The October 2024 tour will follow The Pretenders’ latest album Relentless, their highest-charting record in 23 years and 14th UK Top 40 release. The album has been met with high critical praise, described by MOJO as “persistently brilliant songwriting … surely how Chrissie Hynde always wanted The Pretenders to sound”. The Observer heard “inspiring longevity”, Record Collector applauded “the best Pretenders album in 20 years” in a five star review, and Uncut Magazine labelled the album “the new prime of Chrissie Hynde”. Elsewhere The Times proclaimed, “this is the Pretenders at their rocking best” and the i Newspaper praised “a statement of intent”, whilst The Telegraph confirmed “Relentless might just be one of the most thrilling things you’ll hear all year.” The album went on to be tipped as an Album of the Year by magazines including MOJO, Uncut, Classic Rock and more.
The Relentless album release was surrounded by the raw power of The Pretenders’ revered live show. 2023 saw the band emphatically fulfil their non-stop touring schedule – the past year alone taking in over 60 gigs across the UK, US and Europe.
October 2023 saw high energy sold out club gigs through London’s Electric Ballroom, Manchester’s O2 Ritz and Glasgow’s Barrowlands feverishly received by fans, described as “iconic” by the Evening Standard, “legendary” by the Sun On Sunday and “outrageously good” by Louder Than War.
A surprise performance at Glastonbury, featuring special guests Johnny Marr and Dave Grohl, was received as a highlight of the entire festival weekend. The Telegraph described “a thrilling, rocking, melodious, attitude-packed surprise set at the Park Stage”, MOJO found “a thing of wonder” and the Metro reported, “The Pretenders left fans well and truly in awe”.
The band joined Guns N’ Roses at London’s BST Hyde Park mid-way through a European arena summer tour, after which both set out across the US for huge outdoor gigs through August and September, where Chrissie Hynde joined Guns N’ Roses on stage singing and playing harmonica for a surprise performance of ‘Bad Obsession’ at Boston’s Fenway Park.
A spectacular UK homecoming at BBC Radio 2 In The Park in front of 35,000 fans in Leicester’s Victoria Park delighted fans before the band returned to the US for Ohana Festival and sold-out club shows across the West Coast.
Before The Pretenders’ October UK headline tour the band will perform at the Isle Of Wight Festival in June, and join the Foo Fighters on their upcoming US run through July and August.
