The Pretenders formed in 1978
as a rock quartet featuring Chrissie Hynde as the lead vocalist,
songwriter, and guitarist. The band has seen numerous changes in members
due to deaths and conflicts, yet Chrissie has remained the focal point and
the backbone of the group. Her distinctive vocals and cavalier charm have
established her as one of the premier singers of rock and alternative
music. Chrissie's provocative and often personal songwriting skills and
singing presentation showed the world that she not only can sing with the
big boys of rock, but often surpass their abilities. Chrissie may be the
first 'chick rocker." Although Chrissie hails from Akron, Ohio, she made
her musical move in England in the early 70s. Before the Pretenders,
Chrissie played with a few other bands including Jack Rabbit and the Berk
Brothers.
The first
formation of the Pretenders included Chrissie, James Honeyman-Scott
(guitar), Pete Farndon (bass), and Martin Chambers (drums). The band grew
out of the disappearing punk sound and emerged successfully into the new
wave trend of the late 70s and early 80s. Their first successful
recordings in England was a version of Ray Davie's "Stop Your Sobbing,"
"Kid," and the eventual U.S. hit, "Brass In Pocket."
Their first LP, The
Pretenders, was released in
January, and went Platinum in the U.S.
The band
followed up their introduction to American audiences with touring, an EP,
"Extended Play," and their second LP, The Pretenders
II. The band was quickly becoming
one of the premier alternative acts in the U.S. and England, and Chrissie
continued to present herself as a tough, sexual musician.
Conflict and tragedy began
affecting the group when Honeyman-Scott died on June 16, 1982, from
"cocaine-related heart failure" in London, two days after Farndon was
fired from the band (due to his drug use and resulting unreliability).
Farndon also died amidst
rumors of a drug overdose on April 14, 1983. By the end of the year,
Chrissie and Ray Davies became parents, and the Pretenders regrouped with
new members Robbie MacIntosh on guitar and Malcolm Foster on bass.
The band
recorded the Christmas track, "2000 Miles" and released Learning To
Crawl. The LP found the Pretenders
finding more success on the pop charts as well as rock and alternative
radio, with the tracks "Back On The Chain Gang," "Middle Of The Road," and
"Show Me." Hynde married Simple Mind's Jim
Kerr.
The Pretenders appeared at
Live Aid and Chrissie could be heard on a cover version of "I Got Your
Babe" with UB40.
Chrissie and
Macintosh finished their next LP, Get Close, with the help of session musicians. Tracks such as
"Don't Get Me Wrong" helped maintain the Pretenders' success and in 1987,
a greatest hits collection, The Singles, was released.
Chrissie once again joined
forces with UB40 for the cover, "Breakfast In Bed."
Chrissie and Kerr divorced
and The Pretenders released Packed! which found little commercial
success.
In May, the
Pretenders released Last Of The
Independents, and the band found
success once again with tracks such as "Night In My Veins" and their
biggest pop hit, "I'll Stand By You." The LP marked the return of original
member, Martin Chambers.
In October, the
Pretenders released a live LP, The Isle Of
View, offering acoustic recordings
of many of their hits. The band also contributed a cover version of
"Everyday Is Like Sunday" for the Boys On The Side
soundtrack.
Chrissie most recently made the news when she married a
32 year old sculptor. New Pretenders material appeared in the form of
movie music with 2 tracks on the G.I. Jane soundtrack, "Goodbye"
and "The Homecoming."
LPs
The
Pretenders Released: January,
1980 US: Platinum includes: "Stop
Your Sobbing," "Precious," "Kid," and "Brass In Pocket"
Extended
Play (EP) Released: 1981
The Pretenders
II Released: 1981 US: Gold includes: "Message Of Love," "The Adulteress," and "Talk Of The
Town"
Learning To
Crawl Released: 1984 US:
Platinum includes: "Back On The Chain
Gang," "Middle Of The Road," "Show Me," "My City Was Gone," and
"Time The Avenger"
Get
Close Released: 1986 US:
Gold includes: "Don't Get Me
Wrong," "My Baby," and "Hymn To Her"
The
Singles Released: November,
1987 US: Gold includes: "I Got You
Babe"
Packed!
