List of The Pretenders band members

The Pretenders performing in 2007.

The Pretenders is an English-American rock band from Hereford. Formed in 1978, the group originally consisted of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Chrissie Hynde, lead guitarist and keyboardist James Honeyman-Scott, bassist Pete Farndon, and drummer Martin Chambers. The band's current lineup includes Hynde and Chambers alongside bassist Nick Wilkinson (since 2005), lead guitarist James Walbourne, pedal steel guitarist Eric Heywood (both since 2008) and keyboardist Carwyn Ellis (since 2017).

History[]

The Pretenders were formed in the spring of 1978 by Chrissie Hynde, James Honeyman-Scott, Pete Farndon and Martin Chambers.^[1] After the release of Pretenders in 1980 and Pretenders II in 1981, Farndon was fired from the band on 14 June 1982 due to increasing problems with drug abuse, which had led to Honeyman-Scott claiming he would leave if the bassist was not dismissed.^[2] Only two days later, however, Honeyman-Scott died as a result of heart failure brought on by a cocaine overdose.^[3] On 20 July, Hynde and Chambers began recording the single "Back on the Chain Gang", written in tribute to Honeyman-Scott, with session musicians Billy Bremner (lead guitar), Robbie McIntosh (rhythm guitar) and Tony Butler (bass).^[4] The single was released in October,^[5] and later featured on the 1984 album Learning to Crawl.^[6]

In February 1983, The Pretenders returned with McIntosh and bassist Malcolm Foster.^[7] Learning to Crawl was released in 1984, after which the band remained largely inactive for a year (save for an appearance at Live Aid) as Hynde married Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr and gave birth to daughter Yasmin.^[8] The group returned in early 1986 to record Get Close, but shortly after sessions began Chambers was fired by Hynde due to a deterioration in his drumming ability, which also led to Foster leaving.^[9] Chambers and Foster were replaced by Blair Cunningham and T. M. Stevens, respectively, who completed the album's recording and remained for its 1987 tour (keyboardist Bernie Worrell also joined at the same time).^[10] Shortly after beginning the tour, however, Hynde dismissed Stevens and Worrell and brought back Rupert Black (who had toured since Learning to Crawl) and Foster, who remained for the rest of the year.^[11] Johnny Marr replaced McIntosh in late 1987,^[12] before the band went on hiatus.^[10]

Hynde returned in 1990 with Packed!, which was credited to The Pretenders only to fulfil a contractual obligation – Hynde was the only credited band member on the album, although Cunningham performed drums on all eleven tracks.^[13] A new full lineup of the band was formed in 1993 when Hynde enlisted guitarist Adam Seymour and, later, bassist Andy Hobson and returning drummer Chambers for Last of the Independents, released in 1994.^[10] Zeben Jameson was added as touring keyboardist, and the lineup of The Pretenders remained constant for more than ten years.^[14] Hobson was replaced by Nick Wilkinson in 2005,^[15] and in 2008 Seymour was replaced by James Walbourne and pedal steel guitarist Eric Heywood, both of whom first featured on Break Up the Concrete.^[16]

Members[]

Current[]

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Chrissie Hynde	1978–present	lead and backing vocals rhythm guitar harmonica	all The Pretenders releases
	Martin Chambers	1978–1986 1993–present	drums percussion backing vocals	all The Pretenders releases except Packed! (1990), Break Up the Concrete (2008) and Alone (2016)
	Nick Wilkinson	2005–present	bass backing vocals	Break Up the Concrete (2008) Live in London (2010)
	James Walbourne	2008–present	lead guitar keyboards backing vocals
	Eric Heywood		pedal steel guitar backing vocals
	Carwyn Ellis	2012 2017–present	keyboards	none as yet

Former[]

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	James Honeyman-Scott	1978–1982 (until his death)	lead guitar keyboards backing vocals	Pretenders (1980) Extended Play (1981) Pretenders II (1981)
	Pete Farndon	1978–1982 (died 1983)	bass backing vocals
	Robbie McIntosh	1983–1987	lead guitar backing vocals	Learning to Crawl (1984) Get Close (1986) Last of the Independents (1994) – one track only
	Malcolm Foster	1983–1986 1987	bass backing vocals	Learning to Crawl (1984) Get Close (1986) – one track only
	Blair Cunningham	1986–1993	drums backing vocals occasional percussion	Get Close (1986) Packed! (1990)
	T. M. Stevens	1986–1987	bass	Get Close (1986)
	Johnny Marr	1987	lead guitar	"The Windows of the World" (1988)
	Adam Seymour	1993–2008	lead guitar keyboards backing vocals	all The Pretenders releases from Last of the Independents (1994) to Loose in L.A. (2003)
	Andy Hobson	1993–2005	bass backing vocals

Touring[]

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Details
	Chris Thomas	1983	keyboards	After producing the band's debut album, Thomas played keyboards at both 1983 Pretenders shows.[17]
	Rupert Black	1984–1986 1987		Black took over from Thomas after the release of Learning to Crawl from 1984, remaining until 1986.[18]
	Bernie Worrell	1987		Worrell performed on Get Close and became a part of the Pretenders touring lineup for subsequent shows.[10]
	Zeben Jameson	1994–2006	keyboards percussion backing vocals	Jameson was the Pretenders' touring keyboardist from their reformation in 1994 to his depature in 2006.[14]

Timeline[]

Lineups[]

References[]

External links[]

• The Pretenders official website
• Pretenders 977 Radio