Lita Ford: The Queen of Heavy Metal and Hard Rock Guitar

Lita Ford. Early Life and Musical Roots

Lita Rossana Ford was born on September 19, 1958, in London, England, and moved to Los Angeles with her family at a young age. Inspired by Ritchie Blackmore and Tony Iommi, she took up guitar in her early teens and quickly became a prodigy — rare for a young woman in the male-dominated rock world of the 1970s.

By 16, she was already turning heads as a blazing lead guitarist with a passion for metal riffs and blues-infused licks.

Lita Ford. The Runaways Era (1975–1979)

In 1975, Lita Ford was recruited by Kim Fowley to join The Runaways, the first major all-female rock band to gain international attention.

Lita Ford. Members included:

• Joan Jett – Rhythm guitar, vocals
• Cherie Currie – Lead vocals
• Sandy West – Drums
• Jackie Fox – Bass
• Lita Ford – Lead guitar

With her blonde mane, wild outfits, and powerful playing, Lita helped forge the band’s image as punkish rebels with hard rock chops.

Lita Ford. Key Runaways songs featuring Lita’s guitar:

• “Cherry Bomb”
• “You Drive Me Wild”
• “Queens of Noise”

The band disbanded in 1979 due to creative and personal tensions, with Lita wanting a heavier direction and Joan Jett moving toward punk-pop.

Lita Ford. Solo Career: Finding Her Voice (1983–1987)

Lita launched her solo career in the early 1980s, determined to carve a space for women in heavy metal.

✦ Out for Blood (1983)

• Raw, aggressive debut
• Title track and “Die for Me Only (Black Widow)” showcased her image as a metal warrior princess

✦ Dancin’ on the Edge (1984)

• More polished and melodic
• “Gotta Let Go” – Her first major MTV hit
• Earned her a Grammy nomination and growing respect from both fans and peers

Despite her skills, it was tough for a female metal artist to get mainstream acceptance — until her major label breakthrough.

Stardom and Power Ballads: Lita (1988)

Produced by Mike Chapman and released by RCA, Lita was a massive commercial breakthrough, blending glam metal, pop hooks, and her signature guitar work.

Smash hits:

• “Kiss Me Deadly” – A hard rock party anthem, still her signature track
• “Close My Eyes Forever” – A haunting duet with Ozzy Osbourne, which hit #8 on the Billboard Hot 100
• “Falling in and Out of Love” – Co-written with Nikki Sixx (Mötley Crüe)

The album went platinum, and Lita became a rock icon of the late ’80s, known for her blend of glamour, grit, and blazing solos.

Late ’80s to Early ’90s: Stiletto and Dangerous Curves

✦ Stiletto (1990)

• Continued her success with songs like “Hungry” and “Lisa”
• Showed a softer, more pop-oriented direction without abandoning her guitar edge
• Received strong airplay on rock radio and MTV

✦ Dangerous Curves (1991)

• Returned to heavier roots
• “Shot of Poison” – A Top 40 hit, nominated for a Grammy
• The album was praised for combining sexual confidence and metal attitude

However, like many glam artists, her momentum was challenged by the arrival of grunge and alternative rock in the early ’90s.

Hiatus and Personal Challenges (1995–2007)

Lita stepped away from the music industry in the mid-1990s to focus on family life and raise her children.

She married former Nitro singer Jim Gillette, and they lived a secluded life in the Caribbean for several years.

This period was marked by:

• Domestic difficulties, later revealed in her 2016 autobiography Living Like a Runaway
• A lack of musical output, but a growing mystique around her legacy

Comeback and New Material (2008–Present)

Lita returned to the stage and studio in the late 2000s, reclaiming her title as one of rock’s fiercest female guitarists.

✦ Wicked Wonderland (2009)

• A dark, experimental album co-written with Gillette
• Critically divisive and later disavowed by Lita herself

✦ Living Like a Runaway (2012)

• A powerful, personal comeback album
• Tracks like “The Mask,” “Mother,” and “Devil in My Head” dealt with freedom, motherhood, and survival
• Regarded by fans as a return to form, combining heartfelt lyrics with searing guitar work

✦ Time Capsule (2016)

• A collection of unreleased tracks from the ’80s and ’90s featuring collaborations with Gene Simmons, Billy Sheehan, and others

Lita continues to tour globally, often appearing on bills with legends like Joan Jett, Alice Cooper, and Heart.

Style, Skills, and Impact

Lita Ford is known for:

• Being one of the first and most prominent female lead guitarists in hard rock
• Playing BC Rich guitars, most famously her custom double-neck Warlock
• Mixing metal riffs, melodic solos, and glam attitude
• Championing female empowerment in a male-dominated genre

Legacy and Influence

Lita Ford paved the way for:

• Female rockers like Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale, Orianthi, Nita Strauss, and Taylor Momsen
• Women who wanted to shred, not just sing

Her place in music history is defined by:

• Authenticity – never conforming to pop trends
• Visibility – proving women could headline festivals and dominate MTV
• Longevity – still rocking four decades into her career

Awards and recognition:

• Honored at the She Rocks Awards
• Received the Icon Award at the 2019 Hall of Heavy Metal History induction
• Recognized as a pioneer of women in metal by multiple music outlets

Interesting Facts

• Lita almost joined Ozzy Osbourne’s band as a guitarist before launching her solo career
• She speaks fluent Italian and has cited her European roots as part of her musical outlook
• “Close My Eyes Forever” was reportedly written in one drunken night with Ozzy Osbourne
• She turned down major record deals early in her career because they tried to push her into a pop direction