Pretenders Photography

Boasting a mix of members from England and America, the Pretenders brought a cross-continental flavor to their punk rock beginnings in the late 1970s. The original lineup featured frontwoman Chrissie Hynde, guitarist James Honeyman-Scott, bassist Pete Farndon, and drummer Martin Chambers, though following the deaths of Honeyman-Scott and Farndon, the band experienced several different lineups.

Yet no matter the members, Hynde’s distinct snarl brought continuity to ’70s and ’80s classics such as “Brass in Pocket,” “Back on the Chain Gang,” “Middle of the Road,” and “Don’t Get Me Wrong.” The group shifted gears and amassed even more fans in the ’90s with the power ballad “I’ll Stand by You,” which was later covered by Carrie Underwood.

Though the Pretenders’ pace slowed as the century turned, their influence continues to rub off on artists such as PJ Harvey, Liz Phair, Garbage, and Hole. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 with Hynde dedicating the honor to her departed bandmates and thanking the many musicians who followed in their footsteps.