Atlantic Records

Welcome to B-Side Asides, where your favorite musicians explore the records that define them as artists. Inside you'll find commentary straight from the artist on the deep tracks, the personal tracks, and the intricately-structured tracks that they rarely get to discuss.

For the premier edition of B-Side Asides, we are pleased to present hard-rockers Halestorm! Halestorm are:
Lzzy and Arejay Hale (Vocals and Drums respectively)
Joe Hottinger (Guitar)
Josh Smith (Bass)

#1 - "Tell Me Where It Hurts"
From the Self-Titled Debut Album

Joe: This is my favorite of the B-sides. It nearly made the record. We had a heated discussion try to decide if this song or "Nothing to do with Love" would make the cut. To me it's as good as any A-side.
Josh: This is one of the last songs we put together before we recorded the album. It was such a fun and rowdy process as it was written with Corey Taylor. Coffee was drank that morning, and chased with whiskey shortly after.
LZZY: This was the first time that we got to hang out with Corey Taylor. We met for sushi the night before and nearly cleared out the restaurant because we were all laughing and carrying on so loudly! Next morning, Corey showed up with 5 cups of coffee (all for himself) and showed us a riff of his. We jammed and came up with the song structure. Inspired, I then retreated to a corner with my laptop, vomiting lyrics... to what then became "Tell Me Where It Hurts". But it is affectionately known by our Engineer as "Tell Me Where It 'Hunts' ".
Arejay: This was probably one of the most fun writing sessions; amps cranked to 11, just hashing out riffage w/ one of our best dudes, Corey Taylor! I feel like the song combines heaviness with melody and is just as catchy as anything else on the album.



#2 - "Conversation Over" (Album Only Bonus Track)
From the Self-Titled Debut Album

Joe: We would joke when we first heard it back that Lzzy was saying "JOE, get out of my life!" I think she slipped a few "Joe's" in there just to eff with me.
Josh: This song went through quite a few changes. The final turned out well. We don't play it much on the road, but it's fun when we do.
LZZY: This song was one of the songs I did the lead guitar to on the record. This was a fun one, a little snotty, but fun. It was originally titled "I Can't Love You Sober", but I didn't want people to all of a sudden suspect that I had been the cause of all of Amy Lee's heartache. I had the words "Conversation Over" scribbled down on one on my pocket notebooks. It made me laugh when I read it because I always picture somewhat of a "valley girl" saying that phrase. It was a perfect match for the song.
Arejay: This one is just a good "blood pumping angry" song that is fun to play live. Its fast rapid lyrics give it a lot of aggression. And I was the one saying that to Joe... OHHHHHHHHH WHAT WILL THE TABLOIDS THINK OF THAT ONE >;D MUAHAHAHAHA!!!! Seriously, he's always in my bed!



#3 - "Dirty Mind" (Album Only Bonus Track)
From the Self-Titled Debut Album

Joe: The 4 of us went into the vocal booth and sang the guitar riff. That makes me laugh everytime I hear it. I don't know if it's because I like it or it makes me uncomfortable.
Josh: Lzzy put this song together not long after 'I Get Off' and similarly, made us guys feel a little unclean listening to her sing these lyrics... HA! good song :)
LZZY: This was around the time I really started pushing the envelope with the sexual innuendos. This one might have crossed the line a bit. Ha! We ultimately didn't put this on the record because we already wanted Dirty Work. And honestly, if I gotta pick between the two "dirty songs", I'd much rather be singing the line "get on your knees and let the games begin". A little selfish I know.
Arejay: This song underwent many transformations 'til we got the chorus right and when it all came together it just clicked! I like this one, I think it's aggressive like Conv-Over but the lyrics are more on the clever & twisted side... Like Josh said, it can make the listener a little uncomfortable!!!



Halestorm is currently in the studio, working on a follow-up to their 2009 debut album. For more information about the band, visit their official site!