The news follows five sold out club gigs performed through October 2023 - high energy performances at London’s Electric Ballroom, Manchester’s O2 Ritz and Glasgow’s Barrowlands were feverishly received, with the band’s live show described as "iconic" by the Evening Standard, "legendary" by the Sun On Sunday and "outrageously good" by Louder Than War.

The 2024 theatre tour arrives in the wake of The Pretenders’ new album, Relentless, their highest-charting record in 23 years, and 14th UK Top 40 release. The new songs have 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."

2023 has seen The Pretenders emphatically fulfil their non-stop touring schedule - the past year alone has seen the band perform over 60 gigs across the UK, US and Europe. 

The raw power of The Pretenders’ current live show has gripped audiences since the band began debuting new music at gigs early this year. Performing at London’s 600 capacity Lafayette for ‘Independent Venue Week’ in February, The Guardian found The Pretenders "as sharp as ever, with new songs stealing the limelight from classic hits". The band launched the Relentless album headlining Brighton’s The Great Escape Festival, kicking off a UK club tour treating fans to unreleased new songs and scatterings of surprise hits, tipped as "on such brilliant form" by The Independent.

Their 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".

Joining Guns N’ Roses at London’s BST Hyde Park mid-way through a European arena tour, both bands then set out across the US for huge outdoor shows 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 Victoria Park, Leicester, delighted fans before the band returned to the US for Ohana Festival and sold-out club shows across the West Coast.

Looking ahead, The Pretenders will join the Foo Fighters on their upcoming 2024 US tour through July and August. New album Relentless is available now on baby pink vinyl, CD and digital download. 

08.12.2023