- The Pretty Reckless
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The Pretty Reckless 
The Pretty Reckless performing at the Warped Tour KickoffBackground information Origin New York City, New York, U.S. Genres Alternative rock, hard rock Years active 2008–present Labels Interscope Website theprettyreckless.com Members Taylor Momsen
Ben Phillips
Mark Damon
Jamie PerkinsPast members John Secolo
Matt Chiarelli
Nick CarboneThe 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.
Contents
Formation
Momsen at the Warped Tour Kickoff
For two years singer and rhythm guitarist Taylor Momsen worked with several producers before meeting Kato Khandwala.[1] Momsen has said that she liked Khandwala because he was a rock producer as opposed to a pop producer.[1] Khandwala introduced Momsen to Ben Phillips[2] and the three of them began to write songs together. Three unnamed musicians were hired to form the band with Momsen.[3] The band were originally called The Reckless but had to change the name due to trademark problems.[4] The band played its first concert on May 5, 2009 at The Annex in New York.[3][5][6] After seven concerts the lineup of the band was changed.[3] The new lineup of the band consisted of Momsen with John Secolo (guitar), Matt Chiarelli (bass) and Nick Carbone (drums).[7] The second line-up of the band also played its first concert at The Annex on June 3, 2009.[3] They recorded some demos in early 2009 and they opened for The Veronicas on their North American tour.[7] 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.[7][8]
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.[9] 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.[10] The band launched "Make Me Wanna Die" on the soundtrack and in the end credits to the 2010 film Kick-Ass.[7] 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.[8] 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.[11]
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".[12] 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.[13] 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.
Performances
The band opened the V Festival 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.[14] 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.[15]
On August 6th, 2011, The band performed at the 2011 Lollapalooza festival in Chicago, Illinois [16]
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 will perform at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo, in London, along with Fair To Midland, opening for Evanescence.
Band members
- Taylor Momsen – vocals, rhythm guitar (2009–present)
- Ben Phillips – lead guitar, backing vocals (2010–present)
- Mark Damon – bass (2010–present)
- Jamie Perkins – drums, percussion (2010–present)
- Former members
- John Secolo – guitar (2009)
- Matt Chiarelli – bass (2009)
- Nick Carbone – drums, percussion (2009)
Discography
Main article: The Pretty Reckless discography- Studio albums
- Light Me Up (2010)
Tours
- Light Me Up Tour (2010–Present)
Awards & nominations
Year Award Category Result 2010 Virgin Media Music Award Best Group Nominated Best Newcomer References
- ^ a b Nika, Colleen, Dirty Pretty Thing: Taylor Momsen, interviewmagazine.com, 23/8/2010, retrieved 4/2/2011
- ^ Interview: The Pretty Reckless, alterthepress.com, retrieved 4/2/2011
- ^ a b c d The Birth of a Rock Sensation, theprettyreckless.com, retrieved 4/2/2011
- ^ Copsey, Robert, "Taylor Momsen not keen on band name", Digital Spy, 17/5/10, retrieved 9/3/11
- ^ Lewitinn, Lawrence, "'Gossip Girl's Taylor Momsen Debuts Band - And It Rocks!", spin.com, 6/5/09, retrieved 9/3/11
- ^ Hruska, Rachelle, "Taylor Momsen, aka "Little J", And Her Band "The Pretty Reckless" Rock Out At The Annex", guestofaguest.com, 6/5/09, retrieved 15/3/11
- ^ a b c d Leahey, Andrew. "The Pretty Reckless Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p1155186. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
- ^ a b Paul Lester. "The Guardian article on the band". Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/apr/19/pretty-reckless-taylor-momsen. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
- ^ Vena, Jocelyn (2009-05-20). "'Gossip Girl' Star Taylor Momsen Says Rock And Roll 'Feeds My Soul' - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News". Mtv.com. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1611811/20090520/story.jhtml. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
- ^ "Interscope Records page". Interscope.com. 2011-05-28. http://www.interscope.com/prettyreckless. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
- ^ "Vans Warped Tour 2010: June 25 - August 15, 2010, official website of the 2010 Vans Warped Tour". Vanswarpedtour.com. http://www.vanswarpedtour.com/warpedtour/index.asp. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
- ^ "Rolling Stone review". http://www.rollingstone.com/music/reviews/album/17385/122749.
- ^ "Fuck Yeah The Pretty Reckless, "Miss Nothing" to be the next single in the UK". Fyprettyreckless.tumblr.com. 2010-06-27. http://fyprettyreckless.tumblr.com/post/741131384/miss-nothing-to-be-the-next-single-in-the-uk/. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
- ^ "Taylor Momsen's The Pretty Reckless to play Download", bbc.co.uk, 2/3/11, retrieved 15/3/11
- ^ "Taylor Momsen announces tour with Evanescence, AHN, 27/7/11, retrieved 31/7/11
- ^ "Lollapalooza 2011". Lineup.lollapalooza.com. 2011-07-19. http://lineup.lollapalooza.com/events/2011/08/06/. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
External links
- Official website
- The Pretty Reckless on Facebook
- The Pretty Reckless on Myspace
- The Pretty Reckless at the Internet Movie Database
Studio albums Light Me Up (2010)Extended plays The Pretty Reckless (2010)Singles Tours Light Me Up TourRelated articles Interscope Records · DiscographyCategories:- Alternative rock groups from New York
- American post-grunge musical groups
- Interscope Records artists
- Musical groups established in 2008
- Musical groups from New York City
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