Doherty and Carl Barât had already founded the Libertines, but were in need of a bassist and drummer.

From 2015 to 2020, John Hassall toured with the Libertines, promoting their third LP: Anthems for Doomed Youth.

In the deluxe version of the album, there's a song called Over It Again where Hassall acts as the lead singer.

The April Rainers in Aarhus Denmark, where he lives with his Danish wife Line Hassall Thomsen.

[citation needed] The band's much delayed debut album Wheels to Idyll was released in March 2017, following single releases and videos for "Given Time","Intercity 125", "Whether Girl" and "Mosey Through Your Mind", the latter being directed by Libertines collaborator Roger Sargent.