Pretenders are an English–American rock band formed in March 1978. The original band consisted of founder and main songwriter
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen Hynde (born September 7, 1951) is an American musician. She is a founding member and the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the rock band the Pretenders, and one of the band's two remaining original members alon ...
Pete Farndon
Peter Granville Farndon (12 June 1952 – 14 April 1983) was an English bassist and founding member of the rock band the Pretenders. In addition to playing bass with the group, Farndon sang backup vocals and co-wrote two of the group's songs ("T ...
(bass guitar, backing vocals) and Martin Chambers (drums, backing vocals, percussion). Following the deaths of Honeyman-Scott in 1982 and Farndon in 1983, the band experienced numerous personnel changes; Hynde has been the band's only consistent member.
The band's hit songs include "
Kid
Kid, Kids, KIDS, and K.I.D.S. may refer to:
Common meanings
* Colloquial term for a child or other young person
** Also for a parent's offspring regardless of age
* Engage in joking
* Young goats
* The goat meat of young goats
* Kidskin, leath ...
2000 Miles
"2000 Miles" is a song by British-American rock band Pretenders. Written by lead singer Chrissie Hynde and produced by Chris Thomas, it was released on 18 November 1983 as the second single from their third studio album, ''Learning to Crawl'' (19 ...
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), sometimes simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum
A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and othe ...
in 2005.
History
Background
Hynde, originally from Akron, Ohio, moved to London in 1973, working at the weekly music paper ''
NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
'' and at
Malcolm McLaren
Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren (22 January 1946 – 8 April 2010) was an English impresario, visual artist, singer, songwriter, musician, clothes designer and boutique owner, notable for combining these activities in an inventive and provoc ...
and
Vivienne Westwood
Dame Vivienne Isabel Westwood (née Swire; born 8 April 1941) is an English fashion designer and businesswoman, largely responsible for bringing modern punk and new wave fashions into the mainstream.
Westwood came to public notice when she m ...
's clothes store. She was involved with early versions of the
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although their initial career lasted just two and a half years, they were one of the most groundbreaking acts in the history of popular music. They were responsible for ...
,
the Clash
The Clash were an English rock band formed in London in 1976 who were key players in the original wave of British punk rock. Billed as "The Only Band That Matters", they also contributed to the and new wave movements that emerged in the wa ...
, and the Damned and played in short-lived bands such as
Masters of the Backside
Masters of the Backside was an early British punk rock group. They never released a recording or performed beyond practice sessions, but the group's members went on to greater success: Chrissie Hynde later fronted The Pretenders, and Dave Vania ...
(1976) and the Moors Murderers (1978 lineup). Pretenders formed in 1978 after Dave Hill at
Anchor Records
Anchor Records was a UK-based record label, co-founded by Ian Ralfini and the American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres, American Broadcasting Companies, which owned ABC Records in the United States, in 1974. ABC Records marketed (distributed) An ...
heard some
demos
Demos may refer to:
Computing
* DEMOS, a Soviet Unix-like operating system
* DEMOS (ISP), the first internet service provider in the USSR
* Demos Commander, an Orthodox File Manager for Unix-like systems
* plural for Demo (computer programming)
...
of Hynde's music. He arranged a rehearsal studio in Denmark Street, London, where a three-piece band consisting of Hynde, Mal Hart on bass (he had played with Hynde and Steve Strange in the Moors Murderers), and Phil Taylor of
Motörhead
Motörhead () were an English rock band formed in London in 1975 by Lemmy (lead vocals, bass), Larry Wallis (guitar) and Lucas Fox (drums). Lemmy was also the primary songwriter and only constant member. The band are often considered a precu ...
on drums played a selection of Hynde's original songs. Hill was impressed and arranged a day at Studio 51 to record another demo. Although it was rough, he felt he had seen and heard enough "star potential" to suggest that Hynde form a more permanent band to record for his new label, Real Records. Hynde then formed a band composed of Pete Farndon on bass, James Honeyman-Scott on guitar, and Gerry Mcilduff on drums. This band, then without a name, recorded five tracks at Regents Park Studio in July 1978, including a cover of The Kinks' song "Stop Your Sobbing". Shortly thereafter, Gerry Mcilduff was replaced on drums by Martin Chambers. Hynde named the band "Pretenders" after the Platters song " The Great Pretender", which was the favourite song of one of her former boyfriends.
