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Chrissie Hynde Talks Veganism and Smoking, Plus Stream New Album

10/6/08, 12:48 pm EST

The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde turned 57 last month, but that hasn’t stopped her from putting together the punchiest Pretenders album in years. Despite being a hardcore vegan, she also still indulges in a few vices. “To warm up, I smoke Bugler tobacco,” she explains. “It’s a shame, really. But it’s rock & roll — if you need to warm up, God help you.” Click below for the full interview with Hynde along with a behind-the-scenes look at the band’s new video, plus head over to the Breaking blog to stream the entire new Pretenders album Break Up the Concrete.

Q&A: Chrissie Hynde

Stream The Entire New Pretenders Album Break Up the Concrete

Fall Preview: The Pretenders, Break Up the Concrete

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Album Review: The Pretenders, Break Up the Concrete

The Pretenders Unveil New Songs at In-Store Performance

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2005: The Pretenders


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Comments

kliffee | 10/7/2008, 8:14 am EST

Chrissie is a hero of mine for her work on behalf of the non-humans and for her great music over the years.

Download Devil's Hill | 10/7/2008, 8:57 am EST

Corruption in rock & roll, pop music: it goes back to the late fifties, early sixities. However, melody and rhythm was important, even though the poetry, like today, was lousy–funny, in some cases.

Iggy Pop opened for the Pretenders in Jan. ‘87, at Philly’s Spectrum. I sat twenty miles from the stage, vacant seats in front of me, watching extra small Iggy sing slick China Girl. When the Pretenders hit the stage, performed their then-current hit, Don’t Get Me Wrong, there were no vacant seats in front of me. Hynde literally kissed the stage at one point, because Pop had performed on it.

In spring ‘79, when I first heard Brass in Pocket, on the radio, I thought Hynde–of course I didn’t know her name–was black. She’s currently singing her love songs to a Bo Diddley beat–right on.

Anonymous | 10/7/2008, 9:13 am EST

was/were

stupid Download Devil's Hill | 10/7/2008, 10:27 am EST

,,,,,what the hell are you trying to say? Ramble ramble ramble. Stupid

download devils hill | 10/7/2008, 3:18 pm EST

were important/not was important
spring ‘80/not spring ‘79

Patrick d | 10/7/2008, 3:22 pm EST

I always love the Pretenders stuff. I’ve written a few songs that are perfect for Chrissie and the band. My pubishing company is Rude Man’s Art

SparkleGirl | 10/7/2008, 4:54 pm EST

Chrissie Hynde you are intelligent, tell it like it is and still kick-ass girl!

xo sparkle girl
sparkle-plenty.com

SparkleGirl | 10/7/2008, 5:15 pm EST

p.s. I would love to see that tee you are wearing!

Anonymous | 10/8/2008, 4:53 am EST

Vegans are the most annoying people on the planet. I put them a step below post-day chirstian missionaries. Eat the food you want, leave others alone. This is not a comment on her obvious talent (or his highness Morrissey)… its the pushiness Vegans bring unto others.

Not all vegans are preachers | 10/8/2008, 7:54 pm EST

Hey, I hear you on the preaching the lifestyle thing, but just want to say that veganism, for me, is about respect, and top of the list is respect for others’ choices of what to eat, wear, believe. Otherwise it is a self-serving load.

Maddox | 10/8/2008, 8:15 pm EST

For every animal you don’t eat, I’ll eat 3! Vegans got 1 uped.

batsdude | 10/9/2008, 11:41 am EST

Hynde should talk! The Pretenders were the forerunners of flabby/stupid ‘rock’ (?)

Joe | 10/9/2008, 4:38 pm EST

Woe be to those poor tobacco plants that had to die to go into Chrissie’s lungs

Brien Comerford | 10/9/2008, 10:06 pm EST

Chrissie Hynde is a God loving and animal loving vegan who is a musical gift to the world. Best songs on the perfect “Break Up The Concrete” are “You Didn’t Have To”, “One Thing Never Changed”, “Love’s A Mystery”, “The Nothing Maker” and “Boots Of Chinese Plastic”. What a voice.

All Those Yesterdays | 10/10/2008, 1:15 am EST

I think I’ll have steak tonight.

StevenX | 10/10/2008, 11:12 pm EST

Chrissie kissed the stage every night on the tour Iggy opened. One man’s tribute is another man’s schtick.

Milton | 10/11/2008, 12:27 am EST

i like her early stuff with The Pretenders, but after their fourth album she basicaly sucks. great voice, good bands, crappy songs. just stop preaching and whining… if rock n’ roll is flabby and stupid why does she still do it? i’m guessing it’s probably because she makes a pretty decent living doing it. she should stop preaching and concentrate on writing some decent songs again… and yes, that does mean that her latest album also sucks!

Cheesecrop | 10/11/2008, 6:59 am EST

Rock is getting flabby and stupid? Now if Chrissie said she was getting flabby and stupid, that might be a more correct statement. As noted below, why does she keep on doing it if she feels this way?

Also, the very first post thanks her for helping all the “non-humans”. What planet are we on then, and who exactly is she helping? Sleestaks? Jawas? Klingons?

BADDOG | 10/11/2008, 6:10 pm EST

The Pretenders are nothing more than a Cheap Trick wannabe group. Who cares what Chrissie Hynde thinks? Is she important? Gimmie a break…..Hey Rolling Stone Magazine – any chance you might join 2008 in the next couple of months??

download devil's hill | 10/12/2008, 9:03 am EST

The music scene is flabby and stupid. It’s not the musicians fault, entirely. Cynical big business took over around the time of the first Woodstock.

I prefer YouTube, etc., to “Independent A & R” companies like Taxi. Do bands like the Killers (John Mayer, etc.) really have their own distinct sound? Back in my day, you had people imitating the Beatles and the Stones, Billy Joel imitating Elton John, etc.

That’s why they call it pop art. It’s about status, revenue, not art. And that’s why you’ve never heard of me.

karla | 10/13/2008, 5:10 pm EST

Obviously the recent commenters know little about her music or the evolution of her work since 1978. She is a master lyricist…I am a songwriter, and I would give anything to write songs like “I should of” (Loose Screw 2002 album), “Revolution,” (Last of the Independents 1994 album), or “Legalise Me” (Viva el Amor 1999 album)…just to name a few! And her veganism is right on, people! Get an education!

Barneyh8er | 10/13/2008, 6:52 pm EST

Say what you want to about Chrissie’s proselytizing. I don’t follow her beliefs, but with her vibrato, I’ll listen to it anytime!

Mirella | 10/16/2008, 9:59 am EST

I met her and talked a couple of times and all i can say is that is a beatiful spirit, good person,

i agree with her devotion, her veganism and , everything, plus what a writter and a voice…

love you Chrissie, such a intelligent person, very good example for us..

peace

Mirella

scott bower | 2/18/2009, 10:42 pm EST

just saw the pretenders show in jim thorpe pa. shes 57 and still rocks it. she has entertained me for year with music! music that’s all it is! what she supports isnt important to me nore should it be this is america right just the music she or any other artist doesnt owe me anything it’s just like your tv or radio don’t like it turn it off

kim | 3/26/2009, 7:06 am EST

yo joe plants are made to die for us.
that’s their life cycle & obvious intent & meaning for us.

Animals are meant to LIVE;
just like us.

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