York author and musician Miles Salter is set to launch his new book at Toppings bookshop this autumn – that tells the compelling true story of The Pretenders.
In his first narrative non-fiction book, Miles will delve into the history of the iconic new wave band and reveal a world of fame, addiction, and heartbreak.
A Dangerous Band: The Pretenders 1978 – 83 by Miles Salter will have its launch event onTuesday 10 November at Toppings in York.
The book’s colourful cast of characters includes Chrissie Hynde, John Lydon, Sid Vicious, Malcolm McLaren, Vivienne Westwood, Ray Davies, Seymour Stein, Bruce Springsteen and Nick Lowe.
Chrissie Hynde arrived in London in 1973. She wrote for the NME and fell in with Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood via Sex, the provocatively named shop they ran on King’s Road. She hung out with The Sex Pistols and The Clash, and after numerous near-misses, she formed The Pretenders in 1978 with three young men from Hereford; James Honeyman-Scott, Pete Farndon and Martin Chambers.
Within 18 months they had released one of the great albums of the era; Pretenders (1980) spawned three hit singles, including ‘Brass In Pocket’, which launched the band to international success and fame.
But tragedy ensued: by mid-1983 both Farndon and Honeyman-Scott were dead from drug abuse, just 10 months apart.
In February 2025, Miles began his book, drawing on previously recorded interviews, including ones with Martin Chambers, the band’s original drummer. He spent 18 months writing and researching the book, interviewing band members, family members, friends, record company staff and music journalists.
“It’s just such a sad story,” said Miles. “People told me how funny and charming and likeable Jimmy and Pete were, and they both died in the most appalling ways….
“In terms of telling a story, I got lucky. Every time I thought things couldn’t get stranger, something more shocking emerged. It’s a real-life tragedy packed with all the elements of a compelling story.
“Chrissie Hynde wrote in one of her later lyrics, ‘what’s the price of fame?’ I think that sums up the book. It’s a question that has haunted her.”
Miles Salter has written widely since the early 1990s, publishing journalism, fiction and poetry. He was Director of York Literature Festival (2007 – 2016) fronts the band Miles and The Chain Gang.
You can join Miles as he talks to poet and author John Goodby about The Pretenders and their remarkable, strange, dark, sad tale.