The Pretenders Are Still Ruling The Throne In Manchester

When The Pretenders burst on to the rock music scene over forty years ago with their number one hit Brass in Pocket, they arrived in style and attitude, both of which were still apparent at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester as part of their current nationwide tour.

At 73 years old, the ever-young Chrissie Hynde led the band, remaining a commanding frontwoman who takes no prisoners—she swiftly dealt with any hecklers during a ninety-minute set that showcased all that is best about the band.

Initially wearing a pink jacket before discarding it to roll out the hits, Hynde surrounded herself with a set of talented musicians who make up The Pretenders in 2024. The powerhouse of guitarist James Walbourne, his brother Dan on drums, and bassist Dave Page gave The Pretenders a new impetus, while maintaining their powerful edge.

The evening, set against a bare stage set with minimal lighting, concentrated on the band's strong back catalogue, mingling hits alongside tracks from their recent 2023 Relentless album.

“We said we would return to Manchester; what a great musical city this is,” Hynde offered. Despite her status as an iconic rock star, Hynde maintained her fandom by dedicating The Buzz to the late guitarist Johnny Thunders.

From the ballad of You Can’t Hurt a Fool to the sheer rock of Message of Love, her voice remained strong and sprightly switched from the soul of the former song to the vibrancy of the latter.

“You asked for it, now you’ve got it,” she said by way of an introduction to Brass in Pocket as the band saved their biggest hit until the very end on a night where The Pretenders proved that they are an integral part of rock music royalty still reigning supremely.