Martin Chambers
Encyclopedia
Martin Chambers is the drummer in the rock band
, The Pretenders
. In addition to playing the drums with the group Chambers sings backing vocals
(lead vocals on the song Fast Or Slow (The Law's the Law) the B-side of the singles 2000 Miles and Show Me, which he also wrote) and plays percussion
. He was part of the original band line-up which also included Chrissie Hynde
(vocals / guitar
), James Honeyman-Scott
(guitar
/ vocals
/ keyboards
) and Pete Farndon
(bass guitar
/ vocals
). Hynde and Chambers are the only two surviving original members, and he has served two separate tenures with the group.
keyboardist
, Verden Allen
. At the time Chambers joined the Pretenders in 1978, he was working as a driving instructor in Tufnell Park
, London
, England
, UK
and he replaced Jerry Mackleduff on drums
(Uncut, 1999). At Chambers's first rehearsal with the group, Hynde recalled "We plugged in and started playing "Precious", and I remember clearly, I had to turn around and face the wall, I was laughing so hard, because as soon as Martin started playing with us, I knew this was it. We had the band." (Uncut, 1999). Martin also recalled the rehearsal "We knew it straight away. We just locked in." (Rhino Entertainment Company, 2006).
Chambers proved to be a versatile drummer within the group, with a hard-hitting style that is evident on song
s such as "Middle of the Road". Guitarist Adam Seymour
has acknowledged that "there's a definite thing going on in the rhythm between Chrissie's guitar and Martin's drums that you would need a scientific equation to explain. Martin kind of pulls back on the beat while Chrissie's pushing it forward." (Rhino Entertainment Company, 2006).
Chambers first tenure with the group lasted from mid 1978 until the mid 1980s. Coping with the death of fellow bandmates Honeyman-Scott and Farndon proved difficult, and his consequent lack of enthusiasm resulted in his departure from the group during the Get Close
sessions. According to Hynde, "I felt his playing had deteriorated. I think he was still very traumatized by [the loss of] Pete and Jimmy." (Uncut, 1999) Martin concurred, admitting "I wasn't really into it to be honest."
Chambers rejoined the group in 1994 during the sessions for Last of the Independents
, and has been with the group ever since (Uncut, 1999). When he rejoined, Seymour recalled "When Martin sat down, it began to feel like a real band." Martin summed up his reunion with the group, saying "at the end of the day [Chrissie] asked me back because no one could make it work quite like we did." (Rhino Entertainment Company, 2006). Hynde concurred, saying "I missed him terribly...Both he and I were floundering — and probably not playing well — and I needed someone to kick me in the ass and inspire me. We went through one song and it was the same buzz as when we first played together. No one has that swing and feel." (Hot Press, 1994).
In late 2008, The Pretenders released the album Break Up the Concrete
where Chambers was replaced by Jim Keltner
. However, Chambers continued in his role as Pretenders drummer for all touring dates in support of the album.
In addition to playing with the Pretenders, Chambers also plays in the band 'Miss World' fronted by songwriter
Johnathon Perkins, who had worked with artists such as Little Richard
and Keith Richards
.
In late September and Early October 2009 Martin sat in on drums for the seven Mott the Hoople re-union shows (2 in Monmouth and 5 at Hammersmith Odeon) alongside his former Cheeks bandmate Verden Allen due to the illness of Dale Griffin who had loaned Martin his kit for his first live show.
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
, The Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
. In addition to playing the drums with the group Chambers sings backing vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
(lead vocals on the song Fast Or Slow (The Law's the Law) the B-side of the singles 2000 Miles and Show Me, which he also wrote) and plays percussion
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
. He was part of the original band line-up which also included Chrissie Hynde
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
(vocals / guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), James Honeyman-Scott
James Honeyman-Scott
James Honeyman-Scott , commonly referred to as "Jimmy", was an English rock guitarist, songwriter and founding member of the band The Pretenders....
(guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
/ vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
/ keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
) and Pete Farndon
Pete Farndon
Pete Farndon was an English bassist and founding member of the rock band The Pretenders. Farndon attended Hereford Cathedral School in his home town of Hereford, before embarking on his musical legacy with The Pretenders...
(bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
/ vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
). Hynde and Chambers are the only two surviving original members, and he has served two separate tenures with the group.
Career
Prior to joining the Pretenders, Chambers played with James Honeyman-Scott in Cheeks, a band led by former Mott the HoopleMott the Hoople
Mott the Hoople were a British rock band with strong R&B roots, popular in the glam rock era of the early to mid 1970s. They are popularly known for the song "All the Young Dudes", written for them by David Bowie and appearing on their 1972 album of the same name.-The early years:Mott The Hoople...
keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
, Verden Allen
Verden Allen
Verden Allen is an organ player and founding member of 1970s rock band, Mott the Hoople...
. At the time Chambers joined the Pretenders in 1978, he was working as a driving instructor in Tufnell Park
Tufnell Park
Tufnell Park is an area of north London, England which straddles the border of the London Borough of Islington and the London Borough of Camden.-Origins:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and he replaced Jerry Mackleduff on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(Uncut, 1999). At Chambers's first rehearsal with the group, Hynde recalled "We plugged in and started playing "Precious", and I remember clearly, I had to turn around and face the wall, I was laughing so hard, because as soon as Martin started playing with us, I knew this was it. We had the band." (Uncut, 1999). Martin also recalled the rehearsal "We knew it straight away. We just locked in." (Rhino Entertainment Company, 2006).
