The Pretenders

Formed in Hereford, England in 1978 by American vocalist and guitarist Chrissie Hynde, the Pretenders blended new wave energy with classic rock songwriting. Their self-titled 1980 debut produced the hit Brass in Pocket, which reached number one in the UK. Despite the tragic deaths of founding members James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon in 1982 and 1983, Hynde rebuilt the band and continued to release acclaimed albums throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including the power ballad I'll Stand by You. The Pretenders were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.