The Libertines' morale has been "fantastic" since Pete Doherty's "meltdown" earlier this year.

The Libertines' Pete Doherty and Carl Barat

The Libertines' Pete Doherty and Carl Barat

The 'Can't Stand Me Now' rockers were forced to cancel two gigs in September after frontman Pete, 36, suffered a panic attack and went missing, but drummer Gary Powell has insisted they're now back on top form.

He told Loaded.co.uk: "Morale in the band has been fantastic ever since.

"Pete's meltdown was about the new album coming out and his sense of self-worth. That was understandable for all of us, as we're all creative.

"We all have egos - we wouldn't make music if we didn't."

Gary's comments come after he blamed Pete's "friends" for his disappearance.

He said previously: "A lot of people are blowing smoke up his a** for no reason whatsoever."

He added: "Peter was shoved in the spotlight. He didn't really want it, let alone warrant it.

"It was that difficult for him to digest as it was for me to read about the fact that one of my closet friends - who still is one of my closet friends - was being pushed around in circumstances that were beyond his control."

The band - which also includes Carl Barat and John Hassall - released their first album in over a decade, 'Anthems For Doomed Youth', in September and are set to embark on a UK arena tour starting next month.