#James Honeyman Scott

[rolloroberson]

The Pretenders

[wintoplane]

The Pretenders - Chrissie Hynde

[longliverockback]

Pretenders The Singles 1987 Sire ————————————————— Tracks: 01. Stop Your Sobbing 02. Kid 03. Brass in Pocket 04. Talk of the Town 05. I Go to Sleep 06. Day after Day 07. Message of Love 08. Back on the Chain Gang 09. Middle of the Road 10. 2000 Miles 11. Show Me 12. Thin Line Between Love and Hate 13. Don’t Get Me Wrong 14. Hymn to Her 15. My Baby 16. I Got You Babe —————————————————

* Long Live Rock Archive

[musicandoldmovies]

Pretenders (original lineup) with Pete Farndon (+), Martin Chambers, Chrissie Hynde and James Honeyman-Scott (+)

[cybershubunkin]

James Honeyman-Scott

[undergroundrockpress]

The Pretenders, 1979.

[myvinylplaylist]

Pretenders: Extended Play (1981)

Precious was recorded live in Central Park, August 30th 1980

Sire Records

[heidismagblog]

[kiki-de-la-petite-flaque]

Pretenders front woman Chrissie Hynde with James Honeyman Scott in tow. For a brief shining moment they had brass in pocket, and they weren’t afraid to use it, and then the musician’s curse reared its ugly head. In 1982 and 1983 both Scott and bass player Pete Farndon expired due to drug intolerance leaving only Hynde and drummer Martin Chambers remaining as original members.

In March 2005, The Pretenders were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. At the induction ceremony, the band performed "Precious" and "Message of Love". During her acceptance speech, Hynde named and thanked all the replacement members of the group, then said:

"I know that the Pretenders have looked like a tribute band for the last 20 years. ... And we're paying tribute to James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon, without whom we wouldn't be here. And on the other hand, without us, they might have been here, but that's the way it works in rock 'n' roll."

[slackville-records]

Chrissie Hynde and James Honeyman-Scott on guitar and Pete Farndon on bass guitar of The Pretenders performing at the Nashville Rooms, London, UK on 8 March 1979. (Photo by David Corio/Redferns)

[rolloroberson]

The Pretenders

[wintoplane]

The Pretenders - Chrissie Hyned

[mutant-what-not]

ONCE IN 78’: The Pretenders - Pete Farndon, Martin Chambers, Chrissie Hynde, and James Honeyman Scott. Photo by © Simon Fowler.

"April 22, 1978

THE PRETENDERS are coming together. Chrissie was originally teamed up with a drummer named Gas Wilde. He brought along a friend of his, a bass player named Pete Farndon. He has previously been in a Hereford group Cold River Lady and only just returned from Australia where he was in a group called the Bushwackers. After a few rehearsals, Gas drops out and they have to find another drummer.

Chrissie was trying to get the attention of Motorhead's drummer Phil Taylor, because there were rumors that Motorhead was about to split. She figured if she could just let Phil hear her band, then he'll join when they split. They get Phil's attention by telling him they have an audition. He can't make it but suggests two other guitar players. One is a older guy with kids, the other is a young kid, Jimmy Scott. Jimmy is the total opposite of Chrissie. She's into punk and he loves Abba and the Beach Boys. He's from Hereford and has been playing since he was only a lad of twelve, most recently with The Cheeks. They played together and it was magic. So now Chrissie has a bass, a lead guitarist and still has to find a suitable drummer. For the sake of the demo session, they hired a session player. He's the Irish drummer named Gerry Mackleduff who plays part time with Juice On The Loose. After the session, Jimmy Scott returns to Hereford to lead his life of near-musical retirement. Chrissie tries again to find her perfect band."

.punk diary

[carmenvicinanza]

Chrissie Hynde

https://www.unadonnalgiorno.it/chrissie-hynde/

Chrissie Hynde, cantante e musicista statunitense di stanza a Londra dagli anni settanta, ha tracciato una strada con il suo rock anomalo, melodico e avvolgente.Conosciuta soprattutto per essere la leader dei Pretenders, ha all’attivo quindici album, milioni di dischi venduti, hit mondiali e oltre quarant’anni dedicati alla musica senza mai scendere a compromessi.Una voce ruvida e diretta, ma anche melodica e jazzy, a suo agio tra le sferzate del rock come in atmosfere più pacate e sognanti.Nata ad Akron, in Ohio, il 7 settembre del 1951, ha iniziato a scrivere canzoni da piccola e comprato la sua prima chitarra a 14 anni.Nella fase hippy della sua adolescenza, frequentava la Kent State University’s Art School nel 1970, quando c’è stata la sparatoria in cui la polizia ha ucciso degli studenti che stavano manifestando, tra cui un suo amico.

