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Talking to the Pretenders’ Martin Chambers
Drummer Martin Chambers effortlessly swaps trashcan fireworks (“Middle of the Road”) and rainy blues (“2000 Miles”) throughout the Pretenders’ greatest hits. Highest points (“Brass in Pocket”) fuse the turbulent ebb and flow. Expect surprises when the band supports its roots-rock departure “Break Up the Concrete” Sunday night at Stubb’s.
“We’ve been playing obscure country songs (by bands) that have great pedal steel players and pickers,” Chambers says. “Everybody has their chops.”
American-Statesman: How’s the tour going?
Martin Chambers: The tour has been going very well, indeed, and we’ve had some really good nights. It’s nice having James Welbourne on guitar. He’s set a fire underneath this band big time.
Chrissie has said she doesn’t want to tour as a greatest hits package.
Well, having to reproduce everything all the time is the worst part of having to be in a band. Going out and doing the old songs. She had to make a record. We went into the studio in 2007, and she wasn’t particularly happy with it. So, she sacked Adam Seymour, a great guitar player and friend of mine, and I had to find her a guitar player. I found James, and they made (“Break Up the Concrete”). They went into the studio without me. I said, “If you don’t want me, carry on.” I want to go on the road, and I don’t need to play on the album to do that.
There were no hard feelings?
Absolutely not. I know the way she works and what she’s gonna do. It’s been good for me to be that way over the years and know what she’s thinking. I know what she needs to do. It’s as simple as that, really.
Has your relationship with Chrissie evolved over the past 30 years?
No. She does what she likes, and I understand. I don’t think it has evolved (laughs).
Eric Heywood (Son Volt) adds a great dynamic with pedal steel.
Yeah, the pedal steel just brings that slightly western flavor to the whole thing. James is slightly inclined in that way, too. They’ve helped songs like “Back on the Chain Gang,” and then that blends with the new songs really well. It works. I don’t really analyze music too well. I just know what’s working and what isn’t. We’re trying to think of more songs that we can do from the past maybe because we’ve got pedal steel. At the moment, we’re just working on the newer songs and the older ones that we’ve brought up to speed.
Who picks the country covers?
Those songs come from Eric and James, who are battling computers on the bus. Eric will play a couple and James will play a couple. Some of the songs are quite old, but the playing ability is unbelievable.
You elevate your cymbals higher than most drummers. What does that bring to the performance?
It’s just presentation. I like to perform - and if you’re just tapping around, it’s not very visual. I like to have to reach and be a little more gregarious on the drum kit. It’s physical, too. You can see me get a little red in the face (laughs).
The Pretenders perform at 8 p.m. Sunday at Stubb’s. 801 Red River Street. Advance tickets are $32-$35. 888-512-7469; frontgatetickets.com.
(Photo of the Pretenders from Big Hassle Media)
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