The Pretenders Acceptance Speech at the 2005 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Martin Chambers. What a beautiful speech.

The original Pretenders lineup was great. Those first two albums (Pretenders I&II) are two of the best albums of that era. Still tops on my playlist after all these years.

Robbie McIntosh is a phenomenal guitarist, what an excellent replacement for James Honeyman- Scott. They never missed a beat.

Such a humble speech from Chrissy. Where are people like that now?

An honest comment from Chrissie, ‘without us they might have been here’. We don’t know where the path leads. Fame and fortune does not always lead to happy endings.

A great band; unique and melodic with a few quirks and Chrissy's sweet voice!

It is nice to hear her admit today's Pretenders is a tribute band.

Great Tribute to the late Mick Green. RIP Mr. Green.

The Pretenders first album was one of those magical records in which every song was great. I was in late teens away from home for the first time living in a condo complex with everybody living there not yet 20. What the hell was new wave? I still don't know. I guess you knew it when you heard it. Chrissie Hynde, did anybody ever, wail or moan like her? Her voice was frankly a gift from God, no other way to describe it. And it was sexy, and she was sexy in that red leather or vinyle jacket on the album cover. Her lyrics were shocking to be honest. I can still picture two female friends of mine singing along "not me baby I'm too precious-fuck off." Her words went way, way beyond the rock n roll lifestyle. It had a rough edge I don't think even The Sex Pistols could match. To me the song that I wondered the most about was " Talk of the Town. "Who is this fucking masterpiece about? Sid Viscous, Pete Farndon, Ray Davies? She knew them all. The stories she told about strong iconoclastic guys in all her greatest songs made me hungry for aspiration, to measure up impossibly to what she admired in a guy. The Pretenders had insane chemistry between the four of them. Then I turn around and two of them were dead. Farndon's base playing on that first record- Godamn, he propels that album. Honeyman- Scott, the riff king virtuoso. Chambers- no frills drummer who beat the skins like his life depended on it. And Chrissie Hynde. The woman who witnessed the Kent State massacre. Who's life experiences informed her music, along with that incredible talent was the life blood and beating heart of the band.

❤️ Great woman!

Chrissie is one bad ass rock 'n' roll front man- Pretenders music still holds up! Glad to see Neil Young giving it up, another hero- Pioneers- Long live rock 'n' Roll! Man, did it get me through some shit

Happily I saw them so many times!

Yes 👍

Awkward the feelings. Martin Chambers seems like a really decent soul and overlooked member of the band.

Funny Acceptance speech good stuff for a Great Band

Great acceptance speech by Martin. He was very cool when Chrissie rudely interrupted him and He said, " Back away from the drummer." I think Chrissie realized that her acceptance speech was pretty weak.

I’m surprised Johnny Marr wasn’t mentioned . 🎸

Thats good martin was there too

Fun fact: Chrissie and Martin were born three days apart. Yes, she's the younger of the two. IMO, The Pretenders sound like pretenders unless he's in the band.

Chrissie actually hates the Rock n Roll hall of fame.