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The Pretenders music biography continued...

to rock. Originally from Akron, Ohio, Hynde moved to England in the early '70s, when she was in her twenties. Serving as the group's vocalist, rhythm guitarist and songwriter, she formed The Pretenders in 1978, with British guitarist James Honeyman-Scott, bassist Pete Farndon, and drummer Martin Chambers. Later in the year, they recorded a version of Ray Davies' "Stop Your Sobbing," which made it into the British Top 40 in early 1979. "Kid" and "Brass in Pocket," the group's next two singles, also were successful. Their self-titled debut album was released in early 1980 and eventually climbed to number one in the U.K. The Pretenders were nearly as successful in America, with the album reaching the Top Ten and "Brass in Pocket" reaching number 14. Soon after, The Pretenders were fractured by drug-related deaths and personnel changes, as Hynde moved a reconstituted band forward on the strength of her semi-autobiographical songwriting skills. Several albums followed, including 1984's Learning to Crawl, 1986's Get Close and 1990's Packed!, but The Pretenders didn't return to the Top 40 until 1995 with the ballad "I'll Stand By You." By this time, Hynde's prowess as a lyricist and her personal determination were what set the band apart from all of their rock counterparts.



The Pretenders released Viva el Amor in 1999, and followed with a collaboration with Tom Jones on the album Reload. The Pretenders joined with Emmylou Harris on Return of the Grievous Angel: A Tribute to Gram Parsons, performing the song "She." A Greatest Hits compilation followed in 2000. In March 2005, the Pretenders were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Only Hynde and Chambers attended the ceremony, though Hynde thanked all the musicians who had been associated with the band through their storied history. It was soon after that Hynde proclaimed that she was no feminist icon and was "Just like any chick who likes to talk about makeup in the girls' room." Maybe so, but she's an extremely talented chick.