The Pretty Reckless

The Pretty Reckless

The Pretty Reckless is an American rock band from New York, United States. It forms in 2008 and is active with Taylor Momsen, Mark Damon, Jamie Perkins and Ben Phillips. The band’s sound spans alternative rock, alternative metal, hard rock, pop rock and post-grunge.

Background

Taylor Momsen fronts the group on lead vocals and also plays rhythm guitar, with Ben Phillips on lead guitar and backing vocals, Mark Damon on bass and Jamie Perkins on drums. The band begins after Momsen says she will leave acting following her role as Jenny Humphrey in Gossip Girl to concentrate on music.

Releases and chart success

The Pretty Reckless releases its debut studio album, Light Me Up, in 2010. The album includes “Make Me Wanna Die”, which reaches number one on the UK Rock Singles chart. In 2012, the band issues the extended play Hit Me Like A Man, which contains three new songs and two live tracks from Light Me Up.

The second studio album, Going to Hell, appears in 2014 and reaches number five on the Billboard 200. Its singles “Heaven Knows” and “Fucked Up World” make the band the first female-fronted group to achieve two number one hits on the US Mainstream Rock chart, and “Follow Me Down” also reaches number one on that chart.

In 2016, the band releases its third studio album, Who You Selling For. The single “Take Me Down” gives the group its fourth number one on the US rock chart. A fourth studio album, Death by Rock and Roll, follows in 2021. It is the band’s first album on Fearless Records and the first since the death of longtime producer Kato Khandwala. The album is produced by Jonathan Wyman, Taylor Momsen and Ben Phillips, with additional production by Nate Yacchichino. It is preceded by the singles “Death by Rock and Roll” and “And So It Went” featuring Tom Morello, as well as the promotional singles “Broomsticks” and “25”.