The Pretenders 1978-1990: Every Album, Every Song (On Track)

The On Track series examines an artist’s entire output, track by track – or that within a specified date range – the series brings together expert analysis with both fact and opinion.

Dinner with David Bowie, kissing with Jackie Wilson, close encounters with Iggy Pop, Rod Stewart and Ron Wood. Not even 20, still less a rock goddess, but Chrissie Hynde wasn’t hanging around! The talented, charismatic writer-singer escaped Ohio for Britain in 1973, hoping to form a rock’n’roll band. She befriended journalist Nick Kent, designer Vivienne Westwood, hustler Malcolm McLaren and famous musicians from Nick Lowe to Lemmy. She wrote for The NME and narrowly avoided becoming Mrs. Sid Vicious.

Meeting Pete Farndon, James Honeyman-Scott and Martin Chambers, Chrissie finally realised her dream: The Pretenders, one of the world’s most exciting, enduring and best-loved rock groups. The Pretenders proved revelatory, lashing hard rock to the sexy, sassy swagger of streetwise punk and catchy, chart-busting pop. Brass In Pocket was a worldwide hit. America took to its heart the ex-pat from the Heartlands, as Chrissie became an international star and a reluctant flag-bearer for rock’s sisterhood. Weathering tragic loss, The Pretenders have continued to make great music.

Combining dry wit with diligent research and a deep knowledge of rock music, author Richard Butterworth appraises The Pretenders’ turbulent, vital early years - from Chrissie’s arrival in Britain, through the band’s 1978 birth to 1990.