Brass in Pocket (Live 1995)

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove with the Zoo Crew as we spin "Brass in Pocket (Live 1995)" by The Pretenders from their acoustic album The Isle of View. This track, recorded at Jacob Street Studios in London for a televised performance, captures the raw, sultry energy of Chrissie Hynde’s vocals backed by the Duke Quartet’s strings. Fun fact: the song’s title came from a quirky moment after The Pretenders’ first UK gig in 1979, when Chrissie overheard a member of the support band, The Strangeways, say, “I’ll have them if there’s any brass in the pockets,” referring to money in Northern English slang. Hynde loved the phrase and turned it into a cocky, tongue-in-cheek anthem, though she initially resisted its release, telling producer Chris Thomas it’d go out “over my dead body” because she thought it didn’t know if it was pop, Motown, or rock.

Chrissie Hynde has shared some wild stories about the song’s creation. She wrote it with guitarist James Honeyman-Scott, whose iconic riff she recorded on a tape recorder—a rare move she wished she’d done more often. The lyrics are packed with obscure references, like “Detroit leaning,” a nod to a laid-back driving style with an elbow out the window, and “new skank, it’s so reet,” a shout-out to cartoonist Robert Crumb’s comic where “reet petite” described top-notch marijuana. Hynde insisted the song wasn’t a feminist statement but a playful take on an insecure guy peacocking for attention, with her winking delivery sealing the deal. Despite her early embarrassment when it hit number one in the UK in 1980, she now enjoys performing it, saying it reminds her of Honeyman-Scott, who tragically died in 1982.

The Pretenders kicked off in 1978 in London, born from Chrissie Hynde’s gritty determination. Originally from Akron, Ohio, Hynde moved to London in 1973, diving headfirst into the punk scene. She rubbed shoulders with early versions of the Sex Pistols, The Clash, and The Damned, soaking up the raw energy of the era. After years of hustling—writing for NME, working odd jobs, and even jamming with future punk legends—Hynde formed The Pretenders with Hereford locals James Honeyman-Scott (guitar), Pete Farndon (bass), and Martin Chambers (drums). Their name came from The Platters’ song “The Great Pretender,” a favorite of one of Hynde’s exes. Their debut single, a cover of The Kinks’ “Stop Your Sobbing,” dropped in 1979, but it was “Brass in Pocket” that skyrocketed them to fame, topping the UK charts and cracking the US Top 20.

The band’s self-titled debut album in 1980 was a game-changer, blending punk, new wave, and rock with Hynde’s fierce vocals and sharp songwriting. Despite losing Honeyman-Scott and Farndon to drug-related deaths in the early ’80s, Hynde kept the band alive, with Chambers returning after breaks and new members like James Walbourne joining later. The Pretenders have since released 12 studio albums, including 2023’s Relentless, and continue to tour globally. Hynde’s influence as a trailblazing female rocker has inspired artists like Shirley Manson and Courtney Love, cementing her legacy as a punk-rock queen.

Stay connected with The Pretenders through their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans can dive deeper at sites like Pretenders 977 Radio or join discussions in the Pretenders Fans Facebook group. Zoo Freaks, keep those vibes high and stay tuned for more from the Zoo Crew!