The Pretty Reckless
Encyclopedia
The Pretty Reckless are an American rock band from New York. The current members are Taylor Momsen
(lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Ben Phillips (lead guitar, backing vocals), Mark Damon (bass) and Jamie Perkins (drums).
Their debut album, Light Me Up
, was released on August 30, 2010 in the UK. They released their first single on May 13, 2010.
worked with several producers before meeting Kato Khandwala. Momsen has said that she liked Khandwala because he was a rock producer as opposed to a pop producer. Khandwala introduced Momsen to Ben Phillips and the three of them began to write songs together. Three unnamed musicians were hired to form the band with Momsen. The band were originally called The Reckless but had to change the name due to trademark problems. The band played its first concert on May 5, 2009 at The Annex in New York. After seven concerts the lineup of the band was changed. The new lineup of the band consisted of Momsen with John Secolo (guitar), Matt Chiarelli (bass) and Nick Carbone (drums). The second line-up of the band also played its first concert at The Annex on June 3, 2009. They recorded some demos in early 2009 and they opened for The Veronicas
on their North American tour. In 2010 Secolo, Chiarelli and Carbone left the band.
At present, Taylor Momsen is the singer and rhythm guitarist, with Ben Phillips on lead guitar, Mark Damon on bass, and Jamie Perkins on drums.
Momsen stated in an interview with OK! Magazine
that the band signed with Interscope Records
and would be releasing their debut album in 2010. In another interview, Momsen briefly discussed the sound of the band, saying it would be "not what people are going to expect" and will feature a dark and heavy sound but would have "lighter, fun stuff as well." In an interview with MTV, Momsen reported the influences on the band to include The Beatles
and Oasis
, along with grunge band Nirvana
. She also stated that her personal influences include Kurt Cobain
and Joan Jett
. After the band announced they had signed to Interscope Records, two new recordings of demo songs ("He Loves You" and "Zombie") were posted on their Myspace.
On December 30, 2009, the band released a new promo song entitled "Make Me Wanna Die". The song was uploaded for free since and was offered as a download to fans on their Interscope Records website for a limited amount of time. The band launched "Make Me Wanna Die" on the soundtrack and in the end credits to the 2010 film Kick-Ass
. The song was the band's first single, and was released on May 17, 2010, with the debut album set to be released in August. On April 9, 2010, they performed during the "Vans Warped Tour 2010 Kick-Off Party" and performed at The Bamboozle
music festival on May 1, 2010.
They played the entire Warped Tour 2010
.
Their first EP was released on June 22, 2010, with mixed reactions. Most critics praised the lyrics and production, however Rolling Stone
magazine classified the sound as "generic". It contained four songs, three of which can be found on their debut album: "Make Me Wanna Die", "My Medicine", and "Goin' Down". The first single "Make Me Wanna Die
" was released on May 17, 2010 and was #1 on the UK Rock Chart
for six weeks. A viral video was released to promote the single, and the band announced that the official version would be released soon. The full record was released on August 31, 2010.
The band announced the album title as Light Me Up
through Myspace. They also confirmed several song names, including "You", "Miss Nothing", "Just Tonight", "Since You're Gone" and the title-track "Light Me Up". The album is produced by Khandwala and entirely written by Momsen and Phillips. The album will be released on August 30, 2010 in UK and August 31, 2010 worldwide.
The song "Miss Nothing" was the second single to be released from "Light Me Up", on August 9, 2010. It was aired exclusively on the British radio station, BBC Radio 1
, on July 22, 2010. The band introduced it as their next UK single after a show on the Warped Tour
. A video for "Miss Nothing
" was released on July 20 on Vevo
.
The US release of Light Me Up
was delayed, not being released until February 2011. The album was received well, so far reaching number 4 on iTunes
. The first single released in the US officially was Just Tonight
, which was the third single released in Australia
and United Kingdom
among other countries.
in the UK in 2010. Momsen revealed the official album cover on July 27, 2010, via her Twitter account.
The band performed on August 25, 2010 on the Late Show with David Letterman
.
The band embarked on a four-date UK tour starting in Glasgow
, Scotland at the Barrowland Ballroom
on December 13, 2010, supported by Francesqa
.
The Pretty Reckless announced a tour, running from early February to late March. On March 2 it was announced that the band will appear at the Download Festival
in June. The band will also play at Rock Am Ring Festival in June and will perform at Optimus Alive Festival 2011 on July 8 in Lisbon, Portugal and at Rock Werchter 2011 on July 2 in Werchter, Belgium and T in The Park festival on July 10 in Scotland.
