Car Barat: I Want A Career Like Damon Albarn

Carl Barat wants a career like Damon Albarn.

The former Dirty Pretty Things frontman has launched a new band, The Jackals, and is currently preparing for a Libertines reunion show in London's Hyde Park later this summer, but sees no reason why his various projects can't co-exist.

He told NME magazine: ''I'd rather take a leaf out of Damon's book. He's done a Blur reunion, he does Gorillaz, he does things that are genuine to him. If he bankrolls do that by doing the other thing, fine.

''I could go on tour tomorrow with The Libertines and that would be fun and games, we could write a new album, but it wouldn't take away from the fact that I've found people I really connect with. I want a future with these guys.''

Carl recruited his new bandmates via open auditions in February and was determined not to let their dynamic be spoiled with ''ego''.

He said: ''The thing I was watching out for was too tasty an ego. My biggest intention was for it to be the boys' band, not just me making an identikit of previous bands.

''The boys have all got something we can take further without punching each other in the f***ing face.''