The Pretty Reckless

The Birth of a Rock Sensation

The Birth of a Rock Sensation

(a draft summary of the facts, speculations and questions)

In October 2008 Taylor Momsen met Ben Phillips and Kato Khandwala to discuss a rock band fronted by her. So goes the official story. It seems, that they wrote songs together and found three guys who learned the songs to play with her. Their names are not known so far, but they are documented in video clips. On May 5th 2009, the premiere concert was held at Annex in New York. The following 6 songs were published at YouTube by pioneer fans: ADD, Bleeding, Blender, Heart, Void and Null and Zombie! After seven concerts they did not play together again. The premiere with the second line-up was also at the Annex on June, 3rd. Taylor’s new bandmates were John Secolo (g), Matt Chiarelli (b) and Nic Carbone (d). These three musicians plus one friend are also the band “End the Stars”. The following songs with this line-up were documented: Bleeding, Blender, He Loves You, Heart, Panic, Sleeze Sister, Void and Null and Zombie. On June 23rd they permormed a new song for the first time: Good Girls go to Heaven.

Other live songs during 2009 were Chaotic Sanity, Blonde Rebellion, SUS (Shut up Slut), Where did Jesus go and Ugly People, but it’s not clear, if they were played already with the first line-up or not.

There are also reports, that say, that Taylor wrote most of the old songs alone. Well, it would be interesting to know, because the style on the older songs is very good as well, yes, but also quite different to the newer songs, so maybe this was more Taylor’s style in the beginning and later Ben Kato and her discovered a sound, that they like all three more, but this is just speculation. I think, the whole story is very, very special and it is very interesting to know as much as possible about each step and song.

Then there are some songs, who were on a Demo package, that also was thought to be the first album. Different reports state, that either the “first” (actually the second!) line-up were the studio band in 2009, but it’s also reported, that these demo tracks were made in 2010. There are some songs, that were already performed live in 2009: Blender, Blonde Rebellion, Heart, Panic, Void and Null and probably also Superhero, SUS and Where Did Jesus Go. All 16 songs to this time were fine grungy, punky and funny rock tunes and it’s very sad, that they have no official release and maybe will never have. But in this package there were also Far From Never and Everybody wants something from me. The latter two were bonus tracks on the UK album and a demo version of Zombie was on the B-side of the first single there. And it seems, that at least these two songs were played already by the third line-up.

The 10 new songs on the album “Light Me Up” are now with the new line-up Ben Phillips, who with Taylor and Kato are credited for the songs (g), Mark Damon (b) and Jamie Perkins (d). They were the band “Famous” before and published three fine albums. The first song was also already published in the end of 2009. On the album Kato Khandwala played all the bass and I wonder, why the third Famous member did not play it. Maybe he was not available for whatever reasons during the studio times. But, he is not even mentioned in the booklet, despite that he is of course on the back photo. Now the ten songs on the album were all played live by the band, seven of them during the premier concert on April, 9th 2010. They were Light me up, Since you’re gone, Factory Girl, Just tonight (?), Make me Wanna die, Miss Nothing and My Medicine plus Zombie, the only song, that was played by all three line-ups. “Light me up” was first played in a show the day before, unplugged! Four other original songs were also performed unplugged later on, Make me wanna die, Miss nothing, Zombie and Just tonight. On August 19th, Nothing left to lose was performed for the first time and on October 10th also the last two songs from the album: You and Going down!

All these album songs plus the three bonus tracks are credited to Taylor, Ben and Kato and they all are a new hope for real rock with all the fine elements that were discovered during the last five decades. Led Zeppelin, Faith no more, Nirvana or the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, they all were in the upper parts of the charts with good rock music and it’s time for a massive Rock revival and Taylor and her bandmates have all to start it. Touching melodies, hard riffs and a powerful rhythm section plus some little “scandals” about lyrics and wardrobe and of course this absolute unique female voice, that blows you away. This is the new Rock Sensation, the Pretty Reckless, don’t miss it! ;)

Epilog: This is a short version and there are several information gaps. It should be possible to know all names and birthdates of the line-ups, the set lists and also the true credits of the first 16 songs (Zombie is strange, I think, this was 90 % Taylor alone, but it’s just a guess, I might be wrong!) to have the most important details of the birth of a surely coming living rock legend!

Last question: When will the album finally be published also in her homeland. Or do they wait until she’s 18? Can anybody tell me the reasons, why the album is still not published? Hopefully she will perform one time around the world, so also near my home. I saw many bands since my first live festival in 1969, but this would be the climax of my musical pleasure. I think, I would scream like the Beatles Fans in the early 60’s. ;)