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Musician Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (June 16, 1982) James Honeyman-Scott / The Pretenders

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James Honeyman-Scott
November 4, 1956 – June 16, 1982

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James Honeyman-Scott is best remembered as the founding guitarist for the Pretenders.  Thanks in part to his inventive guitar playing, the Pretenders were one of a handful of new wave acts that truly transcended the genre.  In June of 1982, while on break from touring and house hunting in Austin, TX, Honeyman-Scott was called back to the UK for a band meeting with Chrissie Hynde and Martin Chambers.  It was there that they agreed to fire band mate Pete Farndon due to his excessive drug use.  Unfortunately it was James Honeyman-Scott that would succumb to his drug dependency.  He died of heart failure related to his cocaine use just two days after Farndon was let go from the band.  Farndon died during a heroin binge less than a year later.

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Musician Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (April 14, 1983) Pete Farndon / The Pretenders

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Pete Farndon
June 12, 1952 – April 14, 1983

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Pete Farndon was the founding bassist of the Pretenders.   In 1978, Farndon became the first member of the band to be recruited by Chrissie Hynde.  He was soon followed by guitarist James Honeyman-Scott and drummer Martin Chambers.  Together they created a sound that fell somewhere between punk and new wave, giving them equal parts respect and commercial success.   Farndon’s heavy bass and tough image only complimented Hynde’s bad ass image, helping her become rock royalty.   After two back-to-back successes with The Pretenders and The Pretenders II , Fandon’s professional relationship with the band began to sour due to his exsessive drug use.  He was asked to leave the band in 1982.   But it was Honeyman-Scott who died of drug-related causes just two days after Farndon was let go.  Less than a year later, while Farndon was putting together a band with former Clash drummer, Topper Headon, he drowned in his bathtub after an apparent heroin binge.  He was just 30.

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