Exploring Chrissie Hynde’s Unique Rhythmic Style Through the Eyes of James Honeyman-Scott
As the dynamic frontwoman of the Pretenders, Chrissie Hynde has always been vocal about her rhythmic influences. She draws inspiration from two iconic figures in music: Jimmy Nolen, known for his work with James brown, and Brian Jones, the legendary guitarist of the Rolling Stones.
Hynde’s distinctive approach to timing is one of her most celebrated traits. In a revealing interview with Guitar World in 2021,she reminisced about the early days of recording her debut album. Her bandmates pointed out that she had “dropped a beat,” to which she confidently replied, “That’s the only way I know how to do it.” This led her to seek out musicians who could interpret her unique vision.
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Having spent considerable time performing solo before joining a band, Hynde developed a rhythm that often strayed from conventional 4/4 time signatures.This distinctive quirk has become a hallmark of the Pretenders’ sound.
James Honeyman-Scott, the late guitarist of the Pretenders, shared his thoughts on Hynde’s unconventional rhythmic style in a 1981 interview with Guitar Player. He noted that her unique timing posed challenges for his own guitar work. “She incorporates a lot of rhythm guitar, and I don’t know anyone who plays like her,” he remarked. ”It’s so distinct that I often lose track of her beat.Rather, I just layer a guitar line over it, like the riff in ‘Tattooed Love Boys.’ I figured out that those notes fit well together, so I kept playing them to stay in sync.”
Honeyman-Scott humorously described Hynde’s timing as “so weird, like 7/13 or something!”
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During the recording of their first album, producer Chris Thomas tasked Honeyman-Scott with refining Hynde’s rhythm part on the track “The Wait.” Honeyman-Scott recalled, “It sounded really rough, but I couldn’t change it because that’s how Chrissie plays.”
I bluff a lot. I think the rest of the group will be amused when they read this, as I’ve never told them I can’t work out their time at all!
– James Honeyman-Scott
He candidly admitted, “This puts a lot of pressure on me, and I frequently enough bluff my way through. The band thinks it’s just my style when I come in a bar late, but it’s really because I’ve miscalculated where she comes in!”
Honeyman-Scott shared that this happened with a new track, “The Adultress,” and the band praised it, thinking it was a deliberate choice on his part. “I just bluff it and hope for the best,” he saeid.
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Honeyman-Scott’s journey in music was somewhat serendipitous. In the summer of 1978, he was selling guitars and growing vegetables in Hereford, England, uncertain about his musical future.
I started selling guitars and not really caring,although I knew that one way or another I was going to get heard.
– James honeyman-Scott
A pivotal phone call led him to London, where he met Hynde, an american artist blending pop, punk, and reggae with her unique rhythmic sensibility to craft sharp, impactful music.
Through a series of rehearsals in a basement, Honeyman-Scott honed his craft, developing a style characterized by powerful chords, rhythmic precision, and catchy hooks rather than lengthy solos. His ability to adapt and shine in his role was evident.
Tragically, Honeyman-Scott passed away at the young age of 25 due to heart failure linked to cocaine intolerance.Reflecting on his unexpected rise to fame, he shared with Guitar Player, “I started selling guitars and not really caring, but I knew I had to make a name for myself.I thought, ‘You’ve got to fight for it.’ But sometimes, it just happens.You either have the talent or the luck, or you don’t.”
