LITTLE more than a year since they played a semi-secret show at Bournemouth's tiny Twisters nightclub, Babyshambles are due back in town to play the BIC on November 26.

Unless you've been on the remotest part of planet Mars for the last four years, you can't fail to have missed the many trials and tribulations of singer Pete Doherty.

Having been kicked out of his first band, the extraordinarily influential Libertines, when his drug habits got completely out of control, Pete pursued his musical dreams with one-time side band, Babyshambles.

Pete's relentless media profile has been driven almost entirely by his off-stage exploits - frequently involving his relationship with supermodel Kate Moss - but along the way he's managed to score a few hit singles including For Lovers, Forever, Killamangiro and Albion.

After Doherty's countless court appearances and failed attempts at rehab, Babyshambles parted company with guitarist Patrick Walden last year.

His replacement, Mick Whitnall, seems to have galvanised the band into action and they secured a three-album deal with Parlophone that had been unthinkable just a few months before.

This year they have played a series of London dates with Pete appearing to be in rude health, turning up on time and featuring Kate Moss performing her vocal party piece in the song La Belle et la Bete.

They're expected to play at Glastonbury in June and a second album is due later in the year.

Tickets for the BIC show go on sale from the BIC box office and usual outlets on Thursday, March 22.