The Pretenders

Led by charismatic American-born expat Chrissie Hynde, the Pretenders rose out of London's late-'70s punk/new wave scene, effectively bridging the gap between that world and the Top 40 with a series of lean, spiky singles that were also melodic and immediately accessible. Released in 1980, their first album topped the U.K. charts and is widely considered one of the greatest debuts of all time. Their initial run yielded a clutch of smartly-written, successful singles like "Brass in Pocket," "Back on the Chain Gang," and "Middle of the Road." As the '80s wore on, the death of tw...