At a live show held on July 9, 2025, at London’s Eventim Apollo, comedian Bill Burr made an unscheduled appearance as a drummer during a surprise musical set featuring British band The Pretenders. The appearance occurred during Burr’s comedy performance, which shifted midway into a short live music segment.
The group performed four songs: “Ace of Spades” by Motörhead, “How Do You Get Your Money, Honey?” by AC/DC, “Breaking the Law” by Judas Priest, and The Pretenders’ 1986 single “Don’t Get Me Wrong.” Burr took up the role of drummer throughout the performance. The segment was not promoted in advance and was introduced without a formal announcement during the event.
Chrissie Hynde, the lead vocalist of The Pretenders, later acknowledged the performance, commenting on Burr’s drumming and referencing the venue’s history. Hynde had previously attended concerts at the same location, formerly known as the Hammersmith Odeon. Chrissie Hynde commented on the performance afterward, noting Burr handled the drumming duties well, despite her not knowing what to expect beforehand.
Bill Burr, who is widely known for his comedy and acting, has spent time playing drums over the years, especially in settings connected to his interest in rock and metal music. Previous performances include appearances with the Goddamn Comedy Jam, where comedians and musicians participate in live collaborative shows.
The musical segment followed Burr’s regular stand-up material and did not replace any portion of the scheduled content. The Pretenders participated for the duration of the musical portion before exiting the stage. Audience reactions indicated surprise, with the performance differing from what had been advertised in show listings.
There were no indications of a future collaboration between Burr and The Pretenders. No follow-up performances have been announced as of this writing. Burr has not stated whether additional live music events are being considered.
The Eventim Apollo continues to host comedy and music performances. Burr’s participation in both forms of entertainment during a single event added an unplanned element to the venue’s programming.
The performance concluded without incident. The remainder of the show proceeded according to schedule, and attendees departed following the final segment. No changes have been made to upcoming tour dates or artist schedules related to the event.
This occurrence adds to a small number of documented cases where public figures from non-musical disciplines have taken on live musical roles during unrelated programming. Burr’s involvement was confined to this single performance.