Rocking Through the Ages: Lita Ford’s Journey from The Runaways to Modern Icon
“In the early 1980s,I was one of the few women who could shred like I did,” reflects Lita Ford. “I had to constantly prove that it was indeed me playing those riffs, as many found it hard to believe.”
Today, Lita Ford is recognized as a guitar virtuoso. From her pioneering role in the 1970s with the all-female rock band The Runaways to her glam-infused melodic metal hits in the 1980s and early 1990s, Ford has been a prominent figure in the rock guitar scene for over four decades.
In recent years,she has also been acknowledged as a significant influence on a new wave of female guitarists,particularly Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale,who credits Ford with “opening the floodgates” for aspiring female guitarists.
Defying Expectations: A Rock Star’s resilience
To carve her path, Ford sometimes had to take matters into her own hands.”People might underestimate my guitar skills, but that’s a mistake you won’t want to make,” she warns.
(image credit: Chris Walter/WireImage)
Confronting Hecklers: A Rock Star’s Story
Ford shares a memorable incident from 1981: “There was a guy in the front row at one of my shows, right up against the stage with an unopened beer can. I could see him shaking it, but he thought I was oblivious.I waited until he was about to pop the tab, then I kicked him in the wrist with my platform shoes. I knew I broke it!”
she chuckles,”I mean,come on! You think you can spray me with beer? If someone spits at me,I’ll spit back.”
Early Influences and Musical Beginnings
Ford’s journey into rock music began at a young age. Born in England, she moved 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 Sears acoustic,” Ford reminisces.”I eventually gave it away and upgraded to a better model.I was trying to play heavy metal on an acoustic, but it just didn’t have the power I craved.”
(Image credit: Michael Ochs Archives/getty Images)
Finding Her Sound
After attending a Black Sabbath concert in 1971, Ford was inspired to get her hands on a gibson SG. ”I was mesmerized by Tony Iommi’s sound,” she recalls. “I saved up $375 from a job I got at a hospital where my mom worked and bought a chocolate-colored SG.”
Ford was still using that SG when she joined The Runaways at just 16, contributing to their self-titled debut album in 1976. However, she soon realized she needed a better amplifier.
“I had been using my dad’s old reel-to-reel,” she laughs. “It was massive and had an echo effect that I thought was cool. But once I joined The Runaways, I switched to a Marshall amp.”
Later that year, she added two striking Hamer standards-one black and one white-to her gear, which became her signature instruments during her time with the band.
Breaking Free from Constraints
While Ford enjoyed her time with The Runaways, she felt constrained by the band’s punk ethos, which clashed with her love for the intricate guitar work of legends like Iommi, Ritchie Blackmore, and Jimmy Page.
“I would go home and learn songs like ‘Stairway to Heaven’-all the riffs and solos-because that’s the music I wanted to play,” she explains. “But in rehearsal, we often ended up playing ‘Cherry Bomb’ instead.”
it wasn’t until The Runaways disbanded in 1979 that Ford truly found her voice. “I reinvented myself,” she says. “I changed my look, my style, and my approach to playing.”
I would go home and learn stuff like ‘stairway to Heaven’ – all the riffs, all the solos, because that was the type of stuff I wanted to play in the band.
– Lita Ford
She also switched up her guitars, embracing B.C. Rich instruments. “I rediscovered my stolen B.C. Rich Mockingbird during an audition,” she shares.”They became my go-to guitars. Bernie Rico, sr. was amazing, and I spent a lot of time there creating new ideas.”
By the end of the 1980s, Ford had amassed a collection of B.C. Rich guitars, showcasing them during her concerts.
Chart-Topping Success and a Temporary Hiatus
In 1988, Ford released her third solo album, lita, which marked a significant milestone in her career. The album produced two hit singles: the hard-hitting “Kiss Me Deadly” and the heartfelt duet ”Close My Eyes Forever” with ozzy osbourne, ultimately achieving Platinum status.
(Image credit: Mark horton/Getty Images)
As the hard rock scene began to wane in the early 1990s, Ford chose to step back rather than conform to the changing trends. “The music landscape was shifting with grunge taking over, and I was feeling fatigued. I thought it was the right time to take a break,” she explains. “What was I going to do? Switch to country music?”
Ford spent nearly 15 years away from the industry, and returning was no simple task. “it wasn’t like riding a bike,” she admits. “I had to relearn everything. I hadn’t played guitar during my time away, and I even had to get used to wearing clothes again after living on a deserted island!”
Despite the challenges, Ford has made a triumphant return to the music scene, staying true to her heavy metal roots. “absolutely,” she affirms. “If it’s in your blood, it never really leaves you.”
