Who can rock harder than Taylor Momsen herself? Some of you may know Taylor Momsen from How the Grinch Stole Christmas or Gossip Girl, but Momsen is also the lead singer of her rock band, The Pretty Reckless. I recently had the opportunity to interview Taylor Momsen, via email, in early September about the band’s future plans and upcoming tour. This is what she had to say.
MJ: How and where did the band form and what is the origin of your name?
TM: That’s a long question, but the short of it is, I met Ben through our producer Kato and our writing really worked so we just took it from there. I’m based in NYC but the band is generally from upper East coast. The name came from the Reckless but we ran into a trademark issue- someone said Pretty and it just stuck and here we are.
The Pretty Reckless is an American hard rock band from New York. Their current members are Taylor Momsen (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Ben Phillips (lead guitar, backing vocals), Mark Damon (bass) and Jamie Perkins (drums). They Pretty Reckless have been around as early as 2009.
MJ: Taylor, you began your career as an actress. How and when did you decide that you wanted to form a band? Was the transformation difficult? Which do you enjoy more, acting or singing?
TM: I began my career technically doing both. Acting was a successful day job for me, but I’ve always been a musician and that’s it really
Many may recognize Taylor Momsen from the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas. She also appeared in the television series Gossip Girl. At the age of five, Momsen recorded her first song “Christmas, Why Can’t I Find You?” for the soundtrack How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
MJ: Who are some of your inspirations?
TM: Beatles, Zeppelin, etc.
It makes sense that Taylor Momsen’s inspirations are the Beatles, Zeppelin, etc, especially being that The Pretty Reckless’ music is similar to both those bands.
MJ: What separates The Pretty Reckless from other rock bands?
TM: I think we are very unique in obvious ways, but I personally don’t have a take on that. We just get up on stage every night and do what we love.
The heavy vocals of Taylor Momsen make The Pretty Reckless unique from other rock bands. Her style is as hard as hard rock gets and she sure knows how to put on a performance.
MJ: The Light Me Up album was very successful. What is your anticipation of the new album Going to Hell?
TM: That it comes out, people hear it, like it, and we tour the sh*t out of it. I want kids to shut their phones off, and sit back for 40 minutes and have their minds blown listening to it. Get lost in it.
The Light Me Up album was first released on August 27, 2010. The album received commercial success with the singles “Make Me Wanna Die”, “Miss Nothing”, and “Just Tonight.” They are currently recording their new studio album Going to Hell, which is scheduled to be released in 2014. They just debuted their new single “Going to Hell.”
MJ: How do you think the fans will respond?
TM: If it moves them and they get it then cool, I think it’s worth it. If everyone get’s it, great, we can start a f*cking revolution
The Pretty Reckless embarked on a worldwide tour in 2010 in support of their debut album, the Light Me Up Tour, which received great reviews from the fans. They embarked on their second tour, The Medicine Tour, where they appeared as a support act for Marilyn Manson and Evanescence.
MJ: What separates Going to Hell from your other album and EP?
TM: It’s just the band and songs getting better- they’re raw and real
The Pretty Reckless has already released previews to many of the songs on their new album Going to Hell.
MJ: Do you have a favorite song on the album?
TM: I have many…
The songs on the Light Me Up are all great songs to listen to. There is so much meaning behind every song making it hard to choose a favorite.
MJ: Which song did you enjoy writing the most and why?
TM: All of them were like baring children, I love them all.
Personally, I enjoy the songs “Zombie”, “Factory Girl”, and “Going to Hell.”
MJ: Which song was the most difficult to write and why?
TM: Writing (as any writer should tell you) is always hard, even when it’s easy.
Regardless of how many albums an artist may write, the process is still difficult because a lot of work is put into every song.
MJ: The tour starts September 20th in Huntington, NY. What are you doing to prepare yourselves?
TM: Rehearsing, tons of press, chilling as much as possible.
The tour starts in Huntington, NY and ends in Boston, MA on November 11, 2013. This is only the beginning of the many headlining tours for The Pretty Reckless.
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