Original band (1978–1982)
The band's first single, a cover of the Kinks song "
Stop Your Sobbing
"Stop Your Sobbing" is a song written by Ray Davies for the Kinks' debut album, ''Kinks''. It was later covered by the Pretenders as their first single.
Background
The Kinks recorded "Stop Your Sobbing" on ''Kinks'', which was rushed out in or ...
" (produced by
Nick Lowe
Nicholas Drain Lowe (born 24 March 1949) is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer. A noted figure in power pop and new wave, It was followed by "Kid" in June 1979. In January 1980, the band reached No. 1 in the UK with "Brass in Pocket", which was also successful in the US, reaching No. 14 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.
Their self-titled debut album was released in January 1980 and was a success in the United Kingdom and the United States both critically and commercially. Produced by Chris Thomas, it is regarded as one of the best debut albums of all time, and has been named one of the best albums of all time by
VH1
VH1 (originally an initialism of Video Hits One) is an American basic cable television network based in New York City and owned by Paramount Global. It was created by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Commun ...
(no. 52) and ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' (no. 155).
The second full-length album, '' Pretenders II'', was released during August 1981. ''Pretenders II'' included the songs from the US EP ''
Extended Play
An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record.
'', the
MTV
MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
video success "Day After Day", and popular album-radio tracks "The Adultress", "Birds of Paradise", "Bad Boys Get Spanked", and "The English Roses".
On 18 September 1981, Pretenders were the musical guest on the US late night sketch comedy show ''Fridays''. The band performed "The Adultress", "Message of Love" and "Louie, Louie" (not the Kingsmen song). Andy Kaufman was the guest host of the program on that night.
Due to escalating drug abuse, Farndon was fired from the band after a meeting between Hynde, Honeyman-Scott, and Chambers on 14 June 1982. Two days later, on 16 June 1982, Honeyman-Scott died of heart failure as a result of cocaine intolerance. Farndon was in the midst of forming a new band when he was found dead on 14 April 1983 by his wife. After taking heroin and passing out, Farndon had drowned in his bathtub, leaving Pretenders with only two living members.
Re-grouping (1983–1989)
Hynde and Chambers continued the band after Honeyman-Scott's death. During July 1982, a caretaker team of Hynde, Chambers, Rockpile guitarist
Billy Bremner
William John Bremner (9 December 1942 – 7 December 1997) was a Scottish professional footballer and manager. Regarded as one of the game's great midfielders, he combined precision passing skills with tenacious tackling and physical stam ...
, and Big Country bassist Tony Butler was assembled to record the single "Back on the Chain Gang". The song was released in October and became their biggest success in the US, staying at No. 5 for three consecutive weeks. The single's B-side, "My City Was Gone" was (except for a brief period in the 1990s) the theme music for '' the Rush Limbaugh Show'' since its inception.
Hynde then set up a more permanent lineup for the band, keeping Chambers and adding Robbie McIntosh on guitar and Malcolm Foster on bass. "Middle of the Road" was this line-up's first single, released in the US in November 1983 and reaching the top 20 there. The US B-side, "2000 Miles", was released as a single in the UK. The third Pretenders album, ''
Learning to Crawl
''Learning to Crawl'' is the third studio album by British-American rock band The Pretenders. It was released on 21 January 1984 after a hiatus during which band members James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon died of drug overdoses. The album's ...
'' was produced by "fifth Pretender" Chris Thomas and released in January 1984.
