Pretenders Concerts Setlist

Formed in Hereford, UK, The Pretenders, or only Pretenders, is a famous rock band. Originally featuring Chrissie Hynde, James Honeyman-Scott, Pete Farndon, and Martin Chambers. The band has gone through many lineup changes after Honeyman-Scott and Farndon passed away in the early 1980s, with Hynde being the only constant member.

Chrissie Hynde moved from Ohio to London in 73 and worked at a clothing store. She was involved with early versions of the Sex Pistols, The Clash, and The Damned but struggled to find a stable band.

Chrissie played in short-lived groups like Masters of the Backside started her own band called (Mike Hunt's) Dishonorable Discharge. Despite featuring members like Mick Jones and Sid Vicious, the band didn't get support from McLaren or Bernie Rhodes, who often took her band members for other projects.

The Pretenders formed almost 5 years later after that, in 78, after Dave Hill at a major record label heard Chrissie Hynde's demos and saw potential in her music. He arranged a rehearsal for Chrissie with Mal Hart on bass and Phil Taylor of Motörhead on drums. Impressed by their performance, Hill suggested that Chrissie create a permanent band for his label.

Later, Chrissie recruited Pete Farndon on bass, James Honeyman-Scott on guitar, and Gerry Mcilduff on drums, and they recorded five tracks at Regents Park Studio in 1978, including a cover of the Kinks' "Stop Your Sobbing." Mcilduff was soon replaced by Martin Chambers, and Hynde named the band "The Pretenders" after The Platters' song "The Great Pretender," a favorite of her former boyfriend.

Due to increasing drug abuse, Pete Farndon was fired from the Pretenders in 82, following a meeting with Chrissie Hynde, James Honeyman-Scott, and Martin Chambers. Tragically, just two days later, Honeyman-Scott died from heart failure caused by cocaine intolerance. Farndon was attempting to start a new band when he was found dead one year later by his wife, leaving only two surviving members in the Pretenders.

The Pretenders also collaborated with Emmylou Harris on "Return of the Grievous Angel: A Tribute to Gram Parsons." In 2000, they released a Greatest Hits compilation. In 2022, Pretenders performed at the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium with Dave Grohl on bass.

Even through the challenges and successes in the music industry, Pretenders have proven to be a very important rock band, commanded by Chrissie Hynde.