# Malcolm Foster

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**Malcolm Foster** is a British musician known best for being the bass player for [the Pretenders](/source/The_Pretenders)[1] between 1982 and 1987, and a session player for [Simple Minds](/source/Simple_Minds) between 1989 and 1995.

## Career

### The Pretenders

Foster received an invitation from [Chrissie Hynde](/source/Chrissie_Hynde) to join the Pretenders after Hynde dismissed original bassist [Pete Farndon](/source/Pete_Farndon). Foster permanently joined in late 1982,[2] and helped the band finish their 1984 album, *[Learning to Crawl](/source/Learning_to_Crawl)* (his only full album with them).[3] *[Learning to Crawl](/source/Learning_to_Crawl)* was the band's commercial rebound after losing [James Honeyman-Scott](/source/James_Honeyman-Scott) and Pete Farndon, featuring hits such as "[Back on the Chain Gang](/source/Back_on_the_Chain_Gang)," "[Middle of The Road](/source/Middle_of_the_Road_(song))," and their cover of [the Persuaders](/source/The_Persuaders_(R%26B_group))' hit "[Thin Line Between Love and Hate](/source/Thin_Line_Between_Love_and_Hate)".[4]

After the band's 1984–1985 tour, which wrapped up with a show at [Live Aid](/source/Live_Aid), the Pretenders went in to work on their fourth album, *[Get Close](/source/Get_Close)*. Hynde was not satisfied with [Martin Chambers](/source/Martin_Chambers)' drumming and let him go.[2] During another session, Foster decided to follow Chambers out of the group.[1]

### Simple Minds

Foster joined Simple Minds in 1989, replacing bassist [John Giblin](/source/John_Giblin). Foster was a session bassist on the albums *[Street Fighting Years](/source/Street_Fighting_Years)* (1989), *[Real Life](/source/Real_Life_(Simple_Minds_album))* (1991), and *[Good News from the Next World](/source/Good_News_from_the_Next_World)* (1995).[5]

## References

1. Righi, Len (13 April 1984). ["PRETENDERS' BASSIST SAW CHANCE TO BE MORE THAN A HIRED GUN"](https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1984-04-13-2424934-story.html). The Morning Call. Retrieved 24 January 2020.

1. ["Pretenders | Biography & History"](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/pretenders-mn0000492331/biography). *AllMusic*. Retrieved 2020-05-20.

1. ["Learning to Crawl - Pretenders | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/learning-to-crawl-mw0000191360), retrieved 2020-05-20

1. ["The Pretenders’ Learning To Crawl was a triumphant comeback from tragedy"](https://www.avclub.com/the-pretenders-learning-to-crawl-was-a-triumphant-come-1798245881). *Music*. Retrieved 2020-05-20.

1. Webmaster. ["Simple Minds | Nostalgia Central"](https://nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-l-to-z/artists-s/simple-minds/). Retrieved 2020-05-20.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Malcolm Foster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Foster) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Foster?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.