Wondering if you saw the [music-filled 1996 comedy drama] film Grace of My Heart and whether it influenced your decision to record an album of duets? GiniMarie
I didn’t see the film – Duets Special came about after a conversation with Rufus Wainwright’s husband when I impulsively suggested doing an album with Rufus. Rufus wanted to do Always on My Mind, and I looked at the list of nine other songs I’d sent him and thought: why don’t I ask some other people? Like, Low are one of my all-time favourite bands and when I first met Mimi Parker she immediately seemed like someone I’ve known all my life. I told her I’d done one of their songs with Debbie Harry and she looked at me and said: “Why didn’t you ask me?” I thought: touché, Mimi. I suggested [Cass McCombs’s] County Line but she wasn’t well. I told Mimi I’d wait as long as it takes. Then she died. Alan [Sparhawk, Parker’s husband] sang it instead and it’s absolutely amazing.
The Pretenders covered [Morrissey’s] Every Day Is Like Sunday and now Duets Special features The First of the Gang to Die. As one of Morrissey’s oldest friends, how often do your conversations reach a philosophical, political or moral impasse? McScootikins
My relationship with him started because we were both vegetarian and he sent me a postcard asking to meet for tea. Thirty-five years ago most of my mates – Linda McCartney and so on – were friends because of vegetarianism. Morrissey does stuff for Peta and he’s an amazing songwriter. A few nights ago I had dinner with a couple of girls he’d worked with. I sent him a picture of the three of us and he immediately sent back a picture of three women from Coronation Street. He’s always true to himself and no, we’ve never reached an impasse.
With the Pretenders’ debut turning 45 this year, how much was in the works before you met Pete [Farndon, bass], Jimmy [Honeyman-Scott, guitar] and Martin [Chambers, drums]? kylewatson04
I was staying in a freezing cold attic in a women’s boarding house in Tufnell Park, north London, and had probably written a few of the songs before I met them. Every guitar player I’ve had since James Honeyman-Scott has been influenced by him, for example Johnny Marr. The moment James came to my front door I knew we’d be in a band together. I got friendly with Benji Lysaght – who produced and plays on Duets Special – after he came up to me in catering and said: “Can I ask you something about James Honeyman-Scott?” It’s insane: Jimmy died aged 25, only guitar players remember him and yet he was the sound of the Pretenders. I was an angry biker chick but he brought out the melody.
The Pretenders’ 2000 Miles is back on the airwaves for Christmas. Do you have a favourite festive song? VerulamiumParkRanger
No, I’m like most people, I get pretty fucked off as soon as they start playing Christmas music in the shops. But, talking about Jimmy … a year after he died, I was in the Sunset Marquis [in LA] thinking about him. I rented a guitar and wrote 2000 Miles. I’ve always regretted that the rental company wouldn’t sell it to me because I wanted that guitar so much.
What was it like to be in an episode of Friends? Were you a big fan? John_Smoove_123
I’d never heard of it but Warners were putting out an album to accompany this new show and asked me for a song, Angel of the Morning. Then Friends asked me if I could sit in the background in a coffee shop playing it. I got to go to LA for a week and see my friend but I didn’t know they’d written a whole part for me. Then Friends was on the cover of every American magazine. I thought: “Oh fuck, this is gonna be big.” The cast and everybody were really nice but I always regretted it because until then I could take my kids to school and nobody knew who I was. Afterwards, all the kids were saying: “Your mom’s on Friends!”
You’ve made it very clear that you find it awkward being approached for autographs or selfies. If someone recognises you on the street, how should they acknowledge you? SJames42
When punk came along my manager wanted to put my face on a billboard in Shepherd’s Bush and I sat on my bed and cried. I could already feel my freedom slipping away. Some people have the personality for that: Paul McCartney is great at being a Beatle. I don’t! I’ve never got used to it. It always freaks me out and I’m not very gracious. Then, afterwards I feel really bad because I don’t want to bum people out. If they just nod or give me a thumbs up, that’s great.
You were at Kent State University when the Ohio National Guard opened fire on students protesting against the US invasion of Cambodia (killing four) in 1970. What memories can you share about that period? mdperry
I was hanging out, smoking pot and listening to Tim Hardin, Tim Buckley, Neil Young, Jeff Beck, Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix. When the National Guard opened fire I was standing right there and had to be carried off the campus because I wouldn’t leave. I knew one of the guys who was killed. We were little acid heads … some of the Devo guys were there too and [Eagles’] Joe Walsh. His band, the James Gang, played in a club where I used to sit at his feet and touch his tennis shoes. I have so many memories of that period.
I saw you at the Van Gogh exhibition at the National Gallery. What was your favourite work? stevensonlesley
I worship him so I love everything, but I was looking at some of the most magnificent works of all time through a sea of people holding their phones up. Quite why they haven’t banned phones in art exhibitions is beyond me. They’re standing in front of a painting they may never see again and can admire every brush stroke, but they’re gazing at it through their fucking phone!
When you first arrived in the UK from the States, what made up your mind to stay? Aubrey26
I loved everything about the UK and had always been drawn to it. When I was a kid, I loved horses and would draw them all the time. I knew there was an English style of riding and an English saddle. Then, when I was 14, I heard the Beatles and there was no turning back.
When you visit the US, what’s the main thing you miss about it? nivlek47
I don’t miss it. When they tore out the train system and got rid of any form of public transport, I had this inherent suspicion that it wasn’t gonna work for me, so I left aged 22. I still get the tube in London.
I saw you arrested live on stage at the Nashville, West Kensington around 1981. Why did that happen? TonyBrown
I don’t think I was arrested. I think the police stopped the show for a noise issue or something. The one thing I remember about that Nashville Rooms show was that I had drunk a lot of tequila beforehand and I never drank before a show again because it impaired my abilities. That night, I pierced Johnny Rotten’s ear in the toilet, by pushing an earring through it into a bar of soap.
If in 1976 Johnny Rotten or Sid Vicious had accepted your proposal to get married, what would life together have been like? Dmitry_S
That was just so I could stay in the country, but life with either of them would have been chaos. I knew Sid before the Pistols. One night, we were walking along the street and he said: “John’s asked me to join the band.” I said: “But it’s like you’re already in them.” And he went: “Yeah, I know.” I watched him learning to play bass on speed for three days, listening to Ramones records. He was lovely. Then along came drugs, alcohol and violence and he changed rapidly once he met Nancy [Spungen]. He had a great voice. I think he was more talented than he ever got to show.
Do you keep in contact with the less famous women who you got to know during the early days of punk? Not necessarily people like Siouxsie Sioux, more the punk girls and women who you met in Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren’s shops or at gigs? robCornelius
I didn’t really know Jordan [AKA Pamela Rooke, punk scene linchpin] but she was in the gang and then, 35 years later, I reconnected with her by email because I was interested in compassion in farming – her nephew had a farm and Jordan did cat rescue. I meant to hang out with her and then she died. I have dinner with Viv Albertine sometimes. She is good fun. I remained friendly with Patti Palladin and Judy Nylon from the band Snatch for years. After I saw the Selecter documentary, I wrote to Pauline Black and told her she was amazing, but we haven’t hung out. I never saw Gaye Advert again, but I really admired her: she was beautiful and had a sticker on her guitar reading “Fuck off”.
Pride of place on our mantelpiece is a photo of you and my wife aged 16. She met you and Patsy Kensit outside an Oasis gig in 1994. It was a freezing night and you lent her your gloves, which she unsuccessfully attempted to slope off with. She always says how nice you were and would be so happy if you pretended to remember her. JSA_1972
Of course I remember you. You’re the girl who tried to nick my gloves.
