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Punk |
Lead by the charismatic Chrissie Hynde, driven by the hard drums of Martin Chambers, the Pretenders have been one of the most innovative band. Their first album was a knocking mix between hard rock, punk attitude and pop hooks. Ranging from cute love songs to hard rocking angst songs to ballads, they proved that genres were meant to be mixed. The very success of "Pretenders" was the sexy, provoking yet humorous tone in Hynde voice and lyrics. In 1980 fan and critics alike were in favour of the talent of Chambers on drums, Farndon the bass, Honeyman-Scott on guitar and Hynde as the vocalist. ...read more
Lead by the charismatic Chrissie Hynde, driven by the hard drums of Martin Chambers, the Pretenders have been one of the most innovative band. Their first album was a knocking mix between hard rock, punk attitude and pop hooks. Ranging from cute love songs to hard rocking angst songs to ballads, they proved that genres were meant to be mixed. The very success of "Pretenders" was the sexy, provoking yet humorous tone in Hynde voice and lyrics. In 1980 fan and critics alike were in favour of the talent of Chambers on drums, Farndon the bass, Honeyman-Scott on guitar and Hynde as the vocalist. Getting high on chart especially in the U.K.
Their second album "Pretenders II" came in 1981 with more negative reviews after the immediate and blowing success of their first. But with time this album has gained great reviews and is now considered to be one of the best Pretenders albums. 1982 was a very painful year for the band. After Chrissie kicked out bassist and ex-husband Pete Farndon for his drug-related problems, other band member James Honeyman- Scott was found dead, related with drugs abuse, some days later. While pregnant Chrissie Hynde took months off. Hynde gave birth to her child but within months Pete Farndon was also found dead from an over dose.
Hynde and Chambers regrouped The Pretenders in 1984 to begin a new phase. New bassist Malcolm Foster and Manfred Mann's Earth Band's guitarist Robbie McIntosh joined in to record the 1984 album "Learning To Crawl", an emotive lyrically charged album for Hynde. With mellow country-like song "Back on The Chain Gang» or nostalgic Christmas song " 2000 Miles" she talk about the tragic lost of her two band mate. The album was a big success with song like "Middle of the Road" and "Thin Line between Love and Hate" as well as the two mentioned songs.
Before 1986 only appearance of The Pretenders was the live aid show. Regrouping yet another session of musician with Robbie McIntosh, form the "Learning to Crawl" session, she began the project of a new album called "Get Close". Getting to more pop sound and a bit of soul on the side. The album contains a magic interpretation of Hendrix "Room Full of Mirrors" as well as a mellow ballad «Hymn to Her". The first single "Don’t' get me wrong" ignited the top 40 in 1986 with a catchy hook and a video mad as an homage to the British TV series "The Avengers".
After some 4 years of absence, Chrissie returned with their fifth album "Packed". Failing to chart whatsoever. The next 4 years will be as bland as the last one for the band before they return with new musicians.
Bursting in 1994 with one of their greatest song called "Ill Stand By You", the Pretenders returned to the top 40. They also released a "comeback" album, hailed at the time as a return to the roots that made popular. The album is a mix of rocking ballads, sentimental songs driven by the powerful voice of Hynde, back in top form. Hynde also recorded some of the most beautiful songs she composed over the last 15 years to make them "acoustic", she released the album "The Isle Of View".
Since then, the Pretenders hasn’t been very present, releasing "Viva El Amor" in 1999 to not much attention despite the quality of their song. The last studio album they recorded on Artemis indie label in 2002, "Loose Screw" followed by a great tour in 2003.
In 2006 "Pirate Radio" has been released, a four disc box set in the kid of greatest hits with lots of rare material, demos, live versions and songs cuts.
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Similar Bands: The Smiths, The Divinyls, Blondie, The Clash, Joan Jett
Contributors: Minushuman24, Gassman3268, Steeed, Mikesn,
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