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BIRTHDAYS: Chrissie Hynde (September 7, 1951) ~ Martin Chambers (September 4, 1951) ~ Pete Farndon (June 12, 1952 - April 14, 1982) ~ James Honeyman-Scott (November 4, 1957 - June 16, 1982)
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BIGGEST SINGLE: "I'll Stand By You" (1994)
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BIGGEST LP: Learning To Crawl (1984)
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GRAMMY AWARDS: 0
button.gif (123 bytes) ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE: 2005

 
TIMELINE

The Pretendersbutton.gif (123 bytes) 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.

1978...

The Pretenders - The Pretendersbutton.gif (123 bytes) 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."

1980...# 65 Singles Artist of the Year

January
button.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders first LP, The Pretenders, was released.
button.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders topped the UK singles chart for 2 weeks with "
Brass In Pocket."
button.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders topped the UK LP chart for 4 weeks with
The Pretenders.

March
The Pretenders - "Brass In Pocket" (Single)button.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders hit the Top 40 with "Brass In Pocket."

May
button.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders hit the Top 10 with "Brass In Pocket."

1981...

February
button.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders were nominated for 3 Grammy Awards for Best New Artist, Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group ("Brass In Pocket"), and Best Rock Instrumental Performance ("Space Invader").

August
The Pretenders - The Pretenders IIbutton.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders 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.

1982...

June 14: Farndon was fired from the band (due to his drug use and resulting unreliability).
June 16: Honeyman-Scott died from "cocaine-related heart failure" in London.

1983...# 45 Singles Artist of the Year

January
The Pretenders - "Back On The Chain Gang" (Single) button.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders hit the Top 40 with "Back On The Chain Gang."

March
button.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders hit the
Top 10 with "Back On The Chain Gang."

April
button.gif (123 bytes) Farndon died amidst rumors of a drug overdose on April 14.

button.gif (123 bytes) 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.

December
The Pretenders - "Middle Of The Road" (Single)button.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders hit the Top 40 with "Middle Of The Road."

1984...# 55 Singles Artist of the Year

January
The Pretenders - Learning To Crawlbutton.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders 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."
button.gif (123 bytes) Hynde married Simple Mind's Jim Kerr.

September
button.gif (123 bytes) The video for "Middle Of The Road" was nominated for a MTV Video Music Award for Best Stage Performance Video.

1985...Chrissie Hynde: # 160 Singles Artist of the Year

THe Pretenders - "Show Me" (Single)button.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders appeared at Live Aid and Chrissie could be heard on a cover version of "I Got Your Babe" with UB40.
Year-End Chart Position: # 186

1986...# 101 Singles Artist of the Year

November
The Pretenders - Get Closebutton.gif (123 bytes) 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.

1987...# 134 Singles Artist of the Year

November
The Pretenders - The Singlesbutton.gif (123 bytes) A greatest hits collection, The Singles, was released.

1988...

button.gif (123 bytes) Chrissie once again joined forces with UB40 for the cover, "Breakfast In Bed."

1990...

The Pretendersbutton.gif (123 bytes) Chrissie and Kerr divorced and The Pretenders released Packed! which found little commercial success.

1993...

October
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Rolling Stone: "The 100 Top Music Videos" included "Back On The Chain Gang" at # 92.

1994... # 41 Singles Artist of the Year

May
The Pretenders - Last Of The Independentsbutton.gif (123 bytes) 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.

September
button.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders hit the Top 40 with "I'll Stand By You."

October
button.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders hit the Top 10 with "I'll Stand By You."

1995...

January
Boys On The Side soundtrackbutton.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders appeared on the Boys On The Side soundtrack with "Everyday Is Like Sunday."

March
button.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders were nominated for a
Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal ("I'll Stand By You").

April
button.gif (123 bytes) Chrissie topped the UK Singles chart with Cher, Neneh Cherry and Eric Clapton for a week with "Love Can Build A Bridge."

October
The Pretenders - The Isle Of Viewbutton.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders released a live LP, The Isle Of View, offering acoustic recordings of many of their hits.

1997...

button.gif (123 bytes) Chrissie married a 32 year old sculptor.
button.gif (123 bytes) New Pretenders material appeared in the form of movie music with 2 tracks on the G.I. Jane soundtrack, "Goodbye" and "The Homecoming."

1998...

May
button.gif (123 bytes) Ranked # 69 on VH1: Greatest Artists of Rock & Roll (and # 41 on Rock On The Net's Poll).

