Brass in Pocket (Live 1995)

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove with The Zoo Crew as they spin the vinyl for "Brass in Pocket (Live 1995)" by The Pretenders! This iconic track, originally released in 1979, was the band’s breakthrough hit, but the 1995 live version captures the raw energy of their enduring stage presence. Did you know the song’s title came from a chance remark Chrissie Hynde overheard? While dining with the band after a gig, she heard a member of the support act, Strangeways, ask, “Picked up dry cleaning? Any brass in pocket?” The phrase, a Northern English slang for money, stuck with Hynde, and she wove it into the song’s confident, swaggering lyrics. The guitar riff, crafted by James Honeyman-Scott, was the spark that ignited the track, with Hynde building the lyrics around its infectious hook.

Chrissie Hynde wasn’t always a fan of “Brass in Pocket.” In a 2004 interview with The Observer, she admitted she initially hated the song, cringing at her voice and telling producer Chris Thomas it would be released “over my dead body.” Yet, its undeniable charm won her over, and it became the first UK No. 1 single of the 1980s, topping the charts for two weeks in January 1980. Hynde later reflected in a 2020 Louder interview that the song reminds her of Honeyman-Scott, whose guitar work defined the track’s magic. The song’s cryptic lyrics, like “Detroit leaning” (a nod to a laid-back driving style with an elbow out the window) and “reet” (inspired by Robert Crumb’s comic slang for top-notch marijuana), add layers of quirky coolness that Zoo Freaks can vibe with.

The music video for “Brass in Pocket” also has a story of its own. Hynde envisioned the band roaring in on motorbikes, but instead, she was cast as a downtrodden waitress in a diner—a role that clashed with her fierce, independent persona. Despite her frustration, the video became one of the first aired on MTV in 1981, cementing its place in rock history. On X, @ThePretendersHQ celebrated the song’s 44th anniversary in November 2023, asking fans to share their memories of the track, which Rolling Stone ranked No. 389 on its “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” in 2021. The 1995 live version, performed with the band’s evolving lineup, showcases Hynde’s commanding vocals and the song’s timeless strut.

The Pretenders were born in 1978 when Chrissie Hynde, a rock-obsessed American from Akron, Ohio, took a leap of faith. After moving to London in 1973, she dove into the city’s punk scene, working at NME and hanging out at Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood’s clothing store. Hynde rubbed shoulders with future members of the Sex Pistols, The Clash, and The Damned, even playing in short-lived bands like Masters of the Backside. But it wasn’t until she teamed up with James Honeyman-Scott (guitar), Pete Farndon (bass), and Martin Chambers (drums) that her vision came to life. Naming the band after The Platters’ song “The Great Pretender,” Hynde channeled her love for classic rock and punk’s raw edge. Their debut single, a cover of The Kinks’ “Stop Your Sobbing,” dropped in 1979, followed by “Kid” and the game-changing “Brass in Pocket.”

Tragedy struck early, with Honeyman-Scott and Farndon passing away in 1982 and 1983, but Hynde kept the band alive, becoming its sole constant member. The Pretenders’ self-titled debut album hit No. 1 in the UK and went platinum in the US, blending punk, new wave, and rock. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005, the band continues to tour and release music, with their 2023 album Relentless proving their staying power. Connect with The Pretenders on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Zoo Freaks can also join fan communities like the Pretenders Fans Facebook group or check out fan sites such as Pretenders Archives for deep dives into the band’s legacy.