A ventidue anni, nel 1973, si è trasferita a Londra, dove ha lavorato come giornalista per la rivista musicale New Musical Express e come commessa nel negozio di abbigliamento Sex di Vivienne Westwood e Malcolm McLaren.

Decisa a rincorrere il sogno di fare musica ha girovagato tra Stati Uniti, Messico e Francia, sperimentando collaborazioni e fallimenti tra cui anche una breve incursione come chitarrista dei Clash, terminata dopo appena un tour.

Per problemi con l’ufficio immigrazione britannico, per ottenere i documenti ha provato a sposare prima Johnny Rotten dei Sex Pistols, poi Sid Vicious che si era offerto di aiutarla, ma quando si presentarono all’ufficio matrimoni trovarono chiuso per una festività prolungata. Il giorno successivo però lui aveva un’udienza processuale e non se ne fece più nulla

Era senza soldi, clandestina ma con un’enorme voglia di fare musica quando, nel 1978, ha incontrato Pete Farndon e, insieme, hanno fondato i Pretenders, di cui facevano parte anche James Honeyman-Scott e Martin Chambers. L’album di debutto del 1980 è stato un successo, così come il singolo reggae-rock Brass in Pocket.

Tre musicisti pieni di talento e un’eccellente  frontwoman, la band ha tracciato un solco per la sua unicità e l’originalità con cui mescolavano stili e generi.

Ammaliante con la sua chitarra e la voce pazzesca, con la sua impertinenza, ha lasciato il segno e fatto tendenza. Personalità libera e trasgressiva, spavalda e temeraria, aveva e ha ancora, l’aspetto da dura che affascina e conquista il pubblico.

Con il secondo album, Pretenders II, la band è esplosa negli Stati Uniti e lei è diventata la ribelle preferita dalle giovani.

Nel 1982 l’armonia all’interno del gruppo si è sfaldata, ostaggio della droga, Pete Farndon è stato cacciato, il 16 giugno James Honeyman-Scott è stato trovato morto per collasso da stupefacenti e l’anno successivo è toccato a Pete, ucciso dall’eroina.

Nonostante l’enorme dolore, Chrissie Hynde, ha deciso di andare avanti con Martin Chambers, il chitarrista Robbie McIntosh e il bassista Malcolm Foster. L’esordio della “nuova” band è stato col disco Learning To Crawl, tra i migliori della loro intera discografia.

Nel 1985, dopo aver partecipato al Live Aid, c’è stata una battuta d’arresto dovuta proprio a lei che aveva scelto di occuparsi delle figlie e esplorare vari generi, in una carriera solista che si è alternata con quella del gruppo.

Ha collaborato con gli U2 e Bob Dylan, di cui, successivamente, ha inciso un album di cover, cantato reggae insieme agli UB40, pop, folk e jazz, sempre in maniera mirabile e con celebri duetti.

Sono stati anni di alti e bassi, fino al 1994, quando ha rimesso in piedi il gruppo che ha continuato a fare il botto, suonando con i Rolling Stones in giro per il mondo.

Divisa tra musica e attivismo, a canzoni e album, ha affiancato il suo impegno per il pianeta e i diritti degli animali, collezionando arresti e denunce. Testimonial per la PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, aveva anche aperto un ristorante vegetariano nella sua città d’origine.

Chrissie Hynde, oggi, continua a produrre dischi e esibirsi, con la sua potente personalità, l’eclettismo che da sempre la caratterizza e le straordinarie capacità melodiche della sua voce, velata di nebbia e fumo, nostalgica e insieme contemporanea.

[thebacklistbook]

Winners Circle - Backlist Book Awards

Best Cover: Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

The All-nighter: Tied

Listen to Me - Tess Gerritsen

Death on the Nile - Agatha Christie

The Appeal - Janice Hallett

The WTF Award: The Curly Girl handbook - Michele Bender, Lorraine Massey

Best Diverse Read: Dr. Siri Paiboon series - Colin Cotterill

Most Obvious Plot Twist: The Plot - Jean Korelitz

Villainless: The Martian - Andy Weir

Villainous: Desert Queen - Janet Wallach

Poetically Lit: Citizen: An American Lyric - Claudia Rankine

Wrapped up Tight: Rizzoli & Isles series - Tess Gerritsen

Be Careful! It's Fragile: Desert Queen - Janet Wallach

How about a little Respect: Taste: My Life Through Food - Stanley Tucci

Best in Ship: Fatima Ali and Life; Savor: A Chef's Hunger for More - Fatima Ali

Best in (Friend)ship: Nehemia Ytger and Celaena Sardothien; Throne of Glass - Sarah J. Maas

