Drumming News :
In a twist no one saw coming, comedian Bill Burr traded punchlines for power chords during his recent show in London — and he didn’t do it alone. Burr teamed up with none other than British rock icons The Pretenders to perform a blistering set of heavy metal covers at the legendary Eventim Apollo (formerly Hammersmith Odeon) on Wednesday night (July 9, 2025).
Yes, that Bill Burr. The same guy known for roasting the world with his razor-sharp stand-up took to the drum kit and shredded through metal classics alongside Chrissie Hynde and her legendary band.
The set included:
- “Ace of Spades” by Motörhead
- “How Do You Get Your Money, Honey?” by AC/DC
- “Breaking the Law” by Judas Priest
- and The Pretenders’ own 1986 hit “Don’t Get Me Wrong”
The sold-out comedy crowd was floored when what began as a night of stand-up turned into a full-on rock show. Chrissie Hynde herself took to Instagram to process what happened:
“Here was a surprise out of left field…. @wilfredburr asked us to do a few tunes with him at his show in London last night at the Hammersmith Odeon where I saw Motörhead play 40 years ago.”
Hynde seemed as shocked as the audience — and equally impressed.
“I was thinking… He can tell jokes, but can jokes play drums? The answer is – yes they can! Bill nailed it.”
She went on to compare Burr’s performance chops to other famously multi-talented celebrities:
“John McEnroe missed his [calling] as a guitar player and opted out for tennis. Bill missed his as a drummer and opted out for stand-up. Kate Moss missed hers as a singer… (and I’m still trying to figure out what she opted out for).”
Burr, a lifelong fan of rock and metal — and a frequent guest on music podcasts and shows — clearly wasn’t just dabbling. This wasn’t a gimmick; the man can play. Known for occasionally drumming with his comedian buddies and sitting in with bands like the Goddamn Comedy Jam, Burr has made no secret of his musical obsessions. But jamming with The Pretenders on stage at a rock landmark? That’s another level.
Fans in attendance were treated to a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle: the fusion of comedy, classic rock, and raw talent — and nobody saw it coming.
As Hynde put it:
“I guess we all have our chosen destinies.
Keep on rocking in the free world!”
With that, it’s safe to say Burr didn’t just kill on stage — he rocked it.