The band performed on July 3, 2011 on the Pepsi Max stage at Wireless Festival
.
On May 11, 2011, it was announced that The Pretty Reckless would be taking part in Soundwave Revolution, an Australian music festival. This was later cancelled, but somewhat replaced by a 'mini-festival' that The Pretty Reckless were to be a part of called Counter-Revolution. However, The Pretty Reckless would later pull out.
On July 27, 2011, Taylor Momsen announced via Twitter
that the band will be touring with Evanescence
as the supporting act during the fall of 2011.
On August 6th, 2011, The band performed at the 2011 Lollapalooza
festival in Chicago, Illinois
On October 8th, 2011, the band performed at the 2011 Tulsa State Fair
in Tulsa, Oklahoma
On October 10th, 14th, 18th, 19th and 21st 2011, the band opened for Evanescence
.
On October 26th, 2011, the band performed at Ritual nightclub in Ottawa, Ontario, with guests Static Revolt and The Escape Mode.
On November 4th and 5th, 2011, the band performed at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo, in London, along with Me
, opening for Evanescence
Fall 2011 opening act for Guns N Roses.......Hamilton, Ontario November 28th ,2011
Former members
Taylor Momsen
Taylor Michel Momsen is an American actress, musician and model who portrays the character of Jenny Humphrey on the CW television series Gossip Girl and portrayed the role of Cindy Lou Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and fronts the rock band The Pretty Reckless.-Early life and career:Taylor...
(lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Ben Phillips (lead guitar, backing vocals), Mark Damon (bass) and Jamie Perkins (drums).
Their debut album, Light Me Up
Light Me Up
Light Me Up is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band The Pretty Reckless, first released on August 27, 2010. The album received commercial success with the singles "Make Me Wanna Die", "Miss Nothing" and "Just Tonight".-Background:...
, was released on August 30, 2010 in the UK. They released their first single on May 13, 2010.
Formation
For two years singer and rhythm guitarist Taylor MomsenTaylor Momsen
Taylor Michel Momsen is an American actress, musician and model who portrays the character of Jenny Humphrey on the CW television series Gossip Girl and portrayed the role of Cindy Lou Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and fronts the rock band The Pretty Reckless.-Early life and career:Taylor...
worked with several producers before meeting Kato Khandwala. Momsen has said that she liked Khandwala because he was a rock producer as opposed to a pop producer. Khandwala introduced Momsen to Ben Phillips and the three of them began to write songs together. Three unnamed musicians were hired to form the band with Momsen. The band were originally called The Reckless but had to change the name due to trademark problems. The band played its first concert on May 5, 2009 at The Annex in New York. After seven concerts the lineup of the band was changed. The new lineup of the band consisted of Momsen with John Secolo (guitar), Matt Chiarelli (bass) and Nick Carbone (drums). The second line-up of the band also played its first concert at The Annex on June 3, 2009. They recorded some demos in early 2009 and they opened for The Veronicas
The Veronicas
The Veronicas are an Australian electrorock, pop-punk and rock band. Twin sisters Jessica and Lisa Origliasso formed the band in 1999 in Brisbane. They have their own line of clothing which was released in 2007....
on their North American tour. In 2010 Secolo, Chiarelli and Carbone left the band.
At present, Taylor Momsen is the singer and rhythm guitarist, with Ben Phillips on lead guitar, Mark Damon on bass, and Jamie Perkins on drums.
Momsen stated in an interview with OK! Magazine
OK!
OK! is a British weekly magazine specializing in celebrity news. Originally launched as a monthly, its first issue was published in April 1993. In September 2004, OK! publishers Northern and Shell launched in Australia as a monthly title – the magazine went weekly in October 2006...
that the band signed with Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
and would be releasing their debut album in 2010. In another interview, Momsen briefly discussed the sound of the band, saying it would be "not what people are going to expect" and will feature a dark and heavy sound but would have "lighter, fun stuff as well." In an interview with MTV, Momsen reported the influences on the band to include The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
, along with grunge band Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
. She also stated that her personal influences include Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
and Joan Jett
Joan Jett
Joan Jett is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and actress.She is best known for her work with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts including their hit cover "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 from March 20 to May 1, 1982, as well as for their other popular...
