It is known that the popular Lorenz system admits an equivalent representation as a controlled Duffing system. It is also known that the Duffing system is an approximation to the simple pendulum. We introduce a new class of controlled pendulum systems that may also be interpreted as Pendulum-Lorenz systems. These systems contain the Lorenz system as an approximation and have a wide range of potential applications. Examples of chaotic attractors associated with a controlled pendulum system are presented.