In July 1985, the band (including Rupert Black on keyboards) played at
Live Aid
Live Aid was a multi-venue benefit concert held on Saturday 13 July 1985, as well as a music-based fundraising initiative. The original event was organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise further funds for relief of the 1983–1985 fami ...
. Soon after recording sessions for the next album began and one track had been completed, Hynde declared that Chambers was no longer playing well and dismissed him. Discouraged at the loss of his bandmate, Foster quit ("My whole argument was that Martin Chambers was the rhythm section of the Pretenders and it didn't really matter who was playing bass. So I just said I didn't want to be involved any more."'Come a Long Way' – interview with Malcolm Foster by Michael Leonard – ''Guitarist'' magazine, September 1990) Hynde and McIntosh recorded the rest of the album in various sessions in New York City and Stockholm with assorted session musicians. Towards the end of the sessions, Hynde hired two of the guest players–bassist
T.M. Stevens
Thomas Michael "T. M." Stevens (born July 28, 1951) is an American bass guitarist from New York City. Stevens has worked with an array of rock, R&B, and pop acts as a session musician, and also leads his own groups and works as a solo performer ...
Blair Cunningham
Blair Cunningham (born October 11, 1957, Memphis, Tennessee) is an American drummer who has played for many bands and artists including Denise LaSalle, Robert Johnson, the Detroit Emeralds, Frederick Knight, Echo & the Bunnymen, Haircut One H ...
—as the new Pretenders rhythm section. The ''
Get Close
''Get Close'' is the fourth studio album by Rock music, rock band the Pretenders, released on 20 October 1986 in the United Kingdom by Real Records and on 4 November 1986 in the United States by Sire Records. The album contains the band's two ...
'' album was released in 1986; the disc included the top 10 singles, "Don't Get Me Wrong" from the film ''
Gung Ho
''Gung ho'' () is an English term, with the current meaning of "overly enthusiastic or energetic". It originated during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) from a Chinese term, ( zh, hp=gōnghé, l=to work together), short for Chinese ...
'' (helped by a popular video homage to the television series ''
the Avengers
Avenger, Avengers, The Avenger, or The Avengers may refer to:
Arts and entertainment In the Marvel Comics universe
* Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes
** Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes o ...
'') and "Hymn to Her", a No. 8 success in the UK. In the US, both "Don't Get Me Wrong" and "My Baby" reached No. 1 on the ''Billboard''
Mainstream Rock
Mainstream rock (also known as heritage rock) is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada.
Format background
Mainstream rock stations represent the middle ground between classic rock and active rock ...
chart.
For the ''Get Close'' tour, Bernie Worrell was added to the live lineup on keyboards. During the tour, Hynde felt the band's sound had strayed from its new wave rock roots. She believed that she was now fronting a new band that was "not Pretenders". Partway into the tour, she took drastic action: Stevens and Worrell were both sacked, Malcolm Foster was reinstated on bass, and Rupert Black returned on keyboards.
1990s
In 1990, Hynde hired session players (including one-time Pretenders Bremner and Cunningham and bassist John Mckenzie) and recorded a new Pretenders album, ''
Packed!
''Packed!'' is the fifth album by rock group The Pretenders, released in 1990.
Besides band leader Chrissie Hynde, no other person is pictured anywhere within the album package. At the time the album was recorded, the only other remaining offic ...
'' Hynde was the only person pictured anywhere on the album, and was the only official member of the band.
By 1993, Hynde had teamed with ex-
Katydids
Insects in the family Tettigoniidae are commonly called katydids (especially in North America), or bush crickets. They have previously been known as "long-horned grasshoppers". More than 8,000 species are known. Part of the suborder Ensifera, t ...
guitarist Adam Seymour to form a new version of Pretenders. The team of Hynde and Seymour then hired a number of session musicians to record ''
Last of the Independents
''Last of the Independents'' is the sixth studio album by rock group The Pretenders, released in 1994. For this album, the band is officially credited as being Chrissie Hynde (vocals, guitar), Adam Seymour (guitar), Andy Hobson (bass) and Marti ...
