THE PRETTY RECKLESS

TAYLOR MOMSEN AND THE PRETTY RECKLESS:
SONGSTRESS BREAKS THE MOLD
AND EMBRACES ROOTS IN ROCK

The Pretty Reckless are one of the most popular female-fronted rock acts as of late, as it's not surprising why they've had such success. They've got the talent, the aggression, the look, and the front woman is not the average blond. Not only is Taylor Momsen the beautiful, beckoning voice of the band, but she is also the rhythm guitarist. Venturing from the world of acting, Momsen took to the world of rock and roll almost seamlessly when she formed her band and unleashed her natural knack for grungy hard rock. She is accompanied by band mates Ben Phillips, who is lead guitarist and supplies backing vocals, Mark Damon, bass player, and drummer Jamie Perkins. Momsen may be relatively new to the alternative rock/metal scene, but she is no stranger to the entertainment world.

She was lead into modeling and acting at the early age of 3 by her parents, making her acting debut in a national commercial for "Shake-N-Bake" (IMBD). Momsen's first big Hollywood debut was as young Cindy-Lou Who in the on-screen adaptation of How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Jim Carrey. She has also acquired a great deal of fame from starring in the hit television series Gossip Girl. Though much of her fan base admired her for playing roles of the sweet and pure, Momsen decided to shake things up a bit in 2007 when she took a role in a dark independent film in which there was a sex scene (People). A further shock to much of the media (but a welcomed change for female rock), Momsen ventured into the world of hard rock in 2009 when she formed The Pretty Reckless (MTV). She eventually made the decision to stray from the typical Hollywood path, and instead focus all of her energy into her music with the band. After their first touring experience with The Veronicas in 2009, The Pretty Reckless have been picking up steam ever since, and they don't show signs of stopping.

Taylor Momsen is multitalented without a doubt, but she claims that music has always been her true calling, and it is evident in her work with The Pretty Reckless. In a 2010 interview, she said "music is where I can be me. I really do it because I love it, honestly. It's what I want to do with my life. I mean, it's my only goal." (Digital Spy) It's a nice change of pace to see an artist break the Hollywood mold and embrace their inner motivations, and delve into new, darker territory against the grain of society's mold. Once having the seemingly unshakable reputation as an innocent young starlet on the straight-and-narrow, Momsen warned that her music may be a shock to fans that grew attached to her characters on television and in film. Thankfully, she broke out and has established herself as a strong and unique voice with a great path ahead of her. At only 20 years old, Momsen is only at the beginning of her takeover.

Touring has been consistent since the group took off in 2009. Momsen and her crew played for the entirety of Warped Tour 2010. The Pretty Reckless released their debut album Light Me Up in 2010, and then promoted it on a worldwide tour that lasted until 2012 (Wikipedia). The band also had the honor of touring alongside alternative rock legends Evanescence in 2012, further building a dedicated fan base and gaining even more exposure for Momsen's raw talent (BBC).

Besides the positive reaction to her natural musical talents, Momsen has been making waves in the media for her avant-garde attitude. In her acting days, she once auditioned for the part of Hannah Montana, the epidemic Disney role that was played by Miley Cyrus. Momsen has made the distinction between herself and the mainstream pop image very clear: "I'm not looking to be Miley fucking Cyrus. I don't care about the fame. I do it because I love music. I like making records and if people like them, then we'll go along for the ride. I'm not dissing Miley personally. However, I do think the Disney bubblegum shit that the world is living right now is pathetic. I thought we passed that repression. I don't know Miley, but musically we're different. (IMBD)"

THE PRETTY RECKLESS VIDEOS

"MAKE ME WANNA DIE"