Taylor Momsen Talks The Pretty Reckless’ Latest Hit Single, ‘Death By Rock And Roll’

Without a doubt, The Pretty Reckless are among the most praised modern rock outfits of the last decade. Only three albums into their career, with a fourth on the way, the band has firmly established an anthemic rock resurrection, one which has seamlessly rallied old school and current generation hard rock fans. Quite simply, The Pretty Reckless are one of the frontrunners for the evolving rock genre, and their growing list of accolades and milestones continue to solidify this truth.

While 2020 was expected to be a highly active year for the band, much like it was for most bands, The Pretty Reckless have still managed to make the most out of these unprecedented times. Back in mid-May, the band dropped a brand new track, “Death By Rock And Roll,” and it’s since earned them their fifth No. 1 single on the Billboard Rock Charts. In addition to being their fifth No. 1 single, “Death By Rock And Roll” has The Pretty Reckless holding the record for the most No. 1 singles by a female-led rock artist in Billboard Rock Chart history.

“Death By Rock And Roll” is the first single and title track for the band’s upcoming record, which has recently been delayed into 2021 due to the ongoing pandemic. However, despite that the decision there’s still more to come from The Pretty Reckless in 2020. Back in June, the band released an animated music video for “Death By Rock And Roll,” and they also put together a live acoustic performance of the track, which is a breath of fresh air for anyone missing a semblance of live rock n’ roll music.

Regarding the band’s plans for the rest of 2020 and beyond, as well as there recent milestone with “Death By Rock And Roll,” vocalist Taylor Momsen shares her thoughts on what to expect from this new era of The Pretty Reckless.

We’re in the midst of what usually is prime time rock touring and festival season. How are you, the band, and the band's crew all holding up under in what’s currently a nonexistent live music industry?

I mean it’s hard to complain because so many people have it so much worse, but it’s getting a bit brutal. It’s very bizarre to release music and not be able to play it live. Like I’ve been saying, we have a number one song and we’ve never played it in front of an audience before, it’s crazy. So it’s starting to wear on all of us, and I think we’re all still hoping for the best and trying to keep our spirits positive with working from home. I’ve been making the quarantine videos and doing remote recordings and stuff, but it’s not the same, we just miss it, we desperately miss it. I keep saying I’ll never complain about touring again, and I’ll never take it for granted again because man I’m dying to get back on the road. But hopefully this clears up sooner than later and we can get back to a semblance of the new normal, or whatever it’s going to end up being.

You’ve stated your latest single, “Death By Rock And Roll,” signifies a new era for The Pretty Reckless. What are you most excited about with regards to this new era for the band?

I think right now it’s just for people to hear it, because we worked really hard on this album and we went through a lot of loss, a lot of tragedy, and we really poured our hearts and souls into it and in a way I can’t express verbally. It’s all there in the music so that’s why I say it feels like a rebirth, it almost feels like the first record in a sense, because we really had to go back to the beginning after losing Kato [Khandwala], our producer. I’m just really excited for people to hear it because, in my opinion, it’s the best album we’ve ever made so it’s hard to sit on this music.

We talked about holding the song “Death By Rock And Roll” for longer too, and I was like “I can’t do this. I can’t just sit on this album forever.” The world needs music and music has such a healing thing to it, and it saved my life, time and time again. If we put out a song and if it can put a smile on some peoples’ faces, great, we’ll take it from there. That’s kind of what we’re doing, we’re riding the wave. This is just such an unprecedented time so we’re trying to take it step by step, and see where things go. Everything is still up in the air, but we are planning on releasing more singles before the full album is out. There’s going to be more music to come, it’s just the first little taste or the tip of the iceberg if you will.

With the new album being delayed into 2021, did it cause any unexpected setbacks for you all as a band?

I wouldn’t say setbacks, the main reason for delaying it was simply because putting out a few songs and not being able to play them is one thing, but putting out a full album and not being able to tour is crazy. Now, who knows when touring is going to come back, I keep hearing different things and the date keeps getting later and later. We can’t wait forever, eventually we’ll just put it out, but that was kind of the main reason for it, and like I said, it’s kind of just the waiting game now.

I mean I haven’t seen the band in months, and right before this all started we were in rehearsals, like we had some of the best touring of our career lined up. It was Foo Fighters, Guns N’ Roses, Gary Clark Jr., Pearl Jam, and all the festivals, the list went on and on and then it all just came to a halt. So hopefully soon we’re at least going to be able to get back in a room, the four of us, and start playing again. As much as I love sitting at home and being lazy and playing songs for fun by myself, it’s certainly not the same.

While “Death By Rock And Roll” is the start of a new era for the band, it also happens to be your fifth No. 1 single, which is now the most by any female-led rock artist in Billboard rock chart’s history. How did you and the band react to these unprecedented achievements?

Stunned, honestly, I still don’t know how to respond to that and facts like that. It’s so crazy and insane to think that we’re breaking records and with songs that I wrote at home on my couch. It’s all very humbling and exciting. There’s no greater feeling than having really poured yourself into something, and then you put it out into the world and you’ve no idea what the response is going to be.

I shut myself from even thinking about it, it doesn’t enter my brain when I’m creating at all, like I never think of the outside world and then suddenly it’s like you’re throwing your child out into the deep ocean and going “alright, I hope you can swim.” And to see the success that it’s having and knowing that it’s connecting to people and the fans around the world, it’s just the highest compliment you can get as an artist and as a songwriter.

Overall, what are the Pretty Reckless’ plans moving forward through the rest of 2020 and beyond?

The next step right now is we’re trying to figure out how to make videos and visuals, which is a bit of a challenge. We have not cracked that code yet, so we’re trying to figure that out because I really love making visuals to music. I think it’s just such an important part and such an extension of the music, and I’ve always really enjoyed that creative side of it. But we’re just very limited at the moment so that’s the next hurdle to overcome, that and then just riding the storm out like everyone else, and then more music, that’s the main thing. I think the thing that people have to remember is as great as playing live is and going to concerts are, it’s a needed thing in the world in my opinion.

It’s an amazing outlet, it’s an amazing experience, and it feeds your soul to go see bands and just to be in a band playing live. But as amazing as that is, a show is one night, and a record is what lasts for eternity. So I’m just excited for people to hear the album, and bands will always figure out a way to play live even if it's via a computer or a socially distanced show or whatever it’s going to turn into. Bands need to play, I didn’t join a band not to play so we’ll figure that side out soon, it’s just slow and just like everyone else, we’re playing the waiting game and hoping this passes sooner than later.