Chambers proved to be a versatile drummer within the group, with a hard-hitting style that is evident on song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s such as "Middle of the Road". Guitarist Adam Seymour
Adam Seymour
Adam Charles Hilton Seymour is a former English cricketer who played for a variety of teams in his 12-year career; most of his games were for Essex and Worcestershire....
has acknowledged that "there's a definite thing going on in the rhythm between Chrissie's guitar and Martin's drums that you would need a scientific equation to explain. Martin kind of pulls back on the beat while Chrissie's pushing it forward." (Rhino Entertainment Company, 2006).
Chambers first tenure with the group lasted from mid 1978 until the mid 1980s. Coping with the death of fellow bandmates Honeyman-Scott and Farndon proved difficult, and his consequent lack of enthusiasm resulted in his departure from the group during the Get Close
Get Close
Get Close is the fourth album by rock group The Pretenders, released in 1986. Officially, the band for this album now consisted of Chrissie Hynde , Robbie McIntosh , T.M. Stevens and Blair Cunningham ; however, this line-up played on only five of the album's eleven tracks...
sessions. According to Hynde, "I felt his playing had deteriorated. I think he was still very traumatized by [the loss of] Pete and Jimmy." (Uncut, 1999) Martin concurred, admitting "I wasn't really into it to be honest."
Chambers rejoined the group in 1994 during the sessions for Last of the Independents
Last of the Independents
Last of the Independents is the sixth album by rock group The Pretenders, released in 1994. For this album, the band is officially credited as being Chrissie Hynde , Adam Seymour , Andy Hobson and Martin Chambers...
, and has been with the group ever since (Uncut, 1999). When he rejoined, Seymour recalled "When Martin sat down, it began to feel like a real band." Martin summed up his reunion with the group, saying "at the end of the day [Chrissie] asked me back because no one could make it work quite like we did." (Rhino Entertainment Company, 2006). Hynde concurred, saying "I missed him terribly...Both he and I were floundering — and probably not playing well — and I needed someone to kick me in the ass and inspire me. We went through one song and it was the same buzz as when we first played together. No one has that swing and feel." (Hot Press, 1994).
In late 2008, The Pretenders released the album Break Up the Concrete
Break Up the Concrete
-Disc 1 – The Best of Pretenders:-Disc 2 – Break Up the Concrete:-Personnel:*Jim Keltner – drums, background vocals*Chrissie Hynde – rhythm guitar, vocals*Eric Heywood – pedal steel guitar, background vocals...
where Chambers was replaced by Jim Keltner
Jim Keltner
James Lee "Jim" Keltner is an American drummer known primarily for his session work. He has contributed to the work of many well-known artists...
. However, Chambers continued in his role as Pretenders drummer for all touring dates in support of the album.
In addition to playing with the Pretenders, Chambers also plays in the band 'Miss World' fronted by songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
Johnathon Perkins, who had worked with artists such as Little Richard
Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
and Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
.
In late September and Early October 2009 Martin sat in on drums for the seven Mott the Hoople re-union shows (2 in Monmouth and 5 at Hammersmith Odeon) alongside his former Cheeks bandmate Verden Allen due to the illness of Dale Griffin who had loaned Martin his kit for his first live show.
Discography
- 1980 - PretendersPretenders (album)Pretenders is the debut studio album by the British New Wave band The Pretenders, released on 19 January 1980 on Real Records . A combination of rock, punk, and pop music, this album made the band famous...
- 1981 - Extended PlayExtended Play (The Pretenders EP)Extended Play is an EP released by new wave band The Pretenders. "Message of Love" and "Talk of the Town" were included on their second album released later in the year. "Porcelain" and "Cuban Slide", outtakes from the first album, were included on the 2006 remastered edition of Pretenders, as well...
- 1982 - Pretenders IIPretenders IIPretenders II is the second studio album by British rock band the Pretenders.-History:The success of the Pretenders' debut album in 1980 created a great demand for more material from the fledgling band; however, a lack of songs precluded the quick release of a followup album...
- 1984 - Learning to CrawlLearning to CrawlLearning to Crawl is the Pretenders' third album, released in 1984 after a two-year hiatus, during which time James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon both died of drug overdoses....
- 1986 - Get CloseGet CloseGet Close is the fourth album by rock group The Pretenders, released in 1986. Officially, the band for this album now consisted of Chrissie Hynde , Robbie McIntosh , T.M. Stevens and Blair Cunningham ; however, this line-up played on only five of the album's eleven tracks...
- 1990 - Packed!Packed!Packed! is the fifth album by rock group The Pretenders, released in 1990. For this album, the only real member of the group is Chrissie Hynde; no other person is pictured anywhere within the album package, and a rotating cast of session musicians is used to back Hynde throughout, effectively...
- 1994 - Last of the IndependentsLast of the IndependentsLast of the Independents is the sixth album by rock group The Pretenders, released in 1994. For this album, the band is officially credited as being Chrissie Hynde , Adam Seymour , Andy Hobson and Martin Chambers...
- 1999 - Viva el AmorViva el Amor¡Viva El Amor! is the seventh studio album by the rock band The Pretenders, released in 1999. The band's lineup for the album is the same as that credited on 1994's Last of the Independents: Chrissie Hynde Martin Chambers , Andy Hobson and Adam Seymour...
- 2002 - Loose ScrewLoose ScrewLoose Screw is the eighth studio album by rock group, The Pretenders, and was released in 2002. It was the first time that the Pretenders had the same credited band line-up on three consecutive studio albums.-Track listing:All songs written by Adam Seymour and Chrissie Hynde, except where...
- 2009 - Hammersmith Live with Mott the Hoople
Sources
- Hot Press, 1994, Hynde Sight, May 4, 1994.
- Rhino Entertainment Company, 2006, This is Pirate Radio, by Ben Edmonds. Pirate Radio Box Set booklet.
- Uncut, June 1999, Rock and Roll Heart (Pretenders Special), by Allan Jones, pp. 46–65.