A cause of death has not been confirmed.
Walden – who also played for James Blunt – joined the Kilimanjaro hitmakers in 2004 as the lead guitarist alongside Pete after he was ousted from The Libertines.
Walden co-wrote many Babyshambles hits, including six of the sixteen tracks on the band’s debut album Down in Albion.
In 2006 Walden left the Babyshambles when he failed to join their UK tour. Around this time he was charged with assaulting his girlfriend in their North London home, which he was later cleared of.
Prior to joining the Babyshambles, Walden was in a number of London bands including Fluid, the Six Cold Thousand and White Sport.
Pete – who is due to perform on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury with The Libertines next weekend – once described Walden as ‘the best guitar player I ever worked with’.
Fans have shared their tributes online, as Rick Simpson wrote: ‘Can’t believe this. Absolute genius on the guitar, Babyshambles were at their peak with Pat. But more importantly a genuine lovely guy. Down in Albion will always be a masterpiece to me.’
Karl Gibbs said: ‘Totaly destroyed me this. Very sad to hear this. He was a brilliant guitarist and was hoping he would be coming back in babyshambles. Watched some of his videos recently and thought brilliant hes back. Rip pat.’
‘Very sad news,’ added Christopher Jones, continuing: ‘Quite the unique guitarist and, especially, his touch on Down In Albion will never be forgotten by those who love the band.’
In December 2024, Pete said that a Babyshambles reunion could be on the cards for their debut album’s 20th anniversary.
He told NME at the time: ‘It is on the cards. We will get back together and get in a room with the instruments and play through the old songs, then get on stage and do it.
‘But it’s the “who” and the “when” that needs to be worked out. I think we’ll just keep that one on the horizon and deal with that one next year.’
Aged 13 Walden’s estranged dad gave him a guitar and a book of Eric Clapton songs.
‘It became my whole focus. My school work fell away,’ he told the outlet.
Over the years Walden talked openly about his problems with drug addiction and spells of sobriety.
In February 2016, Walden was found by neighbours at the bottom of a flight of concrete steps near his North London home.
Former Babyshambles drummer Adam Ficek and Liam Gallagher’s guitarist Mike Moore crowdfunded his treatment at The Cabin celebrity rehab centre in Thailand, where Pete had stayed before.
‘The Cabin changed everything for me. The staff went above and beyond to help. I would be dead without them and now I feel I am starting my life all over again,’ he told The Express in a 2017 interview.
In 2023, Walden reflected on his sobreity in a 22 Grand Pod podcast episode.
‘Since I turned 40 I haven’t taken a drink or anything. It’s quite nice to say that. But my whole relationship towards it has changed. I don’t want it anymore,’ he said.
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