Foster received an invitation from Chrissie Hynde to join the Pretenders after Hynde dismissed original bassist Pete Farndon. Foster permanently joined in late 1982,[2] and helped the band finish their 1984 album, Learning to Crawl (his only full album with them).[3] Learning to Crawl was the band's commercial rebound after losing James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon, featuring hits such as "Back on the Chain Gang," "Middle of The Road," and their cover of the Persuaders' hit "Thin Line Between Love and Hate".[4]
After the band's 1984–1985 tour, which wrapped up with a show at Live Aid, the Pretenders went in to work on their fourth album, Get Close. Hynde was not satisfied with Martin Chambers' drumming and let him go.[2] During another session, Foster decided to follow Chambers out of the group.[1]
Foster joined Simple Minds in 1989, replacing bassist John Giblin. Foster was a session bassist on the albums Street Fighting Years (1989), Real Life (1991), and Good News from the Next World (1995).[5]
