“Absolute genius on the guitar”

Patrick Walden, Babyshambles‘ former guitarist, has died aged 46.

Information of his dying was shared by his ex-bandmates yesterday (June 20), who wrote on Fb: “We really feel very lucky to have recognized, liked and labored with him and we kindly ask for respect and privateness throughout these troublesome instances. Peter, Drew, Mik, Adam.”

No explanation for dying has been given.

Walden started his music profession enjoying for London bands like Fluid, The White Sport and Six Chilly Thousand, earlier than becoming a member of Babyshambles – fashioned by Pete Doherty whereas banned from enjoying with the Libertines – in 2004.

After becoming a member of the band, Walden co-wrote most of the songs on their debut album ‘Down in Albion’, together with ‘Fuck Endlessly’ and ‘Pipedown’. Throughout this time, he additionally labored as a session musician, recording with James Blunt.

In 2006, Walden left the Babyshambles after being charged with assaulting his girlfriend of their North London residence. He was later cleared of the cost. He went on to play with Babyshambles intermittently between 2007-2009, however by no means re-joined.

In 2014, the guitarist shared in an interview that he was finding out a jazz composition diploma in an effort to reconnect together with his past love, jazz music.

For the reason that information of his dying has been introduced, followers have been sharing their recollections and tributes. One wrote: “Can’t consider this. Absolute genius on the guitar, Babyshambles have been at their peak with Pat. However extra importantly a real pretty man. Down in Albion will all the time be a masterpiece to me.”

A fan on Twitter/X added: “Walden’s departure was in all probability a vital transfer for Babyshambles on the time however his enjoying was so authentic, creative and distinctive,” whereas one other wrote: “That is heartbreaking man. His guitar on that first Babyshambles album was unimaginable.”

“An excellent guitarist. All the time skating on the sting but by some means holding it collectively to superb impact,” one fan on Fb commented. One other shared: “Completely destroyed me this. Very unhappy to listen to thisg He was a superb guitarist and hoped he could be coming again in babyshambles. Watched a few of his movies just lately and thought sensible hes again. Rip pat.”

Gutting information about Patrick Walden. He was an amazing guitarist and I liked among the early Babyshambles tracks. I adorned my college leavers prime with Fuck Endlessly scrawled in purple pen (very mature I do know).

— Nick Hughes (@Nik_Ader) June 20, 2025

Goodnight fella. The pleasure of watching you play stay with the band twenty years or so in the past. Sensible expertise and f**okay endlessly…. #patrickwalden pic.twitter.com/5m7M7kuLKR

— SeamonkeyOO7 (@SEAMONKEYOO7) June 20, 2025

That is heartbreaking man. His guitar on that first Babyshambles album was unimaginable. RIP Patrick Walden pic.twitter.com/4YghB9GBAu

— conor 🇵🇸 (@conor_brn) June 20, 2025

Walden’s departure was in all probability a vital transfer for Babyshambles on the time however his enjoying was so authentic, creative and distinctive. No thought what his story was however it’s a extremely unhappy finish both means. RIP Pat.

— Clatty Bella’s Towel (@gf1874) June 20, 2025

“His guitar tone and elegance made that first Babyshambles album,” one other fan wrote. “The riffs on F**okay endlessly, pipe down, 8 lifeless boys and many others. These riffs are indie classics. I like the opposite albums, however there was one thing so uncooked and distinctive about Patrick’s contribution. I’ll give the album a play tomorrow because it’s been some time.”

One other Fb commenter shared: “His enjoying on Down In Albion made that album the chaotic, lovely masterpiece it was. The frantic enjoying on Fuck Endlessly and eight Lifeless Boys moulded my enjoying as a guitarist. Such a disgrace the unique line-up with him enjoying by no means got here again round.”

In 2023, Walden mirrored on leaving the band in an interview with 22 Grand Pod podcast episode. “It was similar to popping out of a whirlwind, leaving,” he defined. “I left, but in addition felt like I used to be being pushed out to an extent. I don’t know the way true that was, however I felt like that.”

“There’s some regrets there,” he added. “It relies upon how you’re feeling on the day whenever you get up, like generally, I feel, no, issues have labored out the best way they need to be. I’m nonetheless buddies with everybody.”

In March, Walden’s former bandmates – Doherty, bassist Drew McConnell and drummer Adam Ficek – reuinted on stage for variations of ‘Albion’ and ‘Fuck Endlessly’.

Doherty has teased {that a} Babyshambles reunion is coming in some unspecified time in the future this 12 months, though particulars stay obscure.

“It’s on the playing cards,” he informed NME. “We’ll get again collectively and get in a room with the devices and play via the previous songs, then get on stage and do it. However it’s the ‘who’ and the ‘when’ that must be labored out. I feel we’ll simply hold that one on the horizon and cope with that one subsequent 12 months.”

Requested if he needed to make one other Babyshambles report, he replied: “I’ve obtained no thought. I wrote a brand new track the opposite day that I feel would actually work as a ‘Shambles track. Who is aware of? It’s a good distance off but. It’s going to be subsequent Autumn, so we’ll see.”