Released: 1990 includes: "Sense Of Purpose" and "Never Do That"
Don't moan about
being a chick, refer to feminism or complain about sexist
discrimination. We’ve all been thrown down stairs and f--ed about,
but no one wants to hear a whining female. Write a loosely disguised
song about it instead and clean up ($). Never pretend you
know more than you do. If you don't know chord names, refer to the
dots. Don't go near the desk unless you plan on becoming an
engineer. Make the other band members look and sound good. Bring out
the best in them; that's your job. Oh, and you better sound good,
too. Do not insist on working with "females"; that's just more
b.s. Get the best man for the job. If it happens to be a woman,
great - you’ll have someone to go to department stores with on tour
instead of making one of the road crew go with you. Try not to
have a sexual relationship within the band. It always ends in
tears. Don't think that sticking your boobs out and trying to
look f--able will help. Remember you're in a rock and roll band.
It's not "f-- me," it's "f-- you"! Don't try to compete
with the guys; it won't impress
anybody.
The Pretenders could be heard with the track "Loving
You Is All I Know" from the film The Other Sister. A new
Pretenders LP, Viva El
Amor, was released in June, with
the first single, "Human." The cover of the LP is from a photo taken by
Chrissie's friend, the late Linda McCartney. The band toured Europe most
of the year and will be tourin in the U.S. in 2000.
In February, Hynde won
a Gibson Guitar Award for Best Rock Guitarist (Female). She also headlined
a rally in British Columbia protesting the import of cow hides from India
and the demand for leather. In March, Chrissie was
arrested with PETA President, Ingrid Newkirk, in New York for reportedly
damaging leather products at a Manhattan Gap store as part of a PETA
(People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) protest. A month later the
Gap Inc. announced they would no longer buy skins from black markets in
India. In August, the
Pretenders will be opening for Neil Young's tour. In
November, Rolling Stone & MTV: 100 Greatest Pop
Songs includes "Brass In
Pocket" at #87.
The Pretenders formed in 1978
as a rock quartet featuring Chrissie Hynde as the lead vocalist,
songwriter, and guitarist. The band has seen numerous changes in members
due to deaths and conflicts, yet Chrissie has remained the focal point and
the backbone of the group. Her distinctive vocals and cavalier charm have
established her as one of the premier singers of rock and alternative
music. Chrissie's provocative and often personal songwriting skills and
singing presentation showed the world that she not only can sing with the
big boys of rock, but often surpass their abilities. Chrissie may be the
first 'chick rocker." Although Chrissie hails from Akron, Ohio, she made
her musical move in England in the early 70s. Before the Pretenders,
Chrissie played with a few other bands including Jack Rabbit and the Berk
Brothers. 
The first
formation of the Pretenders included Chrissie, James Honeyman-Scott
(guitar), Pete Farndon (bass), and Martin Chambers (drums). The band grew
out of the disappearing punk sound and emerged successfully into the new
wave trend of the late 70s and early 80s. Their first successful
recordings in England was a version of Ray Davie's "Stop Your Sobbing,"
"Kid," and the eventual U.S. hit, "Brass In Pocket." 
Their first LP, 
The band
followed up their introduction to American audiences with touring, an EP,
"Extended Play," and their second LP, 
Conflict and tragedy began
affecting the group when Honeyman-Scott died on June 16, 1982, from
"cocaine-related heart failure" in London, two days after Farndon was
fired from the band (due to his drug use and resulting unreliability).
Farndon also died amidst
rumors of a drug overdose on April 14, 1983. By the end of the year,
Chrissie and Ray Davies became parents, and the Pretenders regrouped with
new members Robbie MacIntosh on guitar and Malcolm Foster on bass.
The band
recorded the Christmas track, "2000 Miles" and released 
The Pretenders appeared at
Live Aid and Chrissie could be heard on a cover version of "I Got Your
Babe" with UB40. 
Chrissie and
Macintosh finished their next LP, 
Chrissie once again joined
forces with UB40 for the cover, "Breakfast In Bed."
Chrissie and Kerr divorced
and The Pretenders released Packed! which found little commercial
success. 
In May, the
Pretenders released 
In October, the
Pretenders released a live LP, 
Don't moan about
being a chick, refer to feminism or complain about sexist
discrimination. We’ve all been thrown down stairs and f--ed about,
but no one wants to hear a whining female. Write a loosely disguised
song about it instead and clean up ($).
In January,