Babyshambles signs with Parlophone label

Pete Doherty of British pop group Babyshambles sings at the Hultsfred music festival in southern Sweden on June 16, 2006.[AP]

LONDON - Babyshambles has signed a long-term deal with record label Parlophone, thanks to the songwriting talents of frontman Pete Doherty, the company said Tuesday. A spokesman for Parlophone's parent company, EMI Group PLC's EMI Records, refused to give further details.

"We don't discuss contracts," Chris Latham said.

The British band has already released one album on Parlophone's Regal imprint, the critically acclaimed "The Blinding EP," which came out in December. Latham said another album was planned.

Parlophone's managing director said the band "justifiably (has) a great reputation for crafting some of the most exciting music around today, and in Peter Doherty they have one of the best songwriters of his generation."

Babyshambles co-managers Adrian Hunter and Andy Boyd said band members are delighted with the deal "and look forward to a long, fruitful and creative relationship with Parlophone."

Neither side mentioned Doherty's well-documented drug abuse; the 27-year-old boyfriend of supermodel Kate Moss, 33, has had a series of well-publicized run-ins with police.