Halestorm backbone: Josh Smith

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Halestorm backbone Josh Smith talks about the start of Halestorm

Interview conducted on May 13, 2019

by Dan Locke

Bass guitarist, keyboardist and backing vocalist for the rock band Halestorm. The group won a Grammy for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance in 2013 for their single “Love Bites (So Do I)” from their second album The Strange Case Of…Bass guitarist, keyboardist and backing vocalist for the rock band Halestorm. The group won a Grammy for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance in 2013 for their single “Love Bites (So Do I)” from their second album The Strange Case Of…

Dan Locke: What is the town Willow Grove PA like?

Josh Smith: It’s fine city line suburban living! Willow Grove was once the music capital of America! I feel fortunate to have grown up there because the music and arts programs were really competitive.

While going up, how did you go see live music?

With Philly so close, there are a lot of great venues. Every year we’d go see Tower Of Power play at the Keswick Theater. I think they still do! It’s a great theater that’s less than 10 mins from my childhood house.

Josh Smith from Halestorm (credit: Dan Locke)

How long have you been playing the bass?

I think I was 11 when I started playing the bass. So, let’s do the math here… 25 years.

Do you play any other instruments?

My first instrument was piano. I started when I was 7 and was classically trained. I still open a book from time to time and play.

How close is Red Lion PA to Willow Grove PA?

An hour and a half. I drove it nearly every day of the week when I first joined the band.

You replaced Lzzy and Arejay’s dad from the band. How did this happen?

I didn’t replace him. Lzzy was 15 or so, Arejay 12, and they decided it wasn’t cool to have a dad in the band anymore.
They did a lot of shows as just the two of them and had a few bass players before I joined.

What was your first gig with Halestorm liked?

It was awesome! Haha. We opened for Finger Eleven at a club in Dewey Beach. It was packed! After the show, we went to the merchandise table for an autograph session. I was thinking,’????!?!, people want MY autograph?!?!?

Have you ever heard the song “Please Don’t tell my father that I used his 1996 Honda Accord to Destroy the Town of Willow Grove Pennsylvania in 2002”?

Thanks for mentioning. I just gave it a listen. Haha, I was imagining where he could have gotten into trouble and reminiscing on some of my own mischievous acts.

Since your town is closed to Philly, I am going to ask you about some bands from Philly. I would like you to say something about each band.

The Roots- “All the way live, from 215!! Illadelph Halflife was a big deal for me in high school. But Phrenology kicked off many a party when I was 19 and 20.”
Joan Jett- “We’ve gotten to play with her a couple of times recently. She’s such a badass. I really enjoyed talking with her bandmate/manager Kenny Laguna.”
Cinderella- “I wasn’t a fan of hair metal growing up but we’ve got to play with a lot of acts from the era, and I love it now. We’ve played quite a few shows with Tom Kiefer… who happens to be Lzzy’s teenage crush.”
Jim Croce- “Velvet melodies… that’s the first thing that pops in my head. Such a voice. His stories are so real that they put you in the room where it takes place.”

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