MEMORABLE MONDAYS: The Pretenders

 You probably heard something about brass in a pocket, or won't let nobody hurt you. Chrissie Hynde's voice is unmistakable, as is the Pretenders effect on the world of music. Chrissie is also the band's only consistent member. They were inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame in 2005. 

Hynde was originally from Akron, Ohio. She moved to London in 1973, working for the weekly music paper NME. She also worked at clothing stores. She was involved in early versions of band Sex Pistols, the Clash, and the Damned. She played in shortlived bands like the Masters of the Backside and the Moors Murderers. She failed to find regular or equal partnership in the bands she attempted to join. 

Her own provocative band project centered around her own songwriting was initially called Mike Hunt's Dishonorable Discharge. It featured former London SS and future Damned members, along with Mick Jones and Sid Vicious, whom she taught to play guitar. She failed to get managerial backing for the band, despite being asked to continue to fill in for other male fronted bands. 

The Pretenders formed in 1978, after Dave Hill at Anchor Records heard some of her demos. He arranged a rehearsal studio with a three piece band of Hynde, Mal Hart, and Phil Taylor played a selection of her original songs. He was impressed and arranged a day at Studio 51 to record another demo. He decided she should form a band on his new label, Real Records. The band ended up consistenting of Pete Farndon, James Honeyman-Scott, and Gerry Mcilduff. Mcilduff was replaced soon after their first five tracks were recorded with Martin Chambers. The band was named after the Platters song "the Great Pretenders", a favorite song of an ex-boyfriend. 

The first single of the group was a cover of a Kinks song, "Stop Your Sobbing". It released in 1979 to critical acclaim. It was followed by "Kid" later in the year. "Brass in Pocket" released as a single and reached number one. Their self-titled debut album released January of 1980. Nick Lowe had worked on their first single, but did not continue to work with them as he felt they were going nowhere. Boy, was he wrong! Their debut was certified platinum by 1982. The album, despite success, faced mixed critical reviews at the time. Some loved it, others felt they lacked edge and were just recycling 1960s beats. 

Their next release, Pretenders II, released in 1981. It is the final album with the original lineup due to sad circumstances. It was met with mixed reception, some feeling it sounded too cohesive. Retrospective reviews see the album more fondly. Around this time, Hynde was dating Ray Davies, and they would have daughter Natalie Rae Hynde together in 1983. 

Due to escalating drug abuse, Farndon was fired from the band after a meeting in June of 1982. Two days later, 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 by his wife in 1983. He had taken heroin and passed out, drowning in the bathtub. It left the Pretenders with only two living members very quickly.

They decided to continue the band after Honeyman-Scotts death. 1982, a regroup with Hynde, Chambers, Billy Bremner, and Tony Butler assembled to record single "Back on the Chain Gang". It was their biggest US success, staying number 5 for 3 weeks. They then formed a more fixed new lineup, adding Robbie McIntosh on guitar and Malcolm Foster on bass. Together, they recorded album Learning to Crawl, released 1984. The title was inspired by her daughter at the time who was in fact learning to crawl. 2000 Miles became a popular Christmas song in the UK. "My City Was Gone" describes Hynde's feelings after returning to Akron after so long.

In 1985 they began recording another record. Hynde felt Chambers was not playing well anymore, and dismissed him from the band. Upset by the loss of his bandmate, Foster quit the band. Hynde and McIntosh recorded the rest of the album in various session. She hired two of the guest players, T.M. Stevens and Blair Cunningham, as the new Pretenders rhythm section. Hynde speaks of the time as difficult because she was traumatized at the loss of her bandmates and losing inspiration but not wanting to admit it or lose the band. She took it out on Chambers, who too was grieving their loss. She feared the band was losing direction and its roots. She removed Stevens and Worrell during the tour, and Foster and Rupert Black were re-hired to complete the bands live commitments. At the end of the tour, McIntosh left the band and was replaced by Johnny Marr. 

Their next album, released in 1990, Packed! has Chrissie Hynde as the only official member, although Blair Cunningham did provide drums for the album. Some view the album as Hynde's solo album but using the Pretender name to meet contractual obligations. 

By 1993, Hynde teamed up with Adam Seymour to attempt to form a new version of the Pretenders. They hired some session musicians to assist with album recording, including Andy Rourke, Andy Hobbson, and James Hood. By the end of the sessions and tour, the official lineup was Hynde, Seymour, Hobson, and returning drummer Martin Chambers. Last of the Independents, released in 1994, was a success and reached gold in the US. In 1999, Hynde led the memorial concert "Here, There and Everywhere - A Concert for Linda" for her late friend Linda McCartney. Pretenders were the backing band for all the artists. The same year, ¡Viva El Amor!, released with a similar lineup as their last album, showing some consistency. The cover photo was taken by Linda McCartney. 

They released album Loose Screw in 2002, and it was the first time the band had the same credited lineup for three consecutive albums. When inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005, Hynde thanked all the replacement members in the group, saying the band has looked like a tribute band for the last 20 years, a tribute to Honeyman-Scott and Farndon, who without them, the band wouldn't be there. Break Up the Concrete, their next release in 2008, led to some confusion about the drummer. Hynde was looking for a different style and was not sure Chambers could meet her satisfaction, so for the recording, Jim Keltner took his place. Chambers was not aware he had been replaced by Keltner in the sessions originally, but gave Hynde his blessing to record. He remained on th tour. Some considered it the best Pretenders release since Get Close. 

The Pretenders joined Stevie Nicks on a 27 city tour in 2016. Their next released, Alone, was released similarly to Packed! with Hynde as the only credited musician. It followed Chrissie Hynde's official solo album, Stockholm, released in 2014. In 2017, the band appeared on Austin City Limits. Next album Hate for Sale faced some delays due to the pandemic, but did release July of 2020. The tour with Journey was cancelled due to the pandemic. Their most recent album, Relentless, was released 2023 to great critical reception. Many felt it showed a broader scale while properly incorporating what made the Pretenders so good in their early editions. 

If you have not taken a chance to try out this band of many faces, and distinctive voice, then it is not too late to add them to your playlist!