Eric Heywood Joins The Pretenders

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 12 Aug 2008 8:20 am

Chrissie Hynde has added steel guitarist Eric Heywood to her famous rock band, The Pretenders. This should be interesting!

reuters.com/.../entertainmentNews

"In introducing Heywood, Hynde jokingly predicted that sales of pedal steels would soar at Christmas."

Greg Simmons · Post by **Greg Simmons** » 12 Aug 2008 8:47 am

Congrats to Eric on a primo gig

- if you can get your hands on the final issue of No Depression magazine there's a feature article on Eric in there...he's got a real recognizable style & tone and his work with Son Volt, Richard Buckner and numerous others (i.e. check him out on recordings w/folks like Peter Bruntnell, Jeffrey Foucault) IMHO defined the benchmark for "alt-country" (though I do dislike labels) pedal steel.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 12 Aug 2008 12:22 pm

Hey - this is pretty cool. Congratulations to Eric!

In introducing Heywood, Hynde jokingly predicted that sales of pedal steels would soar at Christmas.

...and a great comment by Chrissie.

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 12 Aug 2008 12:35 pm

I once played steel for her in Soho, London back in 1980. It was at the wedding of one of her guitarist, there was every top name in music there. maybe she got the idea then LOL

Greg Simmons · Post by **Greg Simmons** » 12 Aug 2008 12:45 pm

here's Eric with Jay Farrar (ex-Son Volt) in 2002; playing a Williams thru a Vox AC50

& 2-12" cab:

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 12 Aug 2008 1:37 pm

Very interesting, indeed, thanx for the info, bOb!

I caught the 2nd version of TPs in Honolulu long ago, and when Chrissy was about to take a bow at the end of a great show, and the last song's conclusion, someone from far in the crowd had tossed a huge red carnation lei which sailed high thru the air towards her, and as she leaned forward, the thing landed with a perfect bulls eye over her head and onto her shoulders.
Impossible, and the crowd went even more nuts.
She was stunned, and no doubt will always remember that moment. I sure will. I had the right seat to see it unbelievably unfold.

Hope this band makes it back here!

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 12 Aug 2008 1:45 pm

That certainly is pretty cool. I only recently discovered/rediscovered Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders' music. She/they cut a strong recognizable sound. I recently ran "Back On The Chain Gang" on repeat on my mp3 player, just studying the sonics of it. Brilliant pop song, beautiful jangle, cool arrangement and one the greatest re-entries into the groove coming out of the minor key bridge ever.

I look forward to hearing what Eric brings to the sound.

Bryan Daste · Post by **Bryan Daste** » 12 Aug 2008 3:13 pm

That's funny, I was just out at lunch and heard "Chain Gang" on the radio - I thought to myself, "hmm, that guitar hook would sound great on steel..."

Brian McGaughey · Post by **Brian McGaughey** » 12 Aug 2008 5:26 pm

...and Jim Keltner on drums...this pop and rock "A" team studio pocket player can make anybody's music "feel" good...I'm anxious to hear this...for me as a drummer Keltner's one of my all time faves on the skins...(tons better than the original drummer Martin Chambers IMHO).

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 12 Aug 2008 5:38 pm

Yeah, Brian. Two years ago at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass fest in San Francisco, T-Bone Burnett had Keltner drumming for him.

Now I respect T-Bone an all that, but I'm not even a drummer and I was thrilled to be able to see Jim play live. He was awesome that day.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 12 Aug 2008 7:16 pm

Yeah, Jim Keltner is my favorite drummer too. You might enjoy Bill Frisell's "gone, just like a train" CD. It's a trio with Frisell, Keltner and Viktor Krauss (bass). No steel, though.

Funny, I can't get any drummer to play like Jim Keltner. It sounds so easy.

Twayn Williams · Post by **Twayn Williams** » 13 Aug 2008 9:53 am

Greg Simmons wrote:here's Eric with Jay Farrar (ex-Son Volt) in 2002; playing a Williams thru a Vox AC50 & 2-12" cab:

Cool. Did Eric play on the latest Son Volt album, The Search? (I don't have the cd with me at the moment.) If so, I love the grind he plays with, I find it very inspirational sonically, and hope he brings the same sensibilities to the Pretenders, which I'll have to check out now

Michael Pierce · Post by **Michael Pierce** » 13 Aug 2008 10:12 am

I saw Son Volt at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts auditorium over Memorial Day weekend. The steel player was playing what looked like a double neck Fender lap steel (mounted on legs). (He also doubled on keyboards.) Didn't look like the gentleman in these pictures though. I'll have to check the CD cover for "The Search" when I get home tonight to see if there are credits.

P Gleespen · Post by **P Gleespen** » 13 Aug 2008 11:28 am

Eric does indeed play on the latest Son Volt album. I like his tone a lot too, a bit off the beaten path as it were.

He also plays on some of the Kathleen Edwards stuff.

That's great that he's playing with the Pretenders. I haven't paid much attention to what Chrissie's been up to in a while, but those first two Pretenders records are amazing. I'm really looking forward to hearing the new stuff.

...now, I like Jim Keltner's drumming as much as the next guy, but I just can't agree with the idea that he's

tons better than the original drummer Martin Chambers

Different sure, but better? Martin Chambers is a HUGE factor in the Pretenders sound. In my opinion he's the "nu wave" equivalent of (dare I say it?) John Bonham.

But I digress. Corn-gratulations to Eric on a supra-cool gigue.

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 13 Aug 2008 11:54 am

yeah old school fan here too. first two albums for the win! saw em in the mid eighties in ohio.
crowd went nutz for the "I went back to ohio" line naturally. Blossom near cleveland if anyone remembers that outdoor venue (does it still exist?)

Archie Nicol R.I.P. · Post by **Archie Nicol R.I.P.** » 13 Aug 2008 1:37 pm

Chrissie has good taste. Here she is having just left my local pub on her way to Stella McCartney's wedding along with Kate Moss.

Arch.

Brian McGaughey · Post by **Brian McGaughey** » 13 Aug 2008 3:00 pm

Martin Chambers is a HUGE factor in the Pretenders sound.

I'll give you that.

In my opinion he's the "nu wave" equivalent of (dare I say it?) John Bonham.

I dunno about that. I'll get back to you after I review my old vinyl of The Pretenders first release.

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 13 Aug 2008 3:30 pm

It would be a joy to hear "I'll Stand By You" with Steel Guitar!
That's one of my all time favorite songs.