James Honeyman-Scott

One of rock's many tragic drug-related casualties, Pretenders guitarist James Honeyman-Scott was one of the most original and versatile guitarists of the early-'80s new wave movement, making the senselessness of his 1982 death even greater. Born on November 4, 1956, in Hereford, England, Honeyman-Scott began taking piano lessons at the age of seven. Although he couldn't read music (he was entirely trained by ear), he graduated to guitar by the age of ten, soon picking up tricks by playing along to Eric Clapton and Hank Marvin records. Throughout his teenage years and his early twenties, Honeyman-Scott played with a variety of regional bands, including the band Cheeks, which included former Mott the Hoople founding member/keyboardist Verden Allen. It was during his tenure with Cheeks that Honeyman-Scott became friendly with fellow local musicians Martin Chambers (drums) and Pete Farndon (bass). Honeyman-Scott paid the bills during these lean years by selling guitars in a shop and growing vegetables, as well as lending his guitar talents to albums by such obscure artists as Robert John Godrey and Tommy Morrison. Growing increasingly fed up with the stale rock scene of the mid-'70s, punk rock and new wave began to perk up Honeyman-Scott's interest in rock again, namely the jangly pop of Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe. Not long after, Honeyman-Scott received a phone call from his pal Farndon, inquiring if he'd like to try out for a new band he had formed with singer/songwriter/guitarist Chrissie Hynde. The tryout was a success, but Honeyman-Scott had second thoughts. To help make up his mind, Hynde and Farndon were able to line up Honeyman-Scott's hero Nick Lowe to produce the band's first single, "Stop Your Sobbing." By 1979, he was a full-time member, bringing Chambers...