Lita Ford Interview
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Tour Dates
08/06/16 Detroit, MI Chene Park
08/10/16 Hamburg, NY Erie County Fair 08/11/16 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom 08/14/16 Alcatraz Metal Festival 08/26/16 Rock The Valley Music Fest 09/04/16 Septemberfest 09/05/16 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee Harley 09/09/16 Allegan County Fair 09/17/16 SiriusXM’s Hair Nation Fest 09/24/16 Farm Rock 10/06/16 Dallas, TX Gas Monkey Live! 10/08/16 Colorado Springs, CO Pikes Peak 10/09/16 Salt Lake City, UT Rockwell 10/11/16 Tempe, AZ The Marquee 10/12/16 San Diego, CA House Of Blues 10/14/16 Reno, NV Silver Legacy Resort Casino 10/15/16 Sacramento, CA Ace Of Spades 10/17/16 Spokane, WA Knitting Factory 10/18/16 Calgary, AB MacEwan Hall 10/19/16 Edmonton, AB Winspear Centre 10/21/16 Billings, MT Shrine Auditorium 10/22/16 Minot, ND North Dakota State Fair 10/23/16 Duluth, MN Pioneer Hall 10/25/16 Kalamazoo, MI Kalamazoo State Theatre 10/26/16 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre 10/28/16 Montreal, QC Metropolis 10/29/16 Utica, NY Stanley Center 10/31/16 Sellersville, PA Sellersville Theater 12/10/16 Versailles, OH BMI Speedway 12/11/16 Annapolis, MD Rams Head On Stage 03/11/17 HRH AOR
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The We♥Music interview with legendary guitarist and singer Lita Ford.
Lita Ford began her career playing lead guitar for The Runaways. This group was created in the mid-1970s when manager/producer Kim Fowley teamed up with rhythm guitarist Joan Jett and drummer Sandy West to form a band consisting entirely of teenage girls who could really rock.
After the breakup of The Runaways in 1979, Lita became a solo artist and 80s hard rock icon.
In 2014, she received Guitar Player magazine’s Certified Guitar Legend award.
Lita Ford began her career playing lead guitar for The Runaways. This group was created in the mid-1970s when manager/producer Kim Fowley teamed up with rhythm guitarist Joan Jett and drummer Sandy West to form a band consisting entirely of teenage girls who could really rock.
After the breakup of The Runaways in 1979, Lita became a solo artist and 80s hard rock icon.
In 2014, she received Guitar Player magazine’s Certified Guitar Legend award.
How did you first become interested in playing guitar?
There wasn’t any one thing in particular that made me want to play. Playing was in my blood.
Did you have a teacher, or are you self-taught?
I went to a teacher for a couple of weeks. My mother hired him from a strip mall down on the corner, but he wasn’t teaching me the ballsy things that I wanted to learn.
Were you encouraged to play the guitar by the people around you?
Oh-so very much!
What was it like growing up in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles was very different then. Growing up was a blast, but scary.
How did you deal with Kim Fowley as a manager?
Kim was colorful and without him, there wouldn’t be The Runaways.
How did/do you handle sexism on tour?
Read my book. (Living Like A Runaway: A Memoir by Lita Ford).
What is your fondest memory touring with The Runaways?
Touring with The Ramones and hanging out with the Sex Pistols.
What is your fondest memory touring as a solo artist?
I had some awesome guitars.
Are you still in contact with Cherie, Joan and other surviving members of The Runaways?
We are all living separate lives.
Did you already know you could be a lead singer when you played lead guitar for The Runaways, or did you discover that after the band broke up?
I discovered this the moment I had to become the lead singer, so I reinvented myself.
Did you ever work with Kim Fowley again once you decided to pursue a solo career?
Not until just before he died.
What was it like recording your first solo album?
It was a lot of work. I had to put together an entire team of people, who were going to work together and kick ass on something unique.
What was it like working with Ozzy Osbourne on Close My Eyes Forever?
Ozzy is a character. He is very funny, very talented and a great singer.
There wasn’t any one thing in particular that made me want to play. Playing was in my blood.
Did you have a teacher, or are you self-taught?
I went to a teacher for a couple of weeks. My mother hired him from a strip mall down on the corner, but he wasn’t teaching me the ballsy things that I wanted to learn.
Were you encouraged to play the guitar by the people around you?
Oh-so very much!
What was it like growing up in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles was very different then. Growing up was a blast, but scary.
How did you deal with Kim Fowley as a manager?
Kim was colorful and without him, there wouldn’t be The Runaways.
How did/do you handle sexism on tour?
Read my book. (Living Like A Runaway: A Memoir by Lita Ford).
What is your fondest memory touring with The Runaways?
Touring with The Ramones and hanging out with the Sex Pistols.
What is your fondest memory touring as a solo artist?
I had some awesome guitars.
Are you still in contact with Cherie, Joan and other surviving members of The Runaways?
We are all living separate lives.
Did you already know you could be a lead singer when you played lead guitar for The Runaways, or did you discover that after the band broke up?
I discovered this the moment I had to become the lead singer, so I reinvented myself.
Did you ever work with Kim Fowley again once you decided to pursue a solo career?
Not until just before he died.
What was it like recording your first solo album?
It was a lot of work. I had to put together an entire team of people, who were going to work together and kick ass on something unique.
What was it like working with Ozzy Osbourne on Close My Eyes Forever?
Ozzy is a character. He is very funny, very talented and a great singer.
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Lita Ford
photo: Josh Vittek
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How did you first meet Halestorm?
We were put on tour with each other by Halestorm‘s agents and some promoters, which was a great idea.
What’s it like touring with them?
They are warm and down to earth people, with a lot of energy. 😉
Are there any female guitarists in today’s music scene that particularly catch your attention?
Lzzy Hale. But her true gift from God is her voice.
Lita Ford’s autobiography, Living Like A Runaway: A Memoir is now available everywhere, as is her latest album, Time Capsule. If you feel transported back to the 80s when listening to this aptly named album, it’s no surprise; that’s exactly when these previously unreleased songs were recorded. This hard rock blast from the past features many special guests including Dave Navarro of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, and Gene Simmons of KISS.
Lita is currently touring with Halestorm.