I searched this sub and couldn't find any post about this memoir. A friend recommended it to me partially because it was written by Hynde herself, no ghostwriter. It was published in 2015.
I could relate to Hynde in one way: she grew up in the suburbs of Akron, Ohio and I grew up in the suburbs of Harrisburg, PA. She is more than 20 years older than me but I was listening to The Clash and the Sex Pistols and Bob Marley in my youth so I get why she was fascinated by guitar heros, rock musicians and reggae.
I learned a lot of new information (like how she "discovered" UB40) and she definitely validated the "Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll" culture that I had heard and read about growing up.
I found it interesting that Hynde came off as humble in relation to the music and performance aspects but not when it came to her sexual conquests (e.g., Iggie Pop and Ray Davies). I appreciated that she shared enough details about the terrible situations she got herself into with men due to drugs and alcohol but she never self-identified as a victim. She admitted that she got herself into those situations (due to drugs and alcohol). Note that this book was published prior to the "me too" movement and I wonder if the narrative would have been different had it been written after that. Not sure.
I was disappointed that Hynde ended the book after the original Pretenders broke up but I understand why she wrote it that way based on how the band ended and what happened immediately afterward.
I really wanted to hear a firsthand account about her invitation and involvement with the 1999 Bob Marley One Love tribute in Jamaica.
by DebauraZ
2 Comments
>Note that this book was published prior to the “me too” movement and I wonder if the narrative would have been different had it been written after that
I don’t know if it would have changed what was published but she did get criticised for, as you mention, not seeing herself as a victim. By saying she put herself in those positions she received some criticism by people who accused her of blaming victims. I couldn’t tell you how widespread that was though, it may have just been a handful of loud voices.
I never knew about her relationship with Malcolm, and Steve Jones or that she nearly married Johnny and Sid for a work permit. Steve Jones talks more about her in his biography and claims they had a more serious relationship than she does if you are interested in his side of the story.