The Pretenders opening for Journey (-Steve Perry, obviously)?!?!?

You missed the point.

 

It might've been an odd pairing 35 years ago but it's perfectly natural now. It's not like the Pretenders have been anything like a raw rock 'n' roll band in years. Both bands are essentially retro '80s AM radio pop acts, and promoters (and probably the bands themselves) know this.

 

Have you seen the Pretenders in recent years? The Dec 2016 show I caught was more raw than the Dec 1994 show I'd seen two decades earlier. Both rawked. Chrissie is perpetually vital.

But look out for smaller-venue headlining gigs along the way. That's what she did in '16, ducking out on some off-nights in between the big arena shows opening for Stevie Nicks. They played a small theater here in Portland, with a longer setlist : ) Obviously, they really like to play.

 

The current line-up of the band have now been the Pretenders longer than the original four were.

 

Tofu and soy products. No meat!

 

That's exactly what I did for a few songs when I saw this lineup a few years ago...it worked pretty well!

Having Steve Smith back in the fold was the hook that got me to the show. It also didn't hurt that Dave Mason and The Doobies were opening.

Regardless, Arnel does a great job and deserves some credit for keeping the classic 80s lineup in the limelight.

 

I agree that Chrissie is the pretenders in terms of making all the important decisions but I totally disagree that this is basically her stage name. Or at least putting it this way sounds like you consider her band as just puppets.
I can assure you that she has great respect for her musicians and their contributions. Like most musicians who have had a long career she wants sometimes to explore other means of expression but the other members of the Pretenders are hugely important for her and her relationship with them is not like casual employees in a business. Much more like a real band

 

Yes, they are a real band, and a VERY real band. Chrissie makes it a point to do this. So I agree.

But the term "The Pretenders", at least since the death of the 2 original members, is really "Chrissie Hynde & The Pretenders". It is like when McCartney spent the 1970s as "Wings". Paul very much respected all of the hired musicians who were in "Wings". But basically "Wings" was Paul's stage name for the 1970s.

 

^^^Since I mentioned McCartney:

Also interesting that 2 former Pretenders later became part of Paul's backing band in the early 1990s, so they definitely had to be well respected.

Spoiler

Robbie McIntosh--guitar; Blair Cunningham--drums

 

You've obviously never heard Pineda.

 

Much better than Perry can.

 

Like I said, the Pretenders opened for these shows. What's the BFD?

 

OMG NOOOOOOOO

 

Not sure about this but you picked the only original member whose stayed with them since the beginning. I don't know but he may own the brand outright.

 

I've read where Schon isn't too happy with Cain's wife, and I don't blame him but as long as they can work together.

 

Agree. It’s just musicians making a living. But, self-appointed arbiters of taste think that the group shouldn’t open for a band that they believe to be inferior. Kind of silly.

 

Realities of life hitting home. Journey even sans Perry are a band with a compelling catalogue. The Pretenders is a pseudonym for a solo artist that does not sell a lot of records anymore.

 

Need to Get Close.

 

I’m not saying you’re wrong about him having a disorder, only that he can sing and is releasing a new album.

 

Pretenders have been middle of the road since 1983.

 

Any stigma of "odd pairing" has been removed. Back in 1985, both Tears for Fears and Hall & Oates were at peak, commercially. However, it would have been unheard then to even consider the idea of them touring together. Joan Jett and Heart, same deal.

Some of this is Rock and Roll HoF inductee connection. As OP indicated, Journey is a sure thing at these types of venues.

Personally tempted to get tickets just to see Pretenders, then leave!

 

I caught the Pretenders in a club during the Nicks tour between Nicks dates (so keep your eyes open).

I have in the past gone for the opening act and then left. Usually I would stay, but for Journey I would bail for sure no matter who sang. (I have seen Journey as the middle act opening for the Stones.) Think of it this way - you can beat the traffic and be home early, or go to dinner after the crowds have left. Same for The Pretenders.

Agree with this. (I did see Cheap Trick as a headliner this summer. I don't know if it was a break on the ZZ Top tour or not.)

P.S. Chrissie doesn't like the cell phones.

 

It really wasn't necessary.

 

You could probably wait until the next tour when they aren’t touring with Journey and the ticket prices aren’t so high.

 

Not shocked. The Pretenders haven't been The Pretenders since James Honeyman Scott and Pete Farndon died.