1999...

June
The Pretenders - Viva El Amorbutton.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders could be heard with the track "Loving You Is All I Know" from the film The Other Sister.
button.gif (123 bytes) A new Pretenders LP, Viva El Amor, was released with the single, "Human." The cover of the LP is from a photo taken by Chrissie's friend, the late Linda McCartney.

June
button.gif (123 bytes) VH1: 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll includes Chrissie at # 7.

Chrissie Hynde’s Advice to Chick Rockers

Chrissie Hynde 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.

2000...

February
button.gif (123 bytes) 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.
button.gif (123 bytes) For the first time, the Pretenders performed live in their hometown - Akron, Ohio.

March 10: 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.

August
button.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders opened for Neil Young's tour.

November
button.gif (123 bytes) Rolling Stone & MTV: 100 Greatest Pop Songs includes "Brass In Pocket" at # 87.

2001...

January
button.gif (123 bytes) VH1: 100 Greatest Albums includes The Pretenders at # 52.

September
button.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders II was certified gold.

2002...

September
button.gif (123 bytes) VH1: 100 Sexiest Artists includes Chrissie at # 89.
button.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders opened for the
Rolling Stones for several concert dates

November
The Pretenders - Loose Screwbutton.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders released Loose Screw.
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Rolling Stone: 50 Essential 'Woman In Rock' Albums includes The Pretenders at # 12.

2003...

February
button.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders contributed the track "Something To Believe In" to We're A Happy Family - A Tribute To The Ramones.

June
button.gif (123 bytes) VH1: 100 Best Songs of the Past 25 Years includes "Brass In Pocket" at # 62.

August
button.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders were heard on the dance floors and dance charts with the Junior Vasquez remixes of "Time."

December
Rolling Stone: The 500 Greatest Albums of All-Timebutton.gif (123 bytes) Rolling Stone: The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: # 155: The Pretenders.

button.gif (123 bytes) # 195 on the Top Pop Artists of the Past 25 Years chart.

2005...

March
button.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

2006...

March
button.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders released the box set Pirate Radio. The set included 4 CDs and a DVD with 81 tracks and 19 videos.

October
The Pretenders - Break Up The Concretebutton.gif (123 bytes) VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80's included "Brass In Pocket" at # 89.

2008...

June
button.gif (123 bytes)
Entertainment Weekly: 100 Best Albums of the Last 25 Years included Learning To Crawl at # 83.

September
The Pretenders - 'Live In London'button.gif (123 bytes) Chrissie could be heard on the tribute LP Born To Breed: A Tribute To Judy Collins on the track "My Father."
button.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders performed at the 21st annual Farm Aid concert held at the Comcast Center in Massachusetts.

October
button.gif (123 bytes) The Pretenders released
Break Up The Concrete.

2010...

February
Chrissie Hynde - 'Stockholm'button.gif (123 bytes) Live In London was released.

2014...

June
button.gif (123 bytes) Chrissie released the solo LP
Stockholm.

2016...

2020...

2021...

2023...



