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Artist
The Pretenders
12+ albums
rocknew wave80sfemale vocalistsclassic rock
about
The Pretenders are a British rock band formed in March 1978. The original line-up consisted of Chrissie Hynde (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), James Honeyman-Scott (lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), Pete Farndon (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 underwent numerous line-up changes. Hynde has remained the only continuous member. The band achieved chart success with songs including "Kid" (1979), "Brass in Pocket" (1979), "Talk of the Town" (1980), "Message of Love" (1981), "My City Was Gone" (1982), "Back on the Chain Gang" (1982), "Middle of the Road" (1983), "2000 Miles" (1983), "Don't Get Me Wrong" (1986), "My Baby" (1986), and "I'll Stand by You" (1994). The Pretenders were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. Chrissie Hynde, originally from Akron, Ohio, moved to London in 1973. She worked for the music publication NME and at Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood's clothing shop. During the mid-1970s she was associated with early members of groups such as the Sex Pistols, the Clash, and the Damned, and played in short-lived bands including Masters of the Backside and the Moors Murderers. The Pretenders formed in 1978 after Anchor Records executive Dave Hill heard demo recordings of Hynde's songs and encouraged her to form a band. After early rehearsals with temporary musicians, Hynde recruited Pete Farndon, James Honeyman-
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