high profile romance in the early 2000s. Picture: MJ Kim/Getty Images

Pete and his wife Katia tied the knot in a secret ceremony last October in France.

The rock star had popped the question to Katia, who he plays in the band Puta Madres with, just a week prior to their big day.

He and Katia moved to France together shortly before his bride was spotted wearing a sparkling new ring on her Instagram page.

Katia and Pete were married in October, with the singer sharing this loved-up snap.

Pete, who also enjoyed a short romance with Amy Winehouse, recently revealed he’d been clean of heroin for two years in an interview with BBC Scotland.

He said: “I’m in recovery I suppose. I’m 2.5 years clean of heroin which is a big deal for me and yeah, I’m ticking along writing music, still writing music.”

And instead of booze, the former songwriter recently said how he enjoys “a nice glass of water” as part of his healthier lifestyle.

Pete also admitted that he would love some fast food – but there are no takeaway shops in the area of Normandy in which he lives.

He said: “I’d have a Big Mac if I could, but I can’t. The nearest McDonald’s is 40 minutes away.”

Doherty pictured at Thames Magistrates Court in 2006 on numerous drug possession charges. Picture: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images

A source close to him said in March: “While lockdown has been tough for so many people, Pete is honestly the happiest he’s ever been.

“He used to live a fast-paced, hedonistic lifestyle. He was the epitome of rock and roll. But the relaxed pace of life suits him more.

“He and Katia have been spending time in Étretat, a coastal town popular with visiting Parisians.

“He still has a hand in music as that’s his number-one passion, of course, but going to France has allowed him to relax.

“Over the last few months he has taken his foot off the pedal and has really been enjoying his downtime.”

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission