Pete Farndon

Peter Granville Farndon (12 June 1952 – 14 April 1983) was an English bassist and founding member of the rock band the Pretenders. In addition to playing bass with the group, Farndon sang backup vocals and co-wrote two of the group's songs ("The Wait" and "Space Invader"), before a drug problem resulted in his dismissal from the group in 1982 and his death less than a year later.

Career Farndon attended Hereford Cathedral School in his home city of Hereford, before embarking on his musical career. Farndon's musical influences included Stanley Clarke and Jeff Beck. Farndon played with Cold River Lady until the middle of 1976, and then toured with Australian folk-rock band The Bushwackers in 1978.

Farndon joined the Pretenders in early 1978 and was the first member of the 1978–82 lineup to be recruited by Chrissie Hynde. Farndon recalled their first rehearsal: "I'll never forget it, we go in, we do a soul number, we do a country and western number, and then we did 'The Phone Call' which is like the heaviest fuckin' punk rocker you could do in 5/4 time. Impressed? I was very impressed."

Farndon played a large role in shaping the Pretenders' tough image, often wearing his biker clothing, or later, samurai gear onstage. Hynde later acknowledged that two Pretenders' songs, "Biker" and "Samurai" had "references to a Pete Farndon type of character".

By early 1982, Farndon's drug use was causing strained relations with his bandmates. He became increasingly belligerent and according to Hynde, "was in bad shape. He was really not someone you could work with."

Death

On 14 April 1983, at the age of 30, Farndon was found by his wife drowned in the bath at his home in London, having lost consciousness after a heroin overdose. He is buried at St Peter's Church, Withington, Herefordshire.

Discography The Bushwackers 1977 – Murrumbidgee

The Pretenders 1979 – Pretenders 1981 – Extended Play 1981 – Pretenders II