PRETENDERS PROGRESS REPORT: CHAMBERS ON THE CHAINGANG

Sensible. That’s the word for Pretenders drummer Martin Chambers. Playing everything from progressive rock to proto-pubrock professionally since 1967, he’s a stolid albeit logical player and sometimes a lot better. But since the Pretenders last concert in April of 1982, the band has been hit with mishaps aplenty. First, Peter Farndon, their bass player, was given the boot in June. A day later, guitarist James Honeyman-Scott died. And after the disappointing Pretenders II, it looked like there might be an end to pretending for good. In September, however, Chrissie Hynde bounced back with her best single in years, “Back On The Chain Gang,” featuring ex-Rockpile guitarist Billy Bremner doing a marvelous job as a temporary replacement for Honeyman-Scott. It was in the American Top Ten, last time I looked.

Chrissie just had a baby girl, Natalie B. (the father is an unknown, musician she’s been helping named Ray Davies). As a result, it was Martin’s job to meet members of the press in New York recently.