Lzzy Hale Filling in as Temporary Skid Row Singer

Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

March 27th 12:44 PM

Lzzy Hale will be fronting Skid Row on four upcoming shows in the United States.

This news was announced in a statement from the band, which also confirmed the “amicable departure” of singer Erik Grönwall, who joined Skid Row in 2022.

The band statement said, in part, “Erik has decided that the travel and rigors of the road is not conducive to his overall health and recovery, and wants to focus on a lifestyle that is more amenable for his well-being, healing and family.”

Guitarist Snake Sabo (L) and singer Erik Grönwall of Skid Row perform as the band opens for the Scorpions’ nine-date residency, “Sin City Nights” at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on March 26, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

In his own personal statement, Grönwall said, “I got the opportunity to join this incredible band six months after my treatment against leukemia. And one month after that, I was on a world tour with Skid f—ing Row. Wow! It was a dream come true. However, it proved challenging touring the world with an impaired immune system, which is a result of my bone marrow transplant.”

Grönwall noted it was a “tough decision” to leave, but ” … I can’t prioritize my health being in the band.” He expressed gratitude for the band and Skid Row’s fans “who accepted me as the lead singer of this iconic band.”

Dates When Lzzy Hale Fronts Skid Row

Hale will front Skid Row on the following dates:

• May 17 — Carterville, IL
• May 18 — Riverside, IA
• May 31 — Reno, NV
• June 1 — Sacramento, CA

As of publishing, it appears tickets are still available for these shows. Considering this news, fans should expect tickets to be bought up fast. Full ticket information can be found at SkidRow.com/Tour.

Hale said in her own statement, “I’m stepping in for a few dates as the lead singer of Skid Row! What an honor to call them my friends and a privilege to be sharing the stage with them! Erik, I wish you all the magic on your next adventure. Now…which leather pants to wear?!!”

Of course, Hale has a bit of experience singing Skid Row songs. Halestorm’s ReAniMate: The CoVeRs eP, which was released in 2011, features a cover of “Slave to the Grind.”

What’s New with Lzzy Hale and Halestorm?

The four shows with Skid Row will act as a warmup for Lzzy Hale, because Halestorm has quite the summer ahead of them. Beginning on July 9, the band is hitting the road with I Prevail on a co-headlining tour in North America.

Hale said in a statement, “This isn’t your typical summer tour. This is two worlds colliding under one haven for our collective armies and bringing you a show unlike any we’ve done before!”

Meanwhile, I Prevail singer Eric Vanlerberghe said, “Touring with Halestorm is long overdue, as we admire their talent, energy, and dedication to rock music and are thrilled to finally see it happen. This is going to be one of the best tours of the summer and one of the best we’ve ever done.”

Tickets are on sale now, with full ticket and tour details available at HalestormRocks.com and IPrevailBand.com. A complete list of tour dates is below.

7/09 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park
7/11 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
7/13 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
7/15 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion
7/16 – Boston, MA – Leader Bank Pavilion
7/18 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
7/21 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
7/23 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
7/24 – Scranton, PA – Pavilion @ Montage Mountain
7/26 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
7/27 – York, PA – York Fair^
7/30 – Mansfield, OH – Inkcarceration*
7/31 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
8/01 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
8/03 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
8/04 – Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheater
8/07 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
8/08 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
8/10 – Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Presented by Huntsman
8/11 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
8/13 – Denver, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre*^
8/14 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
8/16 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theater
8/17 – Las Vegas, NV – Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood Casino & Resort

* Festival
^ Non-Live Nation date

Halestorm: Their 20 Best Songs, Ranked

• 20. “Bet U Wish U Had Me Back” – ‘Halestorm’ (2009)

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  A melodic, wistful power ballad, “Bet U Wish U Had Me Back” is a deeper cut from Halestorm’s debut LP and their catalog at large. It showed that from the jump, this band was something special even outside of their singles.

• 19. “It’s Not You” – ‘Halestorm’ (2009)

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  “You've probably never been shut down before/I'll try and make it easier.” “It’s Not You” is what most people only dream of saying to an ex once they move on and find someone else that is infinitely better.

• 18. “Black Vultures” – ‘Vicious’ (2018)

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  Serving as the opening track of Halestorm’s fourth studio album, “Black Vultures” comes out the gate showcasing Lzzy Hale’s roaring vocals. Halestorm has a number of empowering songs in their catalog, but this track is one of their most aggressive.

