Music: Tunes from the Deep End

The Pretenders hang tough and score a new triumph

There were two calls, very much the same, and after the first there was no need to go into detail.

Chrissie Hynde, lead singer, prime force and all-round soul shaker of the Pretenders, picked up the phone one morning in her London apartment and heard the voice of the band's manager. "What is it?" she said, and he said, "We've heard that Jim died. I'll call you back when I find out anything."

Not a year later, the manager called again. "Farndon" was all he said....