. After the band announced they had signed to Interscope Records, two new recordings of demo songs ("He Loves You" and "Zombie") were posted on their Myspace.
On December 30, 2009, the band released a new promo song entitled "Make Me Wanna Die". The song was uploaded for free since and was offered as a download to fans on their Interscope Records website for a limited amount of time. The band launched "Make Me Wanna Die" on the soundtrack and in the end credits to the 2010 film Kick-Ass
Kick-Ass (film)
Kick-Ass is a 2010 superhero comedy film based on the comic book of the same name by Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr. The film was directed by Matthew Vaughn, who co-produced the film with actor Brad Pitt, and co-wrote the screenplay with Jane Goldman...
. The song was the band's first single, and was released on May 17, 2010, with the debut album set to be released in August. On April 9, 2010, they performed during the "Vans Warped Tour 2010 Kick-Off Party" and performed at The Bamboozle
The Bamboozle
The Bamboozle is an annual rain-or-shine, three-day music festival held in New Jersey. Every year, new bands compete for spots during the two days. The event evolved out of the Skate and Surf Festival.- The Characters:...
music festival on May 1, 2010.
They played the entire Warped Tour 2010
Warped Tour 2010
Warped Tour 2010 is the 16th installment of the annual Summer Warped Tour festival. Vans Shoes was again the tour's primary sponsor. The first bands were announced on December 18. The 43-date tour kicks off on June 25, 2010 in Carson, California and ends August 15, 2010 in Hillsboro, Oregon.On...
.
Their first EP was released on June 22, 2010, with mixed reactions. Most critics praised the lyrics and production, however Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine classified the sound as "generic". It contained four songs, three of which can be found on their debut album: "Make Me Wanna Die", "My Medicine", and "Goin' Down". The first single "Make Me Wanna Die
Make Me Wanna Die
"Make Me Wanna Die" a song recorded by American alternative rock band The Pretty Reckless. The song was written by Taylor Momsen, Kato Khandwala, Ben Phillips, and produced by Khandwala for their debut studio album, Light Me Up . It was released on March 30, 2010 in the United States, as the band's...
" was released on May 17, 2010 and was #1 on the UK Rock Chart
UK Rock Chart
The UK Rock Chart usually refers to the Top 40 Rock Singles and the Top 40 Rock Albums Chart compiled by the Official Charts Company from physical record sales in British retail outlets with larger than average genrespecific sales....
for six weeks. A viral video was released to promote the single, and the band announced that the official version would be released soon. The full record was released on August 31, 2010.
The band announced the album title as Light Me Up
Light Me Up
Light Me Up is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band The Pretty Reckless, first released on August 27, 2010. The album received commercial success with the singles "Make Me Wanna Die", "Miss Nothing" and "Just Tonight".-Background:...
through Myspace. They also confirmed several song names, including "You", "Miss Nothing", "Just Tonight", "Since You're Gone" and the title-track "Light Me Up". The album is produced by Khandwala and entirely written by Momsen and Phillips. The album will be released on August 30, 2010 in UK and August 31, 2010 worldwide.
The song "Miss Nothing" was the second single to be released from "Light Me Up", on August 9, 2010. It was aired exclusively on the British radio station, BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
, on July 22, 2010. The band introduced it as their next UK single after a show on the Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
. A video for "Miss Nothing
Miss Nothing
"Miss Nothing" is the second single by American alternative rock band The Pretty Reckless to be released from their debut album, "Light Me Up". The single was released in the U.S. on the 27 July 2010 and in the UK on 22 August 2010.-Release:...
" was released on July 20 on Vevo
Vevo
Vevo is a music video website. It is a joint venture among Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Abu Dhabi Media with EMI licensing its content to the group without taking an ownership stake. The service was launched officially on December 8, 2009...
.
The US release of Light Me Up
Light Me Up
Light Me Up is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band The Pretty Reckless, first released on August 27, 2010. The album received commercial success with the singles "Make Me Wanna Die", "Miss Nothing" and "Just Tonight".-Background:...
was delayed, not being released until February 2011. The album was received well, so far reaching number 4 on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
. The first single released in the US officially was Just Tonight
Just Tonight
"Just Tonight" is the third single by the American alternative rock band The Pretty Reckless, taken from their debut studio album Light Me Up. The song was written by band members Taylor Momsen, Ben Phillips and producer Kato Khandwala.-Release:...
, which was the third single released in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
among other countries.