• 17. “Daughters of Darkness” – ‘The Strange Case Of…’ (2012)

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  This one…is for the ladies! While the rock world often feels like a sausage party, there are a lot more women on stage and in the crowd than ever. The sisterhood shared is the backbone of the entire genre, and this track serves as a rallying cry.
• 16. “Break In” – ‘The Strange Case Of…’ (2012)

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  “Yeah, it’s perfectly reckless/Damn, you leave me defenseless/So break in.” Few can deliver a piano ballad quite like Lzzy Hale that walks the line of vulnerability and bad ass-ery, but that’s just another reason why she’s one of the best lead singers in the game today.

• 15. “The Steeple” – ‘Back from the Dead’ (2022)

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  Off Halestorm’s latest album ‘Back from the Dead,’ Lzzy Hale said of the track, “'The Steeple' is a true reflection of what music means to me. During our time in purgatory, faced with an unknown future, I had to rediscover why I still loved music, why there was a hole without live shows that could not be filled with anything else. Through writing this song, I found myself again and was reminded of what is really important. This music is our life source, our survival tool, our communion, our sanctuary and our identity. I invite you to scream that anthem with me and get transported back to the first time you were struck by the power of music. Redemption's here at last, back where it all began, in the place where god and the devil shake hands.”

• 14. “Here’s to Us (Guest Version)” – ‘The Strange Case Of…(Deluxe Edition)’ (2013)

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  What’s better than a celebratory Halestorm jam? A celebratory Halestorm jam with a buttload of all-star guests! When a deluxe version of ‘The Strange Case Of…’ was released in 2013, this version of “Here’s to Us” was included, and it did not skimp on the guests. Among those providing vocals on the track were Wolfgang Van Halen, Brent Smith, Myles Kennedy, James Michael, Tyler Connolly, David Draiman and Maria Brink. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough star power, Slash knocks out a solo, too.

• 13. “Dear Daughter” – ‘Into the Wild Life’ (2015)

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  “Dear Daughter” has a very personal and poignant origin story. Lzzy Hale said the song was inspired by all of the encouragement she heard from her parents growing up trying to pursue her rock and roll dreams. She wrote on her Tumblr about the track, “I think that the words I grew up hearing are something every young girl deserves to hear. They were always simple, yet profound. Hold your head up high, and be you. Always remember that you are like no other. This world is indeed full of pain and fear but there’s also hope and love; it’s how you choose to tip the scale that matters. And no matter what happens, I will be there, and I will always support you.”
• 12. “Mz. Hyde” – ‘The Strange Case Of…’ (2012)

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  “Mz. Hyde” is a title track of sorts. The song is inspired by the classic novel ‘Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,’ but it is more welcoming of Lzzy Hale’s “evil side.” It’s camp with a slice of danger, which, frankly, rock and roll could use a bit more of always.

• 11. “Love Bites (So Do I)” – ‘The Strange Case Of…’ (2012)

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  The lead single off their sophomore LP ‘The Strange Case Of…’, the track marked huge growth for the band coming off their self-titled debut album. Joe Hottinger’s chugging opening guitar riff and Arejay Hale’s intense, feverish drumming take the song to another level. As if that all weren’t enough, thanks to “Love Bites (So Do I),” they’re now referred to as “Grammy Award-winning rock band Halestorm.” What artist wouldn’t love a title like that?

• 10. “I Am the Fire” – ‘Into the Wild Life’ (2015)

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  Repeat: Few bands can deliver an empowering anthem like Halestorm, and “I Am the Fire” is one of their strongest. If you haven’t listened to the track in a bit, revisit it now and pay close attention to the acrobatic vocals Lzzy Hale belts out. Just unreal! Plus, the song has one of the most simplistic, beautiful lyrics in Halestorm’s entire catalog: “I am the one I’ve been waiting for.”

• 9. “I Get Off” – ‘Halestorm’ (2009)

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  AKA: “Voyeurism, but make it a catchy rock song!” While this marked Halestorm’s debut single, “I Get Off” both holds up *and* shows how far the band has come in the years since arriving in 2009. Truth be told, “I Get Off” doesn’t get enough credit for how strong of a debut single it was.
• 8. “Amen” – ‘Into the Wild Life’ (2015)

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  “Amen” has a very interesting and personal origin story. Lzzy Hale told us in a 2020 interview the song was inspired by her cousin who had recently come out as gay. “There's a huge chunk of my extended family that are very religious-based and they were not having any of it,” said Hale. “And so she confided in me for a lot of that period of time…[In the song] I'm talking about, and encouraging, my young cousin -- she's six years younger than I am -- to be herself and to be out about being a lesbian and loving who she wants to love. But I'm also putting that religious twist on it as kind of a middle finger.” Honestly, hooray for that middle finger!

