The name was shared by Barât's club nights in venues throughout London; they assumed the name "Bright Young Things" to avoid confusion.

The band's debut album, Waterloo to Anywhere, was released on 8 May 2006, reaching number three on the music charts and receiving critical approval.

The pair appeared to be high or drunk following a night out after a gig in Wolverhampton, causing fellow guest Noel Gallagher to compare Barât's slightly incoherent rambling to that of his brother, Liam.

[5] Following a festival appearance in Taipei, Barât broke his collarbone after falling from a motorbike during a drinking session, leading to speculation that Dirty Pretty Things would have to cancel upcoming performing dates in North America.

[6] On 16 October 2006, the band released a DVD, Puffing on a Coffin Nail, which featured more than two-and-a-half hours of concert footage and documentaries.

On 25 October 2006, Barât appeared as a special guest at Paul Weller's set during the Electric Proms, duetting on "Peacock Suit" and "In the City".

On 22 July the band supported Pet Shop Boys at the Eden Project in Cornwall, playing a slew of new songs including "Come Closer".

In October the band appeared on the Love Music Hate Racism CD, which was given away with copies of the NME and also available as a download from the LMHR website .

"9 Lives" was Dirty Pretty Things' contribution to the free album and was in a finished studio form (although it was recorded in guitarist Anthony Rossomando's flat in London).

On 7 July the band placed 4 songs available for download on Napster - "Buzzards and Crows", "Plastic Hearts", "Hippy's Son" and a cover of Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues".