home / early years / big time / NZ INTERVIEW / pressures / enough is enough / AFTER THE PRETTIES / later years
THE LOST PRETTY THING / NEVER FORGOTTEN / music & film / thank you

Site last updated 10th January 2010 click here for details

Welcome...

...to my website dedicated to the life, musical career and memory of Brian Pendleton, original rhythm guitarist with sixties R&B legends The Pretty Things and an extremely talented musician in his own right.

I set up this website for two reasons. Firstly, because when I tried to find out more about Brian on the internet etc. I found the information about him to be extremely limited and repetitive ­ date of birth, date of death (and that was usually wrong) ­ apart from one or two very helpful sources I managed to find. Also, it was inspired,from research and my own personal visit to Maidstone, by the lack of a memorial to Brian. This is not meant as a criticism of his family, I understand that Brian was famous for only a short time early in his life and after that period he kept a low profile.

And yet I wanted to do something. My husband Chris said “There's nothing you can do.” It was just what I wanted to hear. Like a light bulb switching on in my head I said to him: “Yes there is. I'm going to set up a website for Brian as a definitive information source and as a memorial.” So that's what I've done, after months of research, e-mails and phone calls to various kind and helpful people who I am pleased to thank elsewhere on this site. If you would like to take a moment at some point to acknowledge their valuable contribution I would be very grateful as their assistance to me was vital.

I have tried to be as factual and unemotional as possible when relating Brian's story, without hopefully sounding clinical. The exception is the final part “Never Forgotten” which I suppose I have turned into a bit of a story and chosen to share (most of) the feelings and emotions that I felt the day I visited Maidstone to pay my respects to Brian. I hope you will excuse this one indulgence, but I wanted to do more than say “I went to Maidstone, left some flowers, and came back.” It was more important than that.

I hope you like my site. I hope to obtain new information for it as time goes on. It is the sort of endeavour that never actually gets finished; but I don't think I would ever wish it to be. If you have any feedback or comments relating to the site please feel free to email me at pendleton_girl@yahoo.com.

Most importantly, wherever you are now Brian, if you can see this site, I hope you like it. I have tried to give you the recognition and memorial you deserve. Get your guitar out and take it easy.

Nicola

early years