'' that year, including ex-Smiths bassist Andy Rourke, ex- Primitives bassist Andy Hobson, and former Pretender and drummer/writer/producer James Hood, previously with
the Impossible Dreamers
The Impossible Dreamers were a 1980s new-wave band that had a major club hit with their 12" single "Spin", before signing for RCA Records, where they were produced by Johnny Marr (the Smiths). The Imps (as they were nicknamed) started off as sev ...
and Moodswings. But by the end of the album sessions (and for the subsequent tour) the official band line-up was Hynde, Seymour, Hobson, and returning drummer Martin Chambers.
When ''Last of the Independents'' was released in 1994, it rated gold in the US. Lead single "Night In My Veins" was a minor success in the US, a mid-chart success in the UK, and a top 10 success in Canada. The second single was the album's centrepiece ballad "I'll Stand by You"; this track received substantial airplay, and was a top 10 success in the UK, and top 20 in the US (No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' Hot 100) and in Canada.
On 10 April 1999, Hynde led the memorial concert " Here, There and Everywhere – A Concert for Linda" for her late close friend Linda McCartney at the Royal Albert Hall, London, organised by Hynde and Carla Lane. Pretenders were the backing band for all artists.
''
Viva el Amor
Viva may refer to:
Companies and organisations
* Viva (network operator), a Dominican mobile network operator
* Viva Air, a Spanish airline taken over by flag carrier Iberia
* Viva Air Dominicana
* VIVA Bahrain, a telecommunication company
* ...
'' was released during 1999, as was their collaboration with Tom Jones on the album '' Reload''.
2000s
Pretenders joined with
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris (born April 2, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. She has released dozens of albums and singles over the course of her career and has won 14 Grammys, the Polar Music Prize, and numerous other honors, including ...
Loose Screw
''Loose Screw'' is the eighth studio album by rock group The Pretenders, and was released in 2002. It was the first time that the Pretenders had the same credited band line-up (Chrissie Hynde, Martin Chambers, Andy Hobson and Adam Seymour) on thr ...
'' was released by Artemis Records, the first Pretenders record to be released by a company other than WEA. ''Rolling Stone'' noted its "refinement, stylish melodies and vocal fireworks," while ''Blender'' called it "slick, snarky pop with flashes of brilliance".
In March 2005, Pretenders were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. At the induction ceremony, the band performed "Precious" and "Message of Love". During her acceptance speech, Hynde named and thanked all the replacement members of the group, then said:
"I know that the Pretenders have looked like a tribute band for the last 20 years. ... And we're paying tribute to James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon, without whom we wouldn't be here. And on the other hand, without us, they might have been here, but that's the way it works in rock 'n' roll."
Pretenders' album ''
Break Up the Concrete
''Break Up the Concrete'' is the ninth studio album by rock group The Pretenders. It is their first studio album since '' Loose Screw'' in 2002. Several "exclusive" editions of the disc exist (see track listing below); each appends a new countri ...
'' was released through Shangri-La Music on 7 October 2008. It was the band's first Top 40 album in the US in twenty-two years, and its last to date. Tracks include "Boots of Chinese Plastic", "Don't Cut Your Hair", "Love's a Mystery", "The Last Ride" and "Almost Perfect".
2010s
In September 2012, Pretenders re-grouped (Hynde, Chambers, Heywood, Walbourne, Wilkinson) as part of the entertainment line-up for the
2012 Singapore Grand Prix
The 2012 Singapore Grand Prix (officially the 2012 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race that took place at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Marina Bay, Singapore, Marina Bay, Singapore on 23 September 2012 as the ...
. They were joined by keyboardist/acoustic guitarist Carwyn Ellis in autumn 2012. On 6 September 2016,
Stevie Nicks
Stephanie Lynn Nicks (born May 26, 1948) is an American singer, songwriter, and producer known for her work with the band Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist.
