The band Neil Young called “one of the greatest” to exist: “All the heartache that rock is built on”

Neil Young called the Pretenders “one of the greatest rock and roll bands that ever lived”, praising their endurance and the influence of Chrissie Hynde. His admiration reflects the article’s view that the band stood out during punk’s transition by pairing its raw energy with Hynde’s songwriting.

Young recalled turning to Pretenders records when he and others were unsure what to do, saying the band had made a “huge impression” on him around 1980. He admired how they had endured heartache without giving up, and predicted Hynde would keep performing for life. The article also links Young’s respect for Hynde to his own commitment to following his instincts rather than chasing trends.