Rocking Through the Ages: Lita FordS Journey from The Runaways to Iconic Guitarist
“In the early 1980s,I was one of the few women who could shred like I did,” reflects lita Ford. “I had to constantly validate that it was me playing those riffs, as many couldn’t accept it.”
Today, Lita ford is recognized as a trailblazer in the realm of electric guitar. From her pioneering role in the 1970s with the all-female rock band The Runaways to her glam-infused melodic metal hits in the ’80s and early ’90s, Ford has been a prominent figure in the rock guitar scene for over four decades.
Recently, she has been acknowledged as a significant inspiration for a new wave of female guitarists, especially Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale, who credits Ford with “opening the floodgates” for aspiring female guitarists.
Defying Expectations: A Rock Star’s Grit
To pave the way for herself and others, Ford often had to confront challenges head-on. “You might underestimate my guitar skills, but that would be a mistake,” she warns.
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Confronting Hecklers: A Rocker’s Tale
Ford recalls a memorable incident from 1981: “There was a guy in the front row at one of my shows, shaking an unopened beer can. I could see him, but he thought I was oblivious. I waited until he was about to pop the tab and then kicked him in the wrist with all my might. I knew I broke it as I was wearing these massive platform shoes!”
She chuckles, adding, “But seriously, if you think you can spray me with beer, you’ve got another thing coming. If someone spits at me, I’ll spit back.”
Early Influences and Musical Evolution
Ford’s journey into rock music began at a young age. Born in England, she relocated to Long Beach, California, at just four years old. By her early teens, she was captivated by the heaviest sounds of the time.
“I asked my mom for a guitar, and she got me a basic acoustic from Sears,” she reminisces. “I eventually gave that away and upgraded to a better model. I was trying to play heavy metal on an acoustic, jamming to Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, but it just didn’t have the power I craved.”
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Finding Her Sound
After attending a Black Sabbath concert in 1971, Ford was inspired to acquire a Gibson SG. “Seeing Tony Iommi made me realize I needed that dark, heavy sound,” she explains. “I managed to get a job at a hospital where my mom worked and saved up $375 to buy my dream guitar.”
Ford was still wielding that SG when she joined The Runaways at just 16, contributing to their self-titled debut album in 1976. However, she soon realized her amplifier needed an upgrade.
“I had been using my father’s reel-to-reel, wich was massive and had an echo effect that sounded like delay. It was quirky but effective. Once I joined the Runaways, I switched to a Marshall amp.”
- Lita Ford
Later that year, she added two striking Hamer Standards-one black and one white-to her gear. These guitars, inspired by the Gibson Explorer, became her signature instruments during her time with the band.
While Ford enjoyed her experience with The Runaways, she felt constrained by their punk ethos, having been influenced by the likes of Iommi, Ritchie Blackmore, and Jimmy Page.
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“I would go home and learn songs like ‘Stairway to Heaven’-all the riffs and solos-as that’s what I wanted to play in the band,” she shares.”But during rehearsals, we often ended up playing ‘Cherry Bomb’ instead, which was a more straightforward approach.”
It wasn’t until The Runaways disbanded in 1979 that Ford truly found her musical freedom.
Reinventing Herself
“I really took control of my identity,” she explains. “I changed my hairstyle, my wardrobe, and developed my own unique style and sound.”
“I would go home and learn stuff like ‘Stairway to Heaven’-all the riffs, all the solos, as that was the type of stuff I wanted to play in the band.”
– Lita Ford
She also transitioned to B.C. Rich guitars. “I rediscovered my stolen B.C. Rich Mockingbird during an audition. Those guitars became my second home.[[[[B.C. Rich founder] Bernie Rico, Sr. was incredible, and I spent a lot of time there crafting new ideas and designs.”
“They would create anything I envisioned. By the end of the ’80s, I had a collection of B.C. Rich guitars that I showcased during concerts.”
In the late ’80s, Ford achieved commercial success with her album Lita, which featured hit singles like “Kiss Me Deadly” and the duet “Close my Eyes Forever” with Ozzy Osbourne, ultimately earning her a Platinum certification.
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Resilience in the Face of Change
Ford remained steadfast in her musical identity, even as hard rock’s popularity waned in the early ’90s. “The music landscape was shifting,” she recalls. ”Grunge was emerging, and I felt exhausted. I thought it was a good time to step back. What was I going to do? Switch to country music?”
She took a hiatus from the music industry for about 15 years, a challenging transition when she decided to return.
“It was far from easy,” Ford admits.”It wasn’t like riding a bike. I had to relearn everything. I hadn’t played guitar during my time away. I even had to adjust to wearing clothes again.Living on a deserted island meant I was in casual wear, and suddenly I was back in high heels and leather pants!”
Despite the challenges, Ford has been creatively active since her return, staying true to her heavy metal roots.
“Absolutely,” she affirms. ”If it’s in your blood, it never really leaves you.”