After starting her career as a duo with her then-boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham, releasi ...
announced that Pretenders would tour with her on a 27-city tour for the last three months of 2016. The live band consisted of Hynde, Chambers, Heywood, Walbourne, Wilkinson, as before. Pretenders released their 10th studio album, '' Alone'', on 21 October 2016. However, as on ''Packed!'', Hynde was the only Pretender on the album, which was otherwise played entirely by session musicians. In May 2017, Ellis resumed touring with Pretenders who toured Australia and New Zealand with Nicks. In October 2017, Pretenders appeared on '' Austin City Limits''.
2020s
The band was originally scheduled to release their 11th studio album ''
Hate for Sale
''Hate for Sale'' is the eleventh studio album by English-American rock band The Pretenders. It was released on July 17, 2020 by BMG Rights Management. It has received positive reception from critics.
Recording and release
Lead single "The Buzz" ...
'' on 1 May 2020, and lead single "The Buzz" was released on 17 March 2020. However, on March 24, the album release was delayed to July 17. On the same day (24 March), they released the second single, which is the title track, "Hate for Sale."
17 April 2020 saw the release of the third single "You Can't Hurt a Fool." On 12 May 2020, they released their third single "Turf Accountant Daddy." "Don't Want to be This Lonely", release 28 May 2020, was the fifth and final single from the album.
A five-month North American tour with Journey was originally slated to begin May 15, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tour was cancelled.
On September 3, 2022, The Pretenders performed at the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium with Dave Grohl on bass. They performed "Precious", "Tattooed Love Boys" and "Brass In Pocket".
Learning to Crawl
''Learning to Crawl'' is the third studio album by British-American rock band The Pretenders. It was released on 21 January 1984 after a hiatus during which band members James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon died of drug overdoses. The album's ...
'' (1984)
* ''
Get Close
''Get Close'' is the fourth studio album by Rock music, rock band the Pretenders, released on 20 October 1986 in the United Kingdom by Real Records and on 4 November 1986 in the United States by Sire Records. The album contains the band's two ...
'' (1986)
* ''
Packed!
''Packed!'' is the fifth album by rock group The Pretenders, released in 1990.
Besides band leader Chrissie Hynde, no other person is pictured anywhere within the album package. At the time the album was recorded, the only other remaining offic ...
'' (1990)
* ''
Last of the Independents
''Last of the Independents'' is the sixth studio album by rock group The Pretenders, released in 1994. For this album, the band is officially credited as being Chrissie Hynde (vocals, guitar), Adam Seymour (guitar), Andy Hobson (bass) and Marti ...
'' (1994)
* ''
¡Viva El Amor!
''¡Viva El Amor!'' (Spanish for ''Long Live Love'') is the seventh studio album by the rock band the Pretenders, released in 1999. The band's lineup for the album is the same as that credited on 1994's ''Last of the Independents'': Chrissie Hynd ...
'' (1999)
* ''
Loose Screw
''Loose Screw'' is the eighth studio album by rock group The Pretenders, and was released in 2002. It was the first time that the Pretenders had the same credited band line-up (Chrissie Hynde, Martin Chambers, Andy Hobson and Adam Seymour) on thr ...
'' (2002)
* ''
Break Up the Concrete
''Break Up the Concrete'' is the ninth studio album by rock group The Pretenders. It is their first studio album since '' Loose Screw'' in 2002. Several "exclusive" editions of the disc exist (see track listing below); each appends a new countri ...
Hate for Sale
''Hate for Sale'' is the eleventh studio album by English-American rock band The Pretenders. It was released on July 17, 2020 by BMG Rights Management. It has received positive reception from critics.
Recording and release
Lead single "The Buzz" ...
Spin
Spin or spinning most often refers to:
* Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thread by twisting fibers together, traditionally by hand spinning
* Spin, the rotation of an object around a central axis
* Spin (propaganda), an intentionally b ...