International Women’s Week 2023 (5): In a World of Taylor Swift Wanna-Bes, Be a Lzzy Hale Instead
“In terms of representing women in rock, I don’t think there is anyone stronger than Lzzy. She can send a knockout punch better than most guys,” says Tom Kiefer. “But I try not to look at musicians in terms of gender. Lzzy is an amazing artist and I think that energy is much needed in rock & roll, be it male or female. To me, greatness is what always resonates.”
You probably aren't here if you are a Taylor Swift fan. But in case you are, and you’re still reading, you may be wondering, what’s my problem with Swift?
I think our popular musical culture has sunk into a swamp of unbridled narcissism. And who is the Chief Narcissist? No major artist comes even close to competing with Swift for the title, though more and more seem to be trying.
The good news is that many women — Swift included — are increasingly taking charge of their musical careers, in contrast with the bad old days when they had neither creative nor business control and sometimes even had the writing credit for their recordings stolen.
In fact, most of the big pop stars today in the U.S. are women, deservedly so. That has to count as progress!
Unfortunately, even as women have acquired more control over their marketing and business affairs, they have largely been excluded from other things like playing instruments, composing and arranging, mixing, mastering, and producing music. These roles were once the exclusive province of men (at least officially), but there were signs in the 80s that things were changing. That progress seems to have ground to a halt, at least in the U.S.
Most troubling, at least to me, is that the music industry, and the critical world part of it, seem bent on confining women to the singer-songwriter lane. Female instrumentalists have a hard time getting contracts or recognition, no matter how good they are.
It is no accident that after David Bowie’s death, Gail Ann Dorsey moved to Europe to continue her career. Most limiting of all, where female artists are concerned, the critics only pay attention to work centered on narcissism and heartbreak. The heartbreak, of course, is always over some dude.
So, in this post, I continue my celebration of women who color outside the singer-songwriter box.
Meet Lzzy Hale. She is a true rock hero for our age and one of the few women carrying the torch forward. Hale’s inspirations include many of the rockers I wrote about in earlier columns: Suzi Quatro; Joan Jett; Chrissie Hynde; Patti Smith; The Wilson Sisters; Tina Turner; Pat Benatar; Tina Weymouth.
She is also inspired by some of the big-name metal bands like Metallica and Black Sabbath — bands not usually seen as role models for girls.
Women in rock did have a moment in the late 70s and early 80s. And then, at least in the U.S., the momentum faded. Most American female rock bands today are cover bands, like Zeparella. I love Zeparella, but even they don’t see themselves as more than a gimmick, though a couple of them are genuine beasts on their instruments. So who is left, other than holdovers from the '80s?
In 1997, out of a small town in Pennsylvania, came Halestorm, founded and led by Lzzy Hale, who writes their material, sings, plays multiple instruments, and generally kicks a**.
The band started as a family affair, with Lzzy’s brother Arejay on drums and their father (!) Roger, on bass. After years of touring and several lineup changes, they locked in their lineup in 2003 and released their first EP in 2006.
Since then, they have continued to be one of the busiest touring bands in the U.S. They have collaborated with almost all of the top American rock and metal bands, and Lzzy Hale has been a guest vocalist on almost 30 singles by other major artists. Halestorm have even won a Grammy. I’m not sure exactly what that means — hard rock bands usually don’t win Grammys unless they sell out in some egregious way, and Halestorm have not sold out. But I digress.
Hale has admitted in interviews that despite the tough, defiant outward persona, she has had to cope with endless annoyances and occasional mistreatment while trying to be a recording artist in a sexist industry. She doesn’t dwell on it publicly but has said that only her early naïveté allowed her to keep going despite some of those setbacks. She tries to encourage and mentor young artists (both girls and boys) on navigating the sorrier aspects of the music industry.
She also dedicates airtime to supporting people with mental health issues after having had a close friend in another band commit suicide after years of depression.
Hale is also, without being political, a strong advocate for sexual self-determination. She is openly bisexual and revels in the diversity of the band’s fanbase. Unlike many hard rock bands, Halestorm’s audiences are often more than 50% female or non-binary. Yet they also appeal to traditional hard-rock audiences.
Check out the interviews in the notes below if you want more. Meanwhile, how would I sum up Lzzy Hale in one sentence? Here’s one take: she’s not above narcissism and unhealthy relationships, but she does them without an ounce of self-pity.
“I Miss the Misery”
This could have been just another song about a woman fixated on a guy who is bad news, except for this: “I don’t miss you. I miss the misery.” I guess it’s not about the guy at all.
“Love Bites (So do I)”
Jealousy without the whining. Be afraid, be very afraid…
“I Get Off”
Here is a gleefully twisted take on gender dynamics. I love Lzzy’s complete lack of remorse…
Sources:
Joseph Hudak: “Halestorm Talk Owning Sex on Their New LP and Why Heavy Music Is ‘Genderless’,” 2018 https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/halestorm-talk-owning-sex-on-their-new-lp-and-why-heavy-music-is-genderless-705561/
Halestorm on Discogs https://www.discogs.com/artist/611591-Halestorm
“20 Questions with Joe Hottinger of Halestorm”, TaftMidwayDriller.com
“A Day in the Life of Halestorm, 2014” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAH3Q4FZZhk
Marisa Brown: “Halestorm Biography”, Allmusic https://www.allmusic.com/artist/halestorm-mn0000662952/biography
Wikipedia entries on Halestorm, Lzzy Hale
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Shout out to Terry Barr; Giulia Picciau; Anthony Overs; Miss Catherine La Grange, spinster; Alexander Razin; David Acaster; Jessica Lee McMillan; Jeffrey Harvey; Dan Reich; Charlie Cole; Madeline Dovi; Elizabeth Kaldeck Smith; Nicole Brown; Steve Goldberg; If Ever You’re Listening; Stephanie Leguichard; Jon Scarborough; Christine Carmichael; Laura Lind; Drew Wardle; Buddy Gott; and thanks to Kevin Alexander for publishing.
