Lzzy Hale Gives Halestorm Update, Talks Musical Collaborations, And Much More On Talkin’ Rock
It’s ALWAYS great to talk with Lzzy Hale. She’s so easy to chat with and very candid every time we speak.
She spoke to being a mid-state Pennsylvania kid, meeting and playing with her heroes. She mentioned that she grew up in a house that was built in the 1840’s, so I had to ask her if she’d ever seen a ghost in that old home. Let’s just say, she didn’t say no.
As far as Halestorm is concerned, she said it’s “Complete Chaos”. They’re going to buckle down next month and get to writing. She tells me how they write songs and what the process involves. Plus, she talks about a song she wrote that she never thought would see the light of day, which they did record. Let’s just say it became a hit. “There’s always a handful of songs (that she writes) that I think are dumb.” That’s a sexy story. LOL
As far as collaborations go, she told me how the Ashly McBryde collab came up. “It was a full on “F&*k Yes!”” She went onto say “She exceeded my expectations” as for how the song went. We talked about the Journey cover she did with Chris Daughtry, who also sent me a question for her to answer. That was funny as well.
If you’re watching this, you’ll see a piano in the background. I stumped her with naming musicians who’ve played on it. That was very entertaining. She did tell me about a metal legend who had tickled the ivory at her house. Really cool!
I’ll talk to Lzzy anytime she wants me to. She’s the best!
Below is the audio only version of Talkin’ Rock with Meltdown
-Meltdown-
Halestorm: Their 20 Best Songs, Ranked
Halestorm debuted in 2009 with their self-titled studio album. In the years since, they’ve grown into one of rock’s most popular acts.
So far, Halestorm has had 13 top-ten hits on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. Six of those songs have topped the chart. They included “Freak Like Me,” “Apocalyptic,” “Amen,” “Uncomfortable,” “Back From The Dead” and “The Steeple.”
Halestorm first formed in 1997 with siblings Lzzy and Arejay Hale. While the band went through various lineup shakeups, guitarist Joe Hottinger and bassist Josh Smith would join in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Since 2004, Halestorm has featured this lineup, which is a rare feat in the rock world. Few bands have maintained the same lineup for such a lengthy period of time. It’s yet another example of what sets Halestorm apart from other bands today.
Since their 2009 self-titled debut album, Halestorm has consistently released a mix of LPs and EPs. Notably, the band’s EP releases have consisted of covers collections. Halestorm has covered a diverse collection of artists over the years. They’ve included Lady Gaga (“Bad Romance“), Daft Punk (“Get Lucky“), Sophie B. Hawkins (“Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover“), Temple of the Dog (“Hunger Strike“) and more.
While these covers are outstanding, Halestorm’s loyal fans are here for the originals. Their catalog currently contains five studio albums. Following their aforementioned debut was 2012’s The Strange Case Of… That album featured “Love Bites (So Do I),” which won the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance in 2013. Halestorm’s third studio album was 2015’s Into the Wild Life, which debuted on the Billboard 200 at number five. This is currently the highest-charting album in Halestorm’s catalog. Halestorm’s fourth studio album was 2018’s Vicious, and their latest album is 2022’s Back from the Dead.
To celebrate the band, here are Halestorm’s 20 best songs ranked.
Meltdown started on the mighty WRIF on the evening of Halloween, 1995. Technically, his first on-air shift was the morning of November 1st. Moving to the Motor City from Buffalo, N.Y., he has built a career and family. Over his almost three-decade stint at RIFF, he's had the privilege to work with some of the biggest personalities in Detroit radio history. He boasts of being just the second-afternoon drive jock in the station's illustrious 53-year history.
Along with his love for rock music and attending concerts, he's also an avid Harley-Davidson enthusiast and hockey player. He plays year-round and manages to squeeze in a few charity games throughout the year. Meltdown writes about the Detroit Red Wings, rock music, and Detroit concert venues.
