The Pretty Reckless, Rock Band Fronted by Taylor Momsen, Promote NAMM's National Wanna Play Music Week, May 3-7

DAS LABEL/Interscope’s The Pretty Reckless was announced today by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) as an official spokesgroup of National Wanna Play Music Week, May 3-7. Taylor Momsen, one of the stars of the CW’s hit show, “Gossip Girl,” makes her musical debut this year as the lead singer and songwriter of the The Pretty Reckless. The group appears on the lead single “Make Me Wanna Die” from the soundtrack for the action/comedy film “Kick-Ass” which opens in theatres on April 16, and will be appearing at every show on the annual Vans Warped Tour this summer.

“National Wanna Play Music Week is an especially exciting time for me, as my band also prepares for the release of our first album this year,” said Momsen. “We signed on as a Wanna Play campaign spokesgroup to promote the importance of music making and to share my own story of how playing and performing music has positively impacted my life, both personally and professionally.”

Kicking off National Wanna Play Music Week, Momsen will be inspiring a new generation to make music as she and her band mates work with students on board the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus - the state-of-the-art mobile recording studio where The Black Eyed Peas, Fergie, Natasha Bedingfield and many more A-list artists have recorded tracks.

“Whether you’ve always wanted to play a musical instrument or wish you had more time to spend on making music, National Wanna Play Music Week is a time to celebrate and embrace the music maker in all of us,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM.

Whether donating their time through a NAMM public service announcement (PSA), supporting the arts and music education programs in local schools, or simply leading by their example of playing an instrument, many film, TV and music industry celebrities have helped to promote the cause of music making and music education, illustrating that anyone can participate in and benefit from the music playing experience.

NAMM’s National Wanna Play Music Week runs May 3-7, 2010 and includes daily thematic activities designed to motivate non-players and current players alike to pick up an instrument and play. For more information, please visit wannaplaymusic.com

About the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus (www.lennonbus.org)

The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is a non-profit state-of-the-art mobile Pro Audio and HD video recording facility that provides hands-on experiences for students of all ages. In its 12th year of touring, the venture is proud of its brand new bus and its studios, which boast the latest audio and video technology, gear and products. The concept began as an offshoot of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, which is dedicated to providing opportunities for both professional and amateur songwriters around the world. The Bus travels across the U.S. and Canada year-round, providing free tours and workshops at schools, retailers, festivals, on tours with headlining artists, and at major industry conferences. The Bus, a 501(c)(3) venture, is made possible through the generosity of sponsors including Apple, Maxell Corporation, NAMM, The Beatles: Rock Band, Gibson, Epiphone, Sony, Avid, Roland, Mackie, GHS Strings, Sonicbids, Disc Makers, Edirol by Roland, Blackheart Amps, Ampeg, Boss, Digital Media Academy, Aphex Systems, Audio-Technica, Glyph Technologies, Neutrik, Music Player Network, Propellerhead, Musician’s Friend, Harris Corporation, Ableton, Apogee, Litepanels, Applied Acoustics Systems, Antares, McDSP, IK Multimedia, Native Instruments, Slingerland Drums, Bogen Imaging, and Noise Industries. The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is made possible by an agreement with Yoko Ono Lennon.