Performances
The band opened the V FestivalV Festival
The V Festival is an annual music festival held in England during the penultimate weekend in August. The event is held at two parks simultaneously which share the same bill; artists perform at one location on Saturday and then swap on Sunday. The sites are located at Hylands Park in Chelmsford and...
in the UK in 2010. Momsen revealed the official album cover on July 27, 2010, via her Twitter account.
The band performed on August 25, 2010 on the Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
.
The band embarked on a four-date UK tour starting in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland at the Barrowland Ballroom
Barrowland Ballroom
The Barrowlands is a major dance hall and concert venue in Glasgow, Scotland.-History of Barrowland Ballroom:The original building opened in 1934 in a mercantile area east of Glasgow's city centre...
on December 13, 2010, supported by Francesqa
Francesqa
Francesqa are a British four piece rock band from Newbury, England. Francesqa formed in early 2009, and in its initial incarnation, consisted of just Ashley Wilkie and Ben Hordos. Both of which shared songwriting and performing duties...
.
The Pretty Reckless announced a tour, running from early February to late March. On March 2 it was announced that the band will appear at the Download Festival
Download Festival
The Download Festival is a three day rock music festival held annually at Donington Park, England . It usually takes place in June...
in June. The band will also play at Rock Am Ring Festival in June and will perform at Optimus Alive Festival 2011 on July 8 in Lisbon, Portugal and at Rock Werchter 2011 on July 2 in Werchter, Belgium and T in The Park festival on July 10 in Scotland.
The band performed on July 3, 2011 on the Pepsi Max stage at Wireless Festival
Wireless Festival
The Wireless Festival is a music festival in England that takes place every year in Hyde Park, London, and took place at Harewood House, Leeds in 2006 and 2007. It is owned and managed by Live Nation....
.
On May 11, 2011, it was announced that The Pretty Reckless would be taking part in Soundwave Revolution, an Australian music festival. This was later cancelled, but somewhat replaced by a 'mini-festival' that The Pretty Reckless were to be a part of called Counter-Revolution. However, The Pretty Reckless would later pull out.
On July 27, 2011, Taylor Momsen announced via Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
that the band will be touring with Evanescence
Evanescence
Evanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. After recording private albums, the band released their first full-length album, Fallen, on Wind-up Records in 2003. Fallen sold more than 17 million copies worldwide...
as the supporting act during the fall of 2011.
On August 6th, 2011, The band performed at the 2011 Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
festival in Chicago, Illinois
On October 8th, 2011, the band performed at the 2011 Tulsa State Fair
Tulsa State Fair
The Tulsa State Fair is a fair and exposition in Tulsa, Oklahoma that operates during an 11-day span starting at the end of September and ending early in October. Of Oklahoma's two state fairs, it had the smaller annual attendance by a small margin in 2010...
in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
On October 10th, 14th, 18th, 19th and 21st 2011, the band opened for Evanescence
Evanescence
Evanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. After recording private albums, the band released their first full-length album, Fallen, on Wind-up Records in 2003. Fallen sold more than 17 million copies worldwide...
.
On October 26th, 2011, the band performed at Ritual nightclub in Ottawa, Ontario, with guests Static Revolt and The Escape Mode.
On November 4th and 5th, 2011, the band performed at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo, in London, along with Me
ME
Me may refer to:* The object form of I -Music:* ME , a hip hop duet composed of Continental T and E-leven* "Me" , a song by Tamia* "Me" * Me * Me...
, opening for Evanescence
Evanescence
Evanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. After recording private albums, the band released their first full-length album, Fallen, on Wind-up Records in 2003. Fallen sold more than 17 million copies worldwide...
Fall 2011 opening act for Guns N Roses.......Hamilton, Ontario November 28th ,2011
Band members
- Taylor MomsenTaylor MomsenTaylor Michel Momsen is an American actress, musician and model who portrays the character of Jenny Humphrey on the CW television series Gossip Girl and portrayed the role of Cindy Lou Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and fronts the rock band The Pretty Reckless.-Early life and career:Taylor...
– vocals, rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
(2009–present) - Ben Phillips – lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
(2010–present) - Mark Damon – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2010–present) - Jamie Perkins – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
(2010–present)
Former members
- John Secolo – guitar (2009)
- Matt Chiarelli – bass (2009)
- Nick Carbone – drums, percussion (2009)
Awards & nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Virgin Media Music Award | Best Group | Nominated |
| Best Newcomer |