Pete Farndon (Pretenders) appreciation thread...

[JMacBass65]

Upon being inducted into the RRHoF, Hynde said ""I know that the Pretenders have looked like a tribute band for the last 20 years. ... And we're paying tribute to James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon, without whom we wouldn't be here."

Nothing beats the cracking start Farndon gave to the Pretenders.

What a classy thing to say about her original bandmates, very cool. And, I love that she acknowledges the "tribute band" aspect of the past 20 years. There are so many old bands out there that fall into that category - I just don't get the sense that many of them know it (hello Daltry/Townsend). Frankly, since Pretenders personnel changed so much after the first two albums, I think they are "less" an example of this than most others.

Anyway - Pete kicks a$$, no doubt. I love it when Message of Love comes up on my iPod when I am just practicing at home. That line/tone has got such an attitude!

 

[Linnin]

Pete kicks a$$, no doubt. I love it when Message of Love comes up

 

[JMacBass65]

Excellent! And it turns out you CAN sit down and play punk (if you are as cool as Pete)! Someone was asking about that a while back.

Here's a cool one I never saw before:

 

[Linnin]

How'd you like to walk into a small club and see & hear that band? I would!

 

[JMacBass65]

How'd you like to walk into a small club and see & hear that band? I would!

Right? I worked with a guy who was just a bit older than me (I was 14 in 1979) who was always telling me about seeing acts like this in small clubs in DC like the Bayou. U2 & the Police were a couple he mentioned.

 

[Feral Feline]

THANKS for the clip.

Anybody got a better still-pic of his bass?

 

[stringthrough]

Through touch, equipment choices and sound engineering he created one of the finest P bass tones in rock history. And many of his lines were quite clever and at times were hooks onto themselves. (Didn't hurt that Chrissie wrote some great tunes atop of which to create bass lines.) But let's be honest, many studious bassists after a couple of years of playing can pull off his lines with equal authority.

 

[Feral Feline]

Do you mean studious bassists can "pull off" as in play them, or "pull off" as in come up with something new that is equally clever and hooky?

There's lotsa stuff that's bone simple to play, but to originate the idea first...

"Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely [Invalid or Expired Link Removed], that's creativity." — Mingus

 

[JMacBass65]

There's lotsa stuff that's bone simple to play, but to originate the idea first...

Right? That's the difference, right there.

 

[Oleg BassPlayer]

Is his sound just a straight P played through a properly adjusted amp? I really love the tone, I wish I could sound something alike.

 

[Lowbrow]

SO FUNNY I was just this morning searching to see if I could find producer Chris Thomas' tips for recording bass... of course inspired by Farndon's stellar sound on the Pretenders debut.
It is my holy grail recorded tone.

 

[emblymouse]

I totally copped the sound with a P bass, roundwound strings and a heavy pick. Ala Space Invaders. Attitude plays a role. Seriously! Drop the strap a couple notches, rock it w/ all downstrokes behind the pickup with authority. If you have a clean sound roll off the tone a bit, but the grind will come from your attack.

PS- That bass had a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder in it.

 

[emblymouse]

Regarding 'Message of Love' - I used a Hamer 8 string for it and it was killer! Very suitable, i think he would have liked it!

 

[smeet]

Back then, I didn't like P basses, punk, or simple playing. And I STILL thought it was incredible, for the songs, the feel, everything. Such a tone.

 

[Mark Desmo]

Can't believe the lack of responses to this thread.

Don't worry, over time it'll become a Cult Classic!

Another fan here, and I've just discovered this thread as I've been having a Pete Farndon Weekend this Weekend, and it showed up in one of my google searches.

Fantastic workmanlike basslines.
Nothing fancy, nothing gaudy, Pete just got a solid job done properly, and with no fuss.

A traditional British bassplayer - your playing will live on through us your fans Pete.

 

[ERIC31]

Glad to see people showing appreciation for Pete in my thread. I’m still rocking out to all the early Pretenders stuff and some good bootleg live stuff as I find it.

 

[Mark Yurick]

I think Farndon was a great bass player for the Pretenders. For some reason, I got the impression that Chrissie Hynde didn't think he was all that special. I think she is wrong. That band never sounded as good without Honeyman-Scott and Farndon. I don't think she appreciates Martin Chambers as much as she should either. I think it's a bit like the Wilson sisters and Roger Fisher, Steve Fosse and DeRossier. Heart was never a great band without those guys. Heart in the 80s would not have happened if Heart in the 70's had not been so awesome. Don't know why these guys don't seem to be appreciated by their own bandmates, I guess it's ego or something. I think Farndon is very underrated. Great simple bass parts and excellent tone. Really drove those songs on the first two albums, which were the great Pretenders albums.

 

[ERIC31]

This was my introduction to The Pretenders. Tattooed Love Boys. Saw this video on MTV late 81/early 82 and was stoked!! Had to go find the record so went down to the local Record Factory (anyone remember that place?) and they had it.

 

[Chad Michael]

Just saw a 'semi - recent' Pretenders concert on tv. Was reminded that many of their tunes had oh-so-very catchy bass lines!!!!

 

[Feral Feline]

... For some reason, I got the impression that Chrissie Hynde didn't think he was all that special. I think she is wrong. That band never sounded as good without Honeyman-Scott and Farndon. I don't think she appreciates Martin Chambers as much as she should either. ...

I agree that there are many bands who have "key" members who don't appreciate the whole "sum-of-the-parts" concept, but what makes you think Hynde doesn't appreciate Farndon's input (or did you mean at the time)?

...
Upon being inducted into the RRHoF, Hynde said "I know that the Pretenders have looked like a tribute band for the last 20 years. ... And we're paying tribute to James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon, without whom we wouldn't be here."
...