If you ever thought that touring would be like a summer camp, Taylor Momsen confirms this

The original iteration of the ‘Vans Warped Tour’ has frequently been characterized as a summer camp for emerging artists within genres such as emo, pop-punk, and metalcore, as per theprp. It also functioned as a significant platform for many musicians to gain their initial experience with large-scale touring. Although numerous artists recall their participation in the festival with nostalgia for its energetic chaos, Taylor Momsen, vocalist and guitarist of The Pretty Reckless, offers a contrasting perspective. She described her experience on the tour in 2010 as “a very gross band summer camp” during an appearance on the ‘Zach Sang Show’ earlier this month.

It was our first tour, too, our first real tour — ‘Warped Tour‘. In one way, I think it was good for us that the grind of that tour is ridiculous, so it put you through [more than three shows week]. And they also don’t tell you what time you’re playing till the morning of. You get punished if you don’t go to a press tent, and you get a shitty slot.”

Like there was… the whole dynamic to ‘Warped Tour‘ that I thought was a bunch of bullshit, but, you know, whatever. But it put you through the wringer of what touring is like in the most extreme circumstances – heat and tour buses breaking, and no bathrooms – all the grossness of the road in one place.

So, in one way, it was good. And the other way, it is completely unprofessional and not what touring is like at all. You know, I take touring very seriously. I take the show very seriously. And that is not what that environment is. That environment is a rolling party of bands with no rules, mayhem… debauchery… It was gross, but still fun

Upon learning of the festival’s recent revival as a series of destination festivals, Momsen reaffirmed her negative view of the original touring experience.

I think the fans probably had a really great time. I think the bands had a really great time. I did not have a really great time on ‘Warped Tour‘. It was just an experience, one that I wouldn’t want to do again.