Halestorm frontwoman Lzzy Hale opened up about her experience filling in for Skid Row during four shows in 2024. She shared the story during her recent unplugged performance with Joe Hottinger at the Garage in Glasgow.
Hale reflected on what it meant to step into the role, describing the unique atmosphere the shows created for fans across generations.
“It was awesome. It was so great. I got to live out my teenage fantasy. So the boys [in Skid Row] asked me to join their band. They were having some in-between dates going on. And it was such a wonderful thing, ’cause we had all of these Halestorm fans coming and they would bring in their dads. So it was like a dad-son, dad-daughter date happening, going on, and it was just awesome,” she said.
Hale also addressed the well-known tension between Sebastian Bach and his former Skid Row bandmates, noting she stayed out of the details while speaking warmly of Bach himself.
“I know there’s some stuff [between Sebastian Bach and former Skid Row bandmates]. I didn’t get any of the real scoop between what’s happening with the Sebastian versus the rest of the guys. I know Sebastian very well. He’s always been sweet to me,” she continued.
The highlight of her account, however, was learning how Bach had reacted after watching footage of her performances with the band. She heard the story through Dimebag Darrell’s partner, Rita Haney.
“And the best was, after it all went down, I got to talk to Dimebag Darrell’s wife [Rita Haney]. And she’s, like, ‘Hey, we were up all night with Sebastian watching those Skid Row videos of you singing with them.’ I’m, like, ‘Uh-oh. What’d he say?’ And apparently, he looks at Rita and he’s, like, ‘Man, I hate those guys, but she’s f*cking awesome.’ I’m, like, ‘Okay, good,'” Hale recalled.
The remarks offer a rare glimpse into how Bach privately responded to Hale’s stint with his former band, suggesting a degree of respect despite the ongoing friction between him and the current Skid Row lineup.
Hale’s four shows with Skid Row took place in May 2024. The first two dates were on May 17 in Carterville, Illinois, and May 18 in Riverside, Iowa, followed by two additional performances later that month. The run was made necessary by the departure of vocalist Erik Gronwall in March 2024, who stepped away from the band due to ongoing health issues. With a string of dates already booked, Skid Row turned to Hale to fill the void, and she delivered a full set each night rather than a token guest appearance.
Halestorm guitarist Joe Hottinger joined Hale on stage during the Skid Row dates as well, performing alongside her for the encore of “Youth Gone Wild.” He was also present at the Glasgow unplugged show where Hale shared these reflections.
Hale made clear that the experience carried real weight for her beyond the professional opportunity. She called it “an honor to perform these songs” and said the response from the crowd “makes my heart happy.” The audiences spanned multiple generations of rock fans, and the warmth she received clearly left a lasting impression on her.
Source: Fan’s video of Lzzy’s speech
