Middle of the Road

Zoo Freaks, get ready for some righteous trivia about The Pretenders' "Middle of the Road" from their 1984 album Learning to Crawl, spinning now on THE ZOO! This track, a fiery rock anthem, was written by lead singer Chrissie Hynde, who drew inspiration from the Taoist concept of "the middle way," as she shared in a 2014 Austin American-Statesman interview, saying, "My personal discipline has been to try to stay in the middle, always, no matter what I'm doing." The song's lyrics reflect her navigating motherhood and middle age, with the line "I got a kid, I'm 33" nodding to her daughter and her age at the time (though she was actually 32 when it dropped). That iconic harmonica solo at the end? That's Chrissie herself, blowing her heart out, as noted by fans on Songfacts. Plus, she throws in a cat-like yowl, adding some wild flair. The track hit number 19 on the US pop charts and number 2 on the mainstream rock chart, cementing its status as a banger.

Another cool tidbit: the song’s video had The Pretenders rocking a simulated riot in a club, which left some fans, like Jeff from Chicago on Songfacts, scratching their heads about the concept. Lyrically, it’s a mix of social commentary and personal grit, with Hynde observing wealth gaps and media hounding, as in the line, "I can't get from the cab to the curb without some little jerk on my back." American Songwriter points out how the song carries the band’s signature brash style, blending Motown-inspired backing vocals with killer guitar riffs. In 1989, it was even donated to Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warriors album, showing its eco-conscious vibe. Drummer Martin Chambers shines too, with Ultimate Classic Rock praising his dynamic beats, from the opening drum break to lightning-fast snare hits.

Now, let’s rewind to how The Pretenders got their start. Chrissie Hynde, born in Akron, Ohio, and a former Kent State University student, kicked things off in 1978. She’d been kicking around London’s punk scene, working at NME and jamming with bands like the Moors Murderers. Her big break came when Dave Hill at Anchor Records heard her demos and set her up in a rehearsal studio. As detailed on Wikipedia, Hynde first recorded with Mal Hart on bass and Phil Taylor of Motörhead on drums, but soon formed a tighter crew with Pete Farndon (bass), James Honeyman-Scott (guitar), and Gerry Mcilduff (drums). Martin Chambers replaced Mcilduff, and Hynde named the band after The Platters’ "The Great Pretender," a nod to an ex-boyfriend’s favorite tune. Their first single, a cover of The Kinks’ "Stop Your Sobbing," dropped in 1979, produced by Nick Lowe, and their debut album in 1980 was a smash, hitting number 1 in the UK with "Brass in Pocket" climbing to number 14 in the US.

Tragically, the band faced heavy losses early on. Honeyman-Scott and Farndon died of drug overdoses in 1982 and 1983, respectively, leaving Hynde and Chambers to rebuild. They brought in guitarist Robbie McIntosh and bassist Malcolm Foster for Learning to Crawl, proving their resilience. Hynde’s been the band’s constant, steering them through lineup changes and hits like "Don’t Get Me Wrong" and "I’ll Stand by You." Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005, The Pretenders keep rocking, with Hynde once saying, per American Songwriter, that the band’s a tribute to their fallen members.

Stay connected with The Pretenders on their Facebook, where they’ve got over 276,000 likes and share tour updates, or follow their Instagram for behind-the-scenes snaps. On X, they post about milestones like the 40th anniversary of Learning to Crawl. Fans can dive deeper at sites like AllMusic for discography details or join the Pretenders Fan Group on Facebook to swap stories with other devotees. Zoo Freaks, keep those dials locked on THE ZOO for more righteous tunes!