Best in Romance: Dragonfly in Amber - Diana Gabaldon

Burned on my Brain: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman

Best in Sci-fi/ time travel: Blackout/All clear - Connie Willis

Most Emotional Read: What Alice Forgot - Liane Moriarty

Best in Magical Realism: Tied

Midnight Sun - Stephenie Meyer

The Golem and the Jinni - Helene Wecker

You've Got Mail: Let Me Tell You What I Mean - Joan Didion

Best in Fantasy: Tied

The Wheel of Time series - Robert Jordan

Piranesi - Susanna Clarke

Best Debut: Evvie Drake Starts Over - Linda Holmes

Best in Horror: Frankenstein - Mary Shelley

Best in Dystopia: Uglies - Scott Westerfeld

Best in Contemporary: Mad Honey - Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Finney Boylan

Best in Non-fiction: Tied

Quackery - Lydia Kang

The Happiest Man Alive - Eddie Jaku

Bibliomaniac - Robin Ince

The Book Came First: A Man Called Ove - Fredrik Backman

The Movie Came First: My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult

Best LGBT+ Rep: Tied

Huntress - Malinda Lo

Tales of the City - Armistead Maupin

Classically Lit: Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

Best Worldbuilding: Deja Dead - Kathy Reichs

Best in Humor: Tied

Agent to the Stars - John Scalzi

How Y'all Doin'? - Leslie Jordan

Best in Historical Fiction: Tied

The Lincoln Highway - Amor Towles

Desert Queen - Janet Wallach

Best in Satire: Skipping Christmas - John Grisham

Graphically Lit: Big Panda & Tiny Dragon - James Norbury

The Independence of You: A Camp Without Fire - Ignacio Ramirez Bautista

[my-chaos-radio]

Release: September 17, 1982

Lyrics:

I found a picture of you, oh-oh

Well, it hijacked my world at night

To a place in the past we've been cast out of, oh-oh

Now we're back in the fight

We're back on the train, yeah

Oh, back on the chain gang

Circumstance beyond our control, oh-oh

The phone, the TV and the news of the world

Got in the house like a pigeon from hell, oh-oh

Threw sand in our eyes and descended like flies

Put us back on the train, yeah

Oh, back on the chain gang

The powers that be

That force us to live like we do

Bring me to my knees

When I see what they've done to you

Well, I'll die as I stand here today

Knowing that deep in my heart

They'll fall to ruin one day

For making us part

I found a picture of you, oh-oh

Those were the happiest days of my life

Like a break in the battle was your part, oh-oh

In the wretched life of a lonely heart

Songwriter: Christine Hynde

Now I'm back on the train, yeah

Oh, back on the chain gang

SongFacts:

'Back on the Chain Gang' debuted on Billboard in early October 1982 and reached number 5 on the Hot 100, making it the band's biggest hit in the US. The song also peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks and number 17 on the UK Singles Chart.

The pounding sounds and Chain Gang vocals heard in the song's chorus are reminiscent of Sam Cooke's 1960 song Chain Gang.

Hynde wrote Back on the Chain Gang as an ode to her then-boyfriend Ray Davies before lyrically reinterpreting it as a tribute to the late James Honeyman-Scott. The song was written and recorded during Chrissie Hynde's strained relationship with Ray Davies while she was three months pregnant with their daughter. Their difficult relationship ended six months later.

She described working on Back on the Chain Gang with Honeyman-Scott. Just a month before the song was recorded, the Pretenders fired bassist Pete Farndon. A few days later, lead guitarist Honeyman-Scott died of an accidental drug overdose. Farndon also died of a drug overdose a few months later. Hynde recounted: "…two days later Jimmy is dead…all of a sudden it all went down the drain…I was traumatized by the loss of my two best friends…I had to replace two members of the band - for my best ones replacing friends…"

In a 1992 interview with Guitar World, George Harrison said that Back on the Chain Gang uses a chord he "made up" for the Beatles song I Want to Tell You: "It's an E7 with an F on top , and I'm really proud of it because I invented that chord… There's only one other song that I know of that someone stole that chord from - Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders on 'Back on the Chain Gang'.”

The song was recorded shortly after Pretenders guitarist James Honeyman-Scott died of a drug overdose on June 16, 1982 at the age of 25. He died two days after the Pretenders fired their longtime bassist Pete Farndon over his drug problem.

Ultimate Classic Rock critic Matt Wardlaw ranked the song the second best song by the Pretenders of all time, saying that it "retains a deceptively upbeat tone, considering the subject matter".