The Pretenders News and Information
Posted 6/18/2009
The Pretenders are kicking off 2009 by making over 30 stops throughout the U.S. over a span of three months. Their latest album, "Break up the Concrete" was hailed by Rolling Stone as "The best Pretenders album in years."
The Pretenders are a British rock band that was established back in 1978. Shortly thereafter, they signed with Real Records and released the first single "Stop Your Sobbing." Their debut album, "Pretender," was released on January 1980.
However, the band was riddled with drug-related deaths and numerous subsequent personnel changes have occurred over their history, with Chrissie Hynde as the only original band member remaining. The present band consists of Chrissie Hynde as lead vocals, James Walbourne as lead guitar, Nick Wilkinson at bass, Martin Chambers as drum and percussion, and Eric Heywood rounding out the band as pedal steel.
In March 2005, the Pretenders were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
More recently, they have released their album "Break up the Concrete" through Shangri-La Music on Oct. 7, 2008.