Lita Ford Biography
Summary
"Lita Ford" (born September 19, 1958) is an American rock musician and singer who was the lead guitarist for The Runaways and achieved popularity for her solo career during the 1980s.
Biography
Early life
Ford was born Carmelita Rossanna Ford to a British father and an Italian mother in London, England. She moved with her family to the United States at age 4. She began playing the guitar at age 11. Her vocal range is mezzo-soprano.
In 1975 at the age of 17 she joined the all-female rock band The Runaways, for whom she played lead guitar.
Solo career
After the group fon 1979, she began a solo career. Her first album, "Out for Blood" including the title single 'Out For Blood' was released in 1983. The next album, "Dancin' on the Edge" got a moderate success. It included the single 'Fire In My Heart' which reached the top 10 in several countries. The next single 'Gotta Let Go' was one of Ford's biggest hits. It reached number one on the Mainstream Rock charts.
Ford toured extensively and made several guest appearances on TV shows for the next four years, but had no releases; a follow-up to "Dancin' On The Edge", titled "The Bride Wore Black", was abandoned and never released due to the fact Ford did not like the production of the album and this upset the head of her record label causing Ford to switch from Mercury Records to RCA Records. By the time Ford returned again, the lighter pop-metal she had long favored had broken through to mainstream audiences, which set the stage for her most commercially successful album, 1988's "Lita". With Sharon Osbourne as her manager, and again produced by herself, the album featured four commercial hits, including the #1 'Kiss Me Deadly', #9 'Back To The Cave', #2 'Close My Eyes Forever', 'Cross My Eyes-ah Forever (in Japan)', and #3 'Falling In And Out Of Love' (co-written with Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe). The ballad 'Close My Eyes Forever,' was a duet with Ozzy Osbourne. It was also her only Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit, reaching #8.
Her next release was called Stiletto. It featured the singles 'Hungry' and 'Lisa' (the second was dedicated to her mother). However this album was not as successful as "Dancin' On The Edge" and "Lita."
Ford's next release was "Dangerous Curves." Ford's last release would be with ZYX Records and would be titled "Black". It failed to repeat the success of 1991's "Dangerous Curves".
Ford was asked by VH-1 to be in the cast of 'The Surreal Life' for its 7th season, in 2007. She declined.
Ford appears in the 1992 film Highway to Hell as 'The Hitchhiker'.
During her solo years, she was an endorsee of B.C. Rich guitars and used Warlock, Eagle, Mockingbird and Bich single and double-neck models.
In mid June 2008, Ford and her new solo band played several warm up gigs prior to Rocklahoma under the name "Kiss Me Deadly" in the New York City area.
Return to stage 2008, new album and tour 2009
For the first time in 15 years, Lita Ford took the stage in her only North American appearance at Rocklahoma, in Pryor, Oklahoma, July 12. Her new band was drummer Stet Howland (W.A.S.P.), Teddy Cook (Dio), Thomas Michael Cavanagh (Bent Pussycat/The Backseat Devils and Michael T. Ross (Angel/XYZ). In June 2009, Lita began touring the US and Europe, with a new line-up consisting of Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal (Guns N' Roses guitarist, 2006 - present) on guitar, Dennis Leeflang (Bumblefoot drummer) and PJ Farley on bass (Trixter, Ra) and Michael T. Ross (Angel/XYZ).
Ford plans to release a new album during the summer of 2009, as well as playing a 75 date tour.
Lita Ford also takes to the stage at the Legendary Buffalo Chip, Sturgis South Dakota on August 3 2009, supporting Toby Keith
Personal life
Lita Ford is married to Jim Gillette, of the band Nitro. With him she has two sons, with their first son having been born on Jim and Lita's third wedding anniversary. She was previously married to W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes, and was engaged to Black Sabbath leader/guitarist Tony Iommi in the mid-1980s.
In 2010, Ford will be protrayed by actress Scout Taylor-Compton in the movie The Runaways.
Tributes
An achievement in the Xbox 360 version of the video game "Guitar Hero II", is titled the 'Joan & Lita Award' in tribute to Lita and Joan Jett. It is awarded to two players who can get a 100 note streak in cooperative mode.
Ford will also appear in a support role in the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 videogame Brutal Legend to be released in october 2009.
Her song, "Close My Eyes Forever", was included in Karaoke Revolution: American Idol Encore.
The song 'Kiss Me Deadly' was covered in a compilation album called "Viva La Internet/Blank CD" by Reel Big Fish.
Discography
Compilation albums
"The Best of Lita Ford" (1992)
"Greatest Hits" (1999)
"Greatest Hits Live" (2000)
"Platinum and Gold Collection - The Best of Lita Ford" (2004)
Other appearances
'I Want to Be Loved' with LOU on "The Other Side" (2005)
'I'll Be Home for Christmas' with Twisted Sister on "A Twisted Christmas" (2006)
'Brütal Legend' Video Game (2009)
Tours
1981 - "Queens of Rock Tour" with Joan Jett and Sandy West
1982 - "Rulers of Metal Tour" with Black Sabbath
1983 - "Out For Blood Tour" with Scandal, Wes Luthor, and Tony Schladora
1984 - "Dressed To Kill Tour" with Anthrax, The Johnson Brothers Band, Skillet, Metal Mania
1985 - "South and Central America Tour" with Soundgarden
1986 - "Wild Tour" with several local bands opening at different venues
1986 - "Metal Rulz Tour" with Poison, Mötley Crüe, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne.
External links
(... more)
(RMAX International Magazine interview)
(Lita Ford at Legacy Recordings)
(Lita Ford Interview at UnRatedMagazine.com, June 2009)
Credit
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article about Lita Ford.