LPs
The Pretenders - The Pretenders The Pretenders
Rolling Stone: The 500 Greatest Albums of All-TimeReleased: January, 1980
US: Platinum
Billboard peak: # 9
Rolling Stone: 5 stars from Rolling Stone
Tracks: "Precious" - "The Phone Call" - "Up The Neck" - "Tattooed Love Boys" - "Space Invader" - "The Wait" - "Stop Your Sobbing" - "Kid" - "Private Life" - "Brass In Pocket" - "Lovers Of Today" - "Mystery Achievement"
The Pretenders - Extended Play EP Extended Play (EP)
Released: 1981
Billboard peak: # 27
Rolling Stone review: 4 stars from Rolling Stone
Tracks: "Message Of Love" - "Talk Of The Town" - "Porcelain" - "Cuban Slide" - "Precious" (live)
The Pretenders - The Pretenders II The Pretenders II
Released: August, 1981
US: Gold
Billboard peak: # 10
Rolling Stone review: 4 stars from Rolling Stone
Tracks: "The Adulteress" - "Bad Boys Get Spanked" - "Message Of Love" - "I Go To Sleep" - "Birds Of Paradise" - "Talk Of The Town" - "Pack It Up" - "Waste Not Want Not" - "Day After Day" - "Jealous Dogs" - "The English Roses" - "Louie Louie"
The Pretenders - Learning To Crawl
Available for download at iTunes
mp3 Available at Amazon.com
Learning To Crawl
Released: January, 1984
US: Platinum
Billboard peak: # 5
Rolling Stone review: 4 stars from Rolling Stone
Tracks: "Middle Of The Road" - "Back On The Chain Gang" - "Time The Avenger" - "Watching The Clothes" - "Show Me" - "Thumbelina" - "My City Was Gone" - "Thin Line Between Love And Hate" - "I Hurt You" - "2000 Miles"
The Pretenders - Get Close Get Close
Released: November, 1986
US: Gold
Billboard peak: # 25
Tracks: "My Baby" - "When I Change My Life" - "Light Of The Moon" - "Dance!" - "Tradition Of Love" - "Don't Get Me Wrong" - "I Remember You" - "How Much Did You Get For Your Soul?" - "Chill Factor" - "Hymn To Her" - "Room Full Of Mirrors"
The Pretenders - The Singles The Singles
Released: November, 1987
US: Gold
Billboard peak: # 69
Rolling Stone review: 4 stars from Rolling Stone
Tracks: "Stop Your Sobbing" - "Kid" - "Brass In Pocket" - "Talk Of The Town" - "I Go To Sleep" - "Day After Day" - "Message of Love" - "Back On The Chain Gang" - "Middle Of The Road" - "2000 Miles" - "Show Me" - "Thin Line Between Love And Hate" - "Don't Get Me Wrong" - "Hymn To Her" - "My Baby" - "I Got You Babe" (Chrissie Hynde & UB40)
The Pretenders - Packed! Packed!
Released: 1990
Billboard peak: # 48
Rolling Stone review: 4 stars from Rolling Stone
Tracks: "Never Do That" - "Let's Make A Pact" - "Millionaires" - "May This Be Love" - "No Guarantee" - "When Will I See You" - "Sense Of Purpose" - "Downtown (Akron)" - "How Do I Miss You" - "Hold A Candle To This" - "Criminal"
The Pretenders - Last Of The Independents Last Of The Independents
Released: May, 1994
US: Gold
Billboard peak: # 41
Tracks: "Hollywood Perfume" - "Night In My Veins" - "Money Talk" - "977" - "Revolution" - "All My Dreams" - "I'll Stand By You" - "I'm A Mother" - "Tequila" - "Every Mother's Son" - "Rebel Rock Me" - "Love Colours" - "Forever Young"
The Pretenders - The Isle Of View The Isle Of View
Released: October, 1995
Billboard peak: # 100
Rolling Stone review: 3 stars from Rolling Stone
Live Tracks: "Sense Of Purpose" - "Chill Factor" - "Private Life" - "Back On The Chain Gang" - "Kid" - "I Hurt You" - "Criminal" - "Brass In Pocket" - "2000 Miles" - "Hymn To Her" - "Lovers Of Today" - "The Phone Call" - "I Go To Sleep" - "Revolution"
The Pretenders - Viva El Amor Viva El Amor
Released: June, 1999
Billboard peak: # 158
Rolling Stone review: 3 stars from Rolling Stone
Tracks: "Popstar" - "Human" - "From The Heart Down" - "Nails In The Road" - "Who's Who" - "Dragway 42" - "Baby's Breath" - "One More Time" - "Legalize Me" - "Samurai" - "Rabo De Nube" - "Biker"
The Pretenders - Loose Screw Loose Screw
Released: November, 2002
Tracks: "Lie To Me" - "Time" - "You Know Who Your Friends Are" - "Complex Person" - "Fools Must Die" - "Kinda Nice, I Like It" - "Nothing Breaks Like A Heart" - "I Should Of" - "Clean Up Woman" - "The Losing" - "Saving Grace" - "Walk Like A Panther"
The Pretenders - Break Up The Concrete Break Up The Concrete
Released: October, 2008
Billboard peak: # 32
Rolling Stone: 4 stars from Rolling Stone - Entertainment Weekly: B
Tracks: "Boots Of Chinese Plastic" - "The Nothing Maker" - "Don't Lose Faith In Me" - "Don't Cut Your Hair" - "Love's A Mystery" - "The Last Ride" - "Almost Perfect" - "You Didn't Have To" - "Rosalee" - "Break Up The Concrete" - "One Thing Never Changed"
The Pretenders - 'Live In London'
mp3 Available at Amazon.com
Live In London
Released: February, 2010
Live Tracks: "Boots Of Chinese Plastic" - "Don't Cut Your Hair" - "Talk Of The Town" - "Kid" - "The Nothing Maker" - "Don't Lose Faith In Me" - "Back On The Chain Gang" - "Love's A Mystery" - "Don't Get Me Wrong" - "Tequila" - "Stop Your Sobbing" - "Day After Day" - "Cuban Slide" - "Middle Of The Road" - "The Wait" - "Tattooed Love Boys" - "Precious" - "I'll Stand By You" - "Brass In Pocket"
The Pretenders - 'Alone'
iTunes
Amazon.mp3
vinyl
Alone
Released: October 21, 2016
Tracks: "Alone" - "Roadie Man" - "Gotta Wait" - "Never Be Together" - "Let's Get Lost" - "Chord Lord" - "Blue Eyed Sky" - "The Man You Are" - "One More Day" - "I Hate Myself" - "Death Is Not Enough" - "Holy Commotion"
The Pretenders - 'Hate For Sale'
iTunes
Amazon.mp3
vinyl
Hate For Sale
Released: July 17, 2020
Tracks: "Hate For Sale" - "The Buzz" - "Lightning Man" - "Turf Accountant Daddy" - "You Can't Hurt A Fool" - "I Didn't Know When To Stop" - "Maybe Love Is In NYC" - "Junkie Walk" - "Didn't Want To Be This Lonely" - "Crying In Public"
Pretenders - 'Relentless' Relentless
Released: September 15, 2023
Tracks: "Losing My Sense Of Taste" - "A Love" - "Domestic Silence" - "The Copa" - "Promise Of Love" - "Merry Widow" - "Let The Sun Come In" - "Look Away" - "Your House Is On Fire" - "Just Let It Go" - "Vainglorious" - "I Think About You Daily"
POP SINGLES DISCOGRAPHY [based on The ARC Weekly Top 40 (listing explanation)
1 I'll Stand By You
Last Of The Independents
5 16 1994 [ LISTEN / BUY ]
[
LYRICS ]
2 Back On The Chain Gang

