INTERVIEW: Taylor Momsen, “To Be Acknowledged By Heroes Of Mine Is An Incredible Feat”

Sunday, May 25, at The Rust Belt in East Moline, we'll get to see The Pretty Reckless in a much more intimate setting than they have been playing lately.  And Taylor is very much looking forward to it.  "Club shows are a blast. It's going to be awesome because they're sweaty and crazy, and the fans are right there in your face, and it's just so much fun.

That sounds like a night at The Rust Belt.

But before Taylor and The Pretty Reckless make it to the Quad Cities, I had a chance to talk with her about the huge tour they are on with AC/DC, including everything she loves about it, and what she begrudgingly still does while on tour.

The Pretty Reckless and AC/DC

While The Pretty Reckless will be coming to the Quad Cities on Sunday, the main tour they are on right now is with AC/DC.  Taylor says, "I'm not going to lie, man. It is pretty much as cool as it gets. ACDC are just phenomenal in every way, shape, and form."

Taylor says the goal is to be doing it like AC/DC 30-40 years from now as well.  "It is what rock and roll is, like they are the definition, and it is phenomenal."

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But of course, with any tour, there are downsides.  Taylor has become a "fitness person" in the past years, which she says makes touring really easy, and it's made performing really easy.  However, she also says, "It's really hard to keep up my routine on tour. And if I'm being honest,  I do it begrudgingly. I'm in the gym every day.   It is the bane of my existence on the road. I hate it so much, but I do it. You still get it in. It takes a lot of willpower.

The willpower can break though when the AC/DC catering arrives.  Taylor said, "When they bring out cakes that say AC/DC and the Pretty Reckless, how are you not going to have a piece of that?  And I'm always the first one in catering, taking a picture of it and cutting the cake. So that's my, that's my vice."

The Pretty Reckless Have Climbed Up The Hill

In an interview in 2022, Taylor said it was an uphill battle in the world of rock and that it "took us a while to be accepted by other bands."  Now she doesn't even know what the hill looks like.

"When Angus Young calls you, it's kind of a moment where your head goes back and then you go, well, okay. I don't know if the right word is acknowledged. I think there's always going to be haters. Everyone has their own tastes and things, but to be acknowledged by heroes of mine is certainly an incredible feat, and I feel very, very fortunate," said Taylor.

The I-Rock Summer Rager with The Pretty Reckless and Plush

We also talked about:

• Some of the strangest gifts she ever received from fans...including a porn graphic novel series of her and the band.
• Her favorite moments during their live shows and the song she loves to perform live.
• What made her want to get into music and rock?
• nd just a bit of Soundgarden.

After my initial awkwardness (which wasn't a surprise, and I left it in there for you), I'd say it was a great chat with Taylor Momsen, who is just starting her rockstar journey.