Chrissie Hynde
Chrissie
Hynde was born in Akron, Ohio in September of 1951.
She began her music career by moving to England in 1973. After meeting with Nick Kent, she began to work with him at the New Musical Express. She later went back to the US and started a band called Jack Rabbit. The band was not very successful, though she did gain musical experience, and she returned to England to form the band Berk Brothers in 1976. It was a short lived stint, but she received some notoriety during this time as part of the Moors Murderers, a non-existent band set up as part of a publicity stunt by punk icon Steve Strange.
In 1978, she started the band The Pretenders. The original lineup consisted of Hynde as lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist, Pete Farndon, James Honeyman-Scott, and Martin Chambers. They were soon signed to Sire Records. The band's first successful recording was Ray Davie's version of Stop Your Sobbing. It made it's way into the UK top 40 in 1979 followed by Kid and Brass in Pocket. It was accompanied by a black and white video with Hynde portrayed as a waitress. The song reached number 1 in the UK.
In 1980, the band released their first LP entitled The Pretenders, it went platinum in the US. The band went on to tour in promotion of their band throughout 1981. They quickly became one of the premier acts in the US and England. Hynde continued to successfully portray herself as a "tough, sexual" musician.
1982 turned out to be a year of conflict and tragedy for the band. Honeyman-Scott was found dead of a deadly mix of heroin and cocaine. His official cause of death was "cocaine related heart failure". Farndon was fired from the band due to his drug use 2 days later. The next year he was found dead in his bathtub due to a drug overdose as well.
In 1983, Hynde and her husband, Ray Davies, became parents. That same year, the band regrouped with new members Robbie MacIntosh on guitar, and Malcom Foster on bass. They quickly went to the studio and recorded their third album, and ended the year with another UK top 20 hit single entitled 2000 miles.
Learning to Crawl was released in 1984. It was a well received album, and received substantial radio play. The band again went on a US tour to promote their album, but Hynde refused to be parted with her daughter.
Following a "whirlwind" love affair, Hynde married Jim Kerr of the band Simple Minds in May of 1984.
In 1985, The Pretenders appeared a Live Aid, and Hynde appeared and sang a remake of Sonny and Cher's I Got You, Babe with the band UB40.
In1986, Hynde dismantled the band, and Hynde and Macintosh released an LP entitled Get Close with the help of session musicians. The following year, the band released a greatest hits collection entitled The Singles.
In 1982, Hynde once again joined forces with UB40 for the cover album Breakfast in Bed.
2 Years later, Hynde divorced Kerr, and she re-assembled The Pretenders. Together they released Packed!, but the album received little success.
In May of 1994, the band released Last of the Independents. The album was a success once again, and marked the return of original member Martin Chambers. the following year, they released a live LP entitled The Isle of View. They also contributed to the cover version of Everyday is Like Sunday for the Boys on the Side soundtrack.
In 1997, Hynde made the news again when she married a 32 year old sculptor. The Pretenders were releasing material in the form of movie music. they released 2 tracks for the movie G.I. Jane, Goodbye, and The Homecoming.
Hynde spends much of her time now campaigning for animal rights, environmental issues, and many Children's Charities. She also released another album in 1999 entitled iViva El Anor, which is a release that "speaks volumes about her undying commitment to rock music".
"I believe that the only person that can stop you from doing anything is yourself, nobody else cares".....Chrissie Hynde