The Pretenders: Lyceum, London

LESS THAN a year after formation, the Pretenders are already shaping up as one of the most interesting new British bands. Led by Chrissie Hynde, an expatriate American and former music journalist, the group are developing their career in a shrewd fashion: allowing enough time to elapse after their first hit single, 'Stop Your Sobbing', to sharpen the anticipation for a second, the recently released 'Kid'; then launching into their first major tour on a wave of critical acclaim immediately prior to the release of their debut album.