Pretenders drummer keeps solid approach

By John Benson

Perhaps it’s the wine or the fact that for more than three decades he has been living in the shadow of Chrissie Hynde, but Martin Chambers, drummer for The Pretenders, is talking honestly about his relationship with the Akron native.

Bent but never truly broken is how the U.K. native, who left the group in the mid-’80s only to return less than a decade later, describes his friendship and personal connection with Hynde, who last year released the group’s ninth studio effort, “Break Up the Concrete.”

While the album was critically acclaimed, the project didn’t feature Chambers, who, along with Hynde, are the last living original members of The Pretenders (in the early ’80s original guitarist James Honeyman-Scott and bassist Pete Farndon died of drug overdoses).

During a recent phone call to his North London home, The Vindicator talked to Chambers about his memories of Cleveland, why Hynde decided not to include him on the recording of “Break-Up the Concrete” and, perhaps more importantly, why he holds no grudge. The Pretenders — known for such hit songs as “Brass in Pocket,” “Message of Love,” “Talk of the Town,” “Back on the Chain Gang” and “My City Was Gone” — come back to Northeast Ohio for a Tuesday show at the House of Blues and a Feb. 14 gig at the Akron Civic Theatre.

Q. Over the years, The Pretenders have played many memorable gigs in Northeast Ohio. Any specific shows come to mind?

A. I just remember I met (Iggy Pop) at a party in the Flats. It’s kind of like a black-and-white memory, a cool rock ’n’ roll memory. We were there for a couple of days, and I remember there was a party on a roof. That’s where I first met Iggy Pop. I think that’s the night Iggy and Chrissie went off and sang together on stage. They jumped in on some band and sang “Me and Mrs. Jones.” That would have been probably spring 1980.

Q. As far as your first memories of joining the band, what comes to mind?

A. First of all, there wasn’t a band when I found them. They invited me in for a bit of a play just for fun. And we played so good that Chrissie turned to the wall within the first song or two and started smiling and laughing, because she thought she was going to be over the hill shortly and she didn’t have a chance (at stardom). We were 26 getting on 27 at that point. She had a big grin from ear to ear. I wish I could see that grin more often.

Q. Fast-forwarding to 2009, how would you describe the current Pretenders’ touring lineup with yourself, Hynde, guitarist James Walbourne, guitarist Eric Heywood and bassist Nick Wilkinson?

A. This is the best band since that (original) band. Is that clear enough? We had various lineups and Chrissie had a lineup without me, and it was always very good. Chrissie describes it as a tribute band because it really is a tribute to the original band. But now we have a band that has fire. It’s slightly different. Chrissie has gone off because I said to Chrissie, “If you want to do something without me, that’s OK because you’re going to do what you’re going to do.” She texted me and said, “I made the album I had to make.” She didn’t tell me she was going to use (session drummer Jim) Keltner. I didn’t know this happened. We recorded most of (the album) before without him in Peter Gabriel’s studio. It sounded good, but Chrissie wasn’t happy. I didn’t mind. I swallowed it. We’re now in final (tour) rehearsals and it sounds so good. That’s the point.

Q. The real question is why, as the original drummer of the band, were you OK with not appearing on the album?

A. I have to be OK with it. If I let any of that eat me away, I wouldn’t be here. I’d be another statistic of a nice guy who worked in the rock ’n’ roll business. I’m like a lot of dead guys, the only difference is I’m still making a (expletive) noise.

Q. Finally, in talking to Hynde a few years ago she hinted one final good album out of The Pretenders is all she was looking for. Do you think “Break-up The Concrete” could mark the end of the band?

A. I think I may quote Neil Young when I last spoke to him at Farm Aid on his bus and he said, “She’ll never quit.” That’s what Neil thinks, and I tend to think the same thing.