from the LP
Learning To Crawl
ARC chart run: 32 - 25 - 21 - 17 - 11 - 8 - 6 - 4 - 4 - 3 - 14 - 23 - 30 - 38 - off
Year-End Chart Position: # 42
3 14 1983 The Pretenders - "Back On The Chain Gang" (Single)
3 Don't Get Me Wrong
Get Close
7 12 1986 [ LISTEN / BUY ]
[
LYRICS ]
4 Brass In Pocket

from the LP
The Pretenders
ARC chart run: 34 - 27 - 23 - 21 - 20 - 18 - 17 - 15 - 10 - 9 - 17 - 31 - off
Year-End Chart Position: # 78
9 12 1980 The Pretenders - "Brass In Pocket" (Single)
Amazon.mp3
5 Middle Of The Road

from the LP
Learning To Crawl
ARC chart run: 40 - 35 - 32 - 25 - 18 - 16 - 15 - 13 - 26 - 40 - off
Year-End Chart Position: # 114
13 10 1984 The Pretenders - "Middle Of The Road" (Single)
iTunes
Amazon.mp3
6 Show Me

from the LP
Learning To Crawl
ARC chart run: 35 - 27 - 22 - 20 - 31 - 39 - off
Year-End Chart Position: # 163
20 6 1984 THe Pretenders - "Show Me" (Single)
iTunes
Amazon.mp3
7 I Got You Babe
[UB40 with Chrissie Hynde]
The Singles
26 5 1985 [ LISTEN / BUY ]
[
LYRICS ]
 
  Stop Your Sobbing
The Pretenders
** ** 1980 [ LISTEN / BUY ]
[
LYRICS ]
  Thin Line Between Love And Hate
Learning To Crawl
** ** 1984 [ LISTEN / BUY ]
[
LYRICS ]
  My Baby
Get Close
** ** 1987 [ LISTEN / BUY ]
[
LYRICS ]
  Sense Of Purpose
The Isle Of View
** ** 1990 [ LISTEN / BUY ]
[
LYRICS ]
  Night In My Veins
Last Of The Independents
** ** 1994 [ LISTEN / BUY ]
[
LYRICS ]
  Time
Loose Screw
** ** 1994 [ LISTEN / BUY ]
[
LYRICS ]
 
Note: Song title and position links lead you to the song's Top 40 chart run (from the ARC Weekly Top 40) and LP links take you to Amazon.com's page for that LP (often including track listings and sound samples).
 
 

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