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The Pretty Reckless
American rock band
The Pretty Reckless is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 2009. The band consists of Taylor Momsen, Ben Phillips, Mark Damon (bass), and Jamie Perkins (drums).
In August 2010, the band released their debut studio album, Light Me Up. The album spawned three moderately successful singles, most notably "Make Me Wanna Die".
The band released the Hit Me Like a Man EP in early 2012. In March 2014, the band released their second studio album, Going to Hell, which included the singles "Heaven Knows" and "Messed Up World ", both of which topped the US and UK rock charts.
genres: alternative rock, post-grunge, blues rock, grunge, heavy metal music, hard rock
Facts from Wikidata and Discogs, free to use.
hard rockalternative rockfemale frontedrockpost-grungepop rock
Radio Free Elsewhere BulletinExtra
2009–2012: Formation, The Pretty Reckless EP and Light Me Up
Before forming the band, Taylor Momsen was an actress, best known for How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Gossip Girl. The band were originally called the Reckless, but changed the name due to trademark problems. The band played its first concert on May 5, 2009, at the Annex in New York. The original lineup of the band consisted of Momsen with John Secolo (guitar), Matt Chiarelli (bass), and Nick Carbone (drums). They recorded some demos in early 2009 and opened for the Veronicas on their North American tour. For two years, Momsen worked with several producers before meeting Kato Khandwala. Momsen has said that she liked Khandwala because he was a rock producer as opposed to a pop producer. Khandwala introduced Momsen to Ben Phillips, and...
The Pretty Reckless has been described as hard rock, alternative rock, post-grunge, blues rock, and grunge. According to Louder Sound, "[the band mixes] the finer elements of heavy metal with grunge and blues. Ben Phillips' gritty riffs gave Momsen a platform to make singles Miss Nothing and Make Me Wanna Die teem with attitude, while the softer moments, such as Just Tonight, set up the singer...as a vocal force to be reckoned with. BBC described the band as "grunge-pop". Ultimate Guitar noted elements of psychedelia, blues, folk, and Southern rock on their third album, Who You Selling For. The band's fourth album, Death by Rock and Roll, had touches of country rock, folk rock, and Americana, on the tracks, "Rock and Roll Heaven" and...
Alternative Rock (Modern Rock) band from New York, Pennsylvania (USA).
The current members are Taylor Momsen (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Ben Phillips (lead guitar, backing vocals), Mark Damon (bass), and Jamie Perkins (drums).
Also known as: Pretty Reckless
From Discogs (free to use). Their entry
Liner notes
The Pretty Reckless, the records, oldest first
The Pretty Reckless EP
2010 ep
Light Me Up
2010 album
Hit Me Like A Man EP
2012 ep
Going to Hell
2014 album
wanted
Who You Selling For
2016 album
Death By Rock and Roll
2021 album
Taylor Momsen's Pretty Reckless Christmas
2025 ep
Dear God
2026 album
Sessions
2026 ep
Records from MusicBrainz; covers from the Cover Art Archive.
"Heaven Knows" is a song by American rock band the Pretty Reckless from their second studio album, Going to Hell (2014). It was written by Taylor Momsen and Ben Phillips, while Kato Khandwala handled the production.
Released on November 19, 2013, as the album's second single, "Heaven Knows" is the band's first single to top a Billboard chart and their second single to top UK Rock Singles Chart, following their debut single "Make Me Wanna Die" (2010). The song later entered the Alternative Songs chart, peaking at number 20.
Background
Following the end of their worldwide tour The Medicine Tour in 2012, the band began working on their second studio album. They were recording at Water Music Recording Studios in Hoboken, New Jersey, when the studio was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. They lost a lot of equipment and recordings of songs meant for the album and had to do a lot of re-recording. Interscope Records released "Kill Me" to digital retailers on December 2, 2012; it would serve as the album's lead single. However, a conflict with the record company caused the Pretty Reckless to end their deal with Interscope, and on September 24, 2013, it was announced the band had signed on with the label Razor & Tie.
Critical reception
Chris Payne of Billboard praised "Heaven Knows" and described it as "Queen's 'We Will Rock You' with Joan Jett vocals". Chucky Eddy of Rolling Stone also praised the song, calling it a "full-on glam [stomp] about troubled teens".
Music video
The music video for "Heaven Knows", co-directed by lead vocalist Taylor Momsen and Jon J, was shot on location in Miami, Florida. Momsen stated that the video was deliberately understated, and meant to reflect many issues that people face, including personal, political, or social issues.