• 7. “Apocalyptic” – ‘Into the Wild Life’ (2015)

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  Many of us had that one person we’ve dated that was just not the right fit, but we kept the relationship going much longer than it should have because the sex was just *so* good. Well, this is the theme song for all of those dysfunctional relationships. Also, like its subject matter, “Apocalyptic” is an energetic good time that set the stage for a very impressive third studio album.

• 6. “I Like It Heavy” – ‘Into the Wild Life’ (2015)

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  “I got a ringing in my ears getting ready to burst/Screaming hallelujah motherf—er take me to church.” Halestorm recorded ‘Into the Wild Life’ in Nashville, and when you’re in Music City, it’s hard not to be influenced by its sound. The country twang is strong on “I Like It Heavy,” but that doesn’t mean the band still doesn’t pack its hard rock edge. If anything, Halestorm help prove the worlds of country and rock aren’t as different as some may think.

• 5. “Mayhem” – ‘Into the Wild Life’ (2015)

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  Simply put, “Mayhem” is a total banger. It served as the fourth and final single off of ‘Into the Wild Life,’ but for most bands, this track would’ve been a lead single. Then again, Halestorm aren’t most bands, and ‘Into the Wild Life’ was just full of killer tunes. Side note: Want a surefire sign of just how anthemic a song is? When it’s licensed by the WWE to be used as a theme song to one of their events. “Mayhem” was used as the theme to 2016’s NXT TakeOver: Dallas which took place during WrestleMania weekend.
• 4. “Freak Like Me” – ‘The Strange Case Of…’ (2012)

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  Lzzy Hale told us of “Freak Like Me,” “This is the song that I can trace back to that moment where I was an 11 year old and found out I was not cool, that I was not like the other girls…I love playing that song live. It has become such an amazing anthem for our community. The fans took it upon themselves to change their branding. They used to call themselves ‘Storm Chasers’ in the beginning years of Halestorm. And since that song was released, they'd started calling themselves ‘Freaks.’” In addition to fans finding inspiration in the tune, “Freak Like Me” marked Halestorm’s first number one hit on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.

• 3. “Uncomfortable” – ‘Vicious’ (2018)

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  “Uncomfortable” is Halestorm at their most defiant, and it is glorious! (“I did it all/To break every single preconceived notion/That you have/I did it all to shake every single one of your emotions/And just to make you/Uncomfortable.”) Oddly enough, Lzzy Hale said when she penned the lyrics to this pop-metal gem co-written by the entire band, they came “from a place of joy.” If you’re thinking it’s weird that making people uncomfortable brings joy, well…then clearly you haven’t experienced the unique pleasure of pissing people off with your own happiness, and perhaps you should try sometime.

• 2. “I Miss the Misery” – ‘The Strange Case Of…’ (2012)

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  As Halestorm’s most commercially successful song, “I Miss the Misery” remains an active rock radio mainstay a decade after it was first released. It’s pretty understandable why, too. From its perfect “Oh oh oh oh oh” hook to that outstanding bridge, “I Miss the Misery” is the radio hit that nearly every band strives for but few really achieve. Some songs harken to a certain decade, but “I Miss the Misery” has a timelessness about it that prevents it from sounding dated.

• 1. “Do Not Disturb” – ‘Vicious’ (2018)

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  So, why does “Do Not Disturb” have the distinction of topping our list? For starters, the track doesn’t sound like any other song in the Halestorm catalog. Plus, the fact it was inspired by an actual threesome Lzzy Hale had only makes “Do Not Disturb” cooler. (Side note: As for the song’s coolest lyric, it’s a tie between “I love you accent/I wonder what it’ll sound like when you c-m” and “There’s a king size bed, but we can do it on the floor.”) On top of that, the track inspired a unique trend among fans. Hale told us, “When meet and greets were still happening, fans who had spent the night in a hotel room would bring to the meet and greet a ‘Do not disturb’ sign, and I'd sign that. To be able to kind of put myself into other people's lives in that way and show a little bit more about myself, that to me was empowering.” She’s totally right; great sex can be very empowering. For the sake of her and the Halestorm catalog, here’s hoping for more great sex for Lzzy, because it has shown to lead to some amazing work.

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Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

Category:

• Dave and Chuck the Freak
• Music

Tags:

Lzzy Hale,Skid Row