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Nicknames / Other (The Libertines)

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Bilo
Billy Bilo, or simply Bilo, is a nickname and alter ego of Peter Doherty, after what his father once called him as a boy. Used in its earliest days as a foil to Carl Barat's Biggles, it is often employed self-referentially in Doherty's writings. The Babyshambles songs, UnBiloTitled and Bilo Song (later to become Monkey Casino) demonstrate use of the nickname.


Biggles
Biggles is Peter's nickname for Carl, perhaps inspired by the fictional World War II airman created by Captain W.E. Johns.


Lombard
Mr. Lombard was a nickname created by Peter Doherty and Carl Barat for Libertines bassist John Hassall in the early days of the band. According to Carl; "We started calling him 'Mr. Lombard' because it was just the most drab, English-sounding name." At a time when the band line-up consisted of Doherty, Barat, Hassall and Paul Dufour, Doherty and Barat created nicknames for all members to emulate a firm of solicitors: Spaniel, Spaniel, Lombard & Razzcocks.
Doherty and Barat can be heard using the nickname to introduce Hassall's solo in (I've Got) Sweets.


Pigman
Pigman is a nickname used to describe all inhabitants of Peter and Carl's private world, though most often used as Carl's nickname for Peter. Carl sent Peter postcards illustrated with pigs when Peter was serving time in Wandsworth in 2003. The name also crops up in "The Good Old Days" ("the Pigman's found the source").
The nickname is also a possible reference to Paul Zindel's young adult novel The Pigman.


Rowntree
Mr Rowntree was a nickname created by Peter Doherty and Carl Barat for Libertines drummer Gary Powell, used to introduce Powell's solo when performing the song, (I've Got) Sweets. It is a possible reference to Blur drummer Dave Rowntree, and may also seek to evoke a music hall era solicitor, as Doherty and Barat had created nicknames for the members of an earlier Libertines line-up to emulate such a firm: Spaniel, Spaniel, Lombard & Razzcocks.


Spaniel
Spaniel and Spaniel were music hall era inspired nicknames adopted by Peter Doherty and Carl Barat during the early days of The Libertines . At a time when the band line-up consisted of Doherty, Barat, John Hassall and Paul Dufour, Doherty and Barat created nicknames for all members to emulate a firm of solicitors: Spaniel, Spaniel, Lombard & Razzcocks.
In his writings, Doherty has also created a character named Spaniel O'Spaniel, perhaps an alter ego.