A band founded by writer Chrissie Hynde at the tail end of the 70s. Originally a fresh combination of punk attitude, inventive musicianship, and adulthood, they got a foot in the pop door with "Brass in Pocket" (not their finest hour), and have survived internal turmoil(s), heroin, and cult status. And now the Rock Senior Tour. The original band is still the best, but the versions with Robbie McIntosh were great. Alumni: Blair Cunningham (of Haircut 100), Tony Butler (of Big Country), et al.
The Pretenders' debut LP. A surprise of sorts: Chrissie Hynde had been a peer and a chronicler of punk rockists in London, but a cover of Ray Davies' "Stop Your Sobbing" (the jewel of her demos) became her first hit. The album brought more: odd time-signatures ("Tattooed Love Boys"), something at which she once might have sneered. And balladry, chops... A Desert Island Disc of rock. In the States, only "Brass in Pocket" seems to exist, after all these albums and years. Philistines!