Cal Roberts, 18, from Wern Ucha, Bagillt impressed Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty, during a gig at Liverpool's Studio music venue earlier this month, so much that he will be supporting the former Libertines singer on tour in Europe.

The Flint High School pupil, who has been playing the guitar since the age of 11, was handing out free CDs to other gig goers to promote his acoustic indie album on the night.

He then "frisbeed" one of the discs onto the stage and it was caught by Pete Doherty, who put the CD in his pocket for later listening.

"After the gig was finished, Cal tried to get up to see Pete Doherty and luckily he met him on the stairs," said Cal's mum, Heather.

"He promised Cal he would listen to it.

"Then a couple of days later, a phone call came out of the blue and it was Pete Doherty saying that he had listened to Cal's CD.

"He told him he thought that his lyrics were fantastic. He asked Cal where he got his words from and Cal replied, 'they just come out of my head'.

"He also asked what recording studio he used and Cal said he just used his bedroom, and Pete said he was impressed."

After speaking to Pete Doherty on the phone, Cal later got a call from the record company who invited Cal to support Doherty on the Austrian dates of his European solo tour.

"He was asked to go down to Pete's house for a couple of days and rehearse before they went to Austria for three days.

"They fly out today and will play three gigs," said Heather today.

"At first Cal thought it was a wind-up – things like this never happen to local lads like our Cal.

"It will be a great experience for him and we are all delighted he has been given this fantastic opportunity."

Cal, who is studying for a BTEC in music technology at sixth form, has always aspired to work in the industry since he first picked up a guitar.

The talented teenager, who has played regular gigs at the Stag Inn, Bagillt, and the Frog and Nightingale in Chester, writes songs about his life in the village.

Heather added: "His music is very real and the inspiration comes from his life in Bagillt and the people around him.

"This is a really exciting time for him and we only hope the start of a brilliant career in music for him."

For more information about the tour and to hear Cal's music go to http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=292472166


Pete Doherty factfile

Born in Hexham, Northumberland, Pete Doherty shot to fame with the Libertines in 2002.

The band's music was widely acclaimed, although Pete Doherty's reputation for drug-fuelled excess and self-destructive tendencies, as well as his on-off relationship with supermodel Kate Moss, quickly made him equally famous for his antics off-stage.

Before Pete Doherty became famous, he was a star pupil who gained 11 GCSEs, five at A* grade, and four A-levels, including two As.

After the Libertines split up amid acrimony between Pete Doherty and songwriting partner Carl Barat, Pete Doherty concentrated on his new band, Babyshambles.

A keen Queens Park Rangers fan, while at school Doherty produced a fanzine devoted to the London football club.


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