While in the UK for a short promotional tour, Alter The Press managed to sit down with Taylor Momsen and Ben Phillips of The Pretty Reckless.

The guys spoke to ATP about how the band got together, their forthcoming debut album, signing to Interscope records, playing this year’s Warped Tour, Taylor juggling around the band with her acting career and more.

How did the band come together?
Ben: My song-writing partner and I (Kato Khandwala,) met Taylor about a year and a half ago; we then started working on writing songs together. He produced the record and my musicians play on the record; it became the band. Taylor has been writing and playing since she was a kid, and was getting to the point where she wanted to release a record; luckily we caught her on her “upswing” of artistic movements.

Taylor: It was a good fit.

How did the two of you meet?
Taylor: Through Kato. I was looking for producers to work with and I got hooked up with him, who was also Ben’s partner. I met with Kato, we were working together; then met Ben, ended up writing the whole record together, and here we are now.

Read the rest of this entry »

There are many faces of Taylor Momsen.
There’s Taylor the fashion icon: The gum-chewing, torn-stockings wearing Maryland-born 16-year-old splashed over the British and Americian glossies.

There’s Taylor the actress: Playing the squeaky-clean-gone-bad-girl Jenny Humphrey in American drama Gossip Girl alongside heart-throbs Chace Crawford and Ed Westwick.

And finally there’s Taylor the rock star: The Courtney Love-esque sneering frontwoman of metal-pop band The Pretty Reckless.

Music priority
In her mind, she’s pretty sure on which of the above she prefers.

I love acting and I’m doing it forever but music is my heart,” she says.

“It’s what I live for, to say the least – it’s kept me alive. Music is who I am. It’s the priority at the moment – it’s the focus.

“It’s not a pop record – I’m sure people were expecting one.”

Indeed, producers of the LA-based glamour series have given Momsen time off to concentrate on her new band The Pretty Reckless. Their single Make Me Wanna Die has already featured in blockbuster Kick-Ass, and they’re readying their debut album.

Read the rest of this entry »

Check out an exclusive acoustic MTV Live Session from The Pretty Reckless, featuring Gossip Girl star Taylor Momsen.

Read the rest of this entry »

Yesterday Taylor was on “Radio One Switch” with Nick Grimshaw and Annie Mac. As usual, if you missed the interview, you can listen to it online.

GALLERY LINK
Events / Appearances » 2010 » BBC Switch (Radio One) – May 16, 2010