Babyshambles fan replaces Pete at gig

One lucky Babyshambles fan got the opportunity to take centre stage with the band after Pete Doherty was unexpectedly taken ill.

The full band, including frontman Doherty, were due to play at the NME Awards launch party at London's IndigO2, but only half of the rockers showed up.

But bassist Drew McConnell and drummer Adam Ficek decided the show must go on despite missing their main attraction, and appealed for an audience member to join them on stage to play the guitar.

Jamie Bell, 18, from Newcastle, took up the opportunity of a lifetime when he rose to the occasion to perform Carry On Up The Morning from the band's new album.

Bell's rendition was met with rapturous applause from the audience and the new-found star was apparently whisked away backstage after the show.

The band went on to wing their way through a selection of Babyshambles hits, along with covers of The Clash's Janie Jones and Molly's Lips by The Vaselines in front of special guests including model Agyness Deyn.

An onlooker said: "Babyshambles were the secret guests, but the act before them, The Wombats, were clearly covering because they were so late on.

"Then half the band came on, and they were obviously struggling. The bass player had taken over on guitar, and they asked if anyone knew the songs.

"One guy, Jamie, did - so he performed Carry On Up The Morning from the new album Shotter's Nation. He was quite good actually. He knew how to play it on guitar and he knew all the words. He got a good reaction from the crowd."

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