Lita Ford facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lita Ford
Ford performing in 2023
Background information
Birth name	Lita Rossana Ford
Born	(1958-09-19) September 19, 1958 (age 66) London, England
Origin	Long Beach, California, U.S.
Genres	Glam metal heavy metal hard rock punk rock
Occupation(s)	Musician singer songwriter
Instruments	Guitar vocals
Years active	1975–1995 2008–present
Labels	Mercury RCA JLRG Entertainment SPV/Steamhammer

Lita Ford is a famous British-American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. She was the lead guitarist for the rock band The Runaways in the late 1970s. Later, she started a successful solo career. Her music style was called glam metal. Her most famous song is "Close My Eyes Forever" from 1989. It was a duet with Ozzy Osbourne and reached number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Early Life and Music Start

Lita Ford was born in London, England, on September 19, 1958. Her father was British, and her mother was Italian. When she was in second grade, her family moved to the United States. They settled in Long Beach, California.

Lita started playing the guitar when she was 11 years old. She was inspired by Ritchie Blackmore from the band Deep Purple. Lita is known for her strong singing voice, which is called a mezzo-soprano.

Music Career Highlights

Joining The Runaways (1975–1979)

Ford performing with The Runaways in 1976

In 1975, when Lita was 16, she joined an all-female rock band called The Runaways. A music producer named Kim Fowley helped form the band. They quickly got a record deal and released their first album in 1976.

The Runaways became very popular. They toured a lot and got a lot of attention. Lita's guitar playing was a very important part of their sound. The band broke up in April 1979.

Before they broke up, there were some disagreements in the band. The band had already lost their producer, their lead singer Cherie Currie, and bassist Jackie Fox. Singer and guitarist Joan Jett wanted the band to play more punk rock music. But Lita and drummer Sandy West wanted to keep playing the hard rock music they were known for. Since they couldn't agree, the band split up.

Starting a Solo Career (1982–1995)

In 1982, Lita Ford began her solo career. She signed with Mercury Records. Her first solo album, Out for Blood, came out in 1983. It didn't sell very well.

Her next album, Dancin' on the Edge (1984), was more successful. Lita's popularity started to grow. The song "Fire in My Heart" from this album was a Top 10 hit in several countries outside the US. Another song, "Gotta Let Go," reached number one on the Mainstream Rock charts.

Ford performing in Munich, West Germany in 1988

Lita then signed with RCA Records. She released her most successful album, Lita, in 1988. This album had many popular songs. These included "Kiss Me Deadly" and "Falling in and Out of Love." The song "Falling in and Out of Love" was co-written by Nikki Sixx from Mötley Crüe.

Her most famous song, "Close My Eyes Forever", was a duet with Ozzy Osbourne. This song reached number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

After Lita, she released Stiletto in 1990. This album included the songs "Hungry" and "Lisa," which was for her mother. However, Stiletto was not as successful as Lita. Her next album was Dangerous Curves (1991). It featured her last charting single, "Shot of Poison." Lita's final album before a long break was Black in 1995.

Taking a Break (1996–2007)

By the mid-1990s, Lita focused on raising her two young sons. Her music career became less important during this time. After Black was released in 1995, she didn't release new music until 2009.

Returning to Music (2008–Present)

In June 2008, Lita Ford returned to the stage with a new band. They played some shows before a festival called Rocklahoma. In June 2009, she toured the US and Europe.

Ford performing on June 27, 2009

Lita released a new album called Wicked Wonderland in October 2009. In 2011, Lita said she would release a "real comeback album." She felt that Wicked Wonderland was too much of a team project with her ex-husband.

Her album Living Like a Runaway came out in June 2012. This album was more like her earlier music. The title also celebrated her making up with her former Runaways bandmates. In 2014, Guitar Player magazine gave her The Certified Legend Award.

In 2016, Lita released Time Capsule. This album was a collection of old songs she found on tapes from the 1980s. It featured recordings with famous musicians like Billy Sheehan and Gene Simmons.

Personal Life

In the mid-1980s, Lita was briefly engaged to Tony Iommi, the guitarist from Black Sabbath.

Lita was married to Chris Holmes from the band W.A.S.P. for a short time in the early 1990s. After they divorced, Lita met Jim Gillette in 1994. They got married after knowing each other for only two weeks. They have two sons, James and Rocco. The family moved to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Lita and Jim Gillette later divorced. Lita has since spoken about the importance of understanding parental alienation.

Acting and Other Projects

Ford performing with Patrick Kennison

Lita Ford has done more than just music. She used B.C. Rich guitars during her solo career. She was a regular guitarist for the house band in the 1992 TV show Howie.

Lita also had a small role in the 1992 movie Highway to Hell. She played a character called "The Hitchhiker." In 1993, she played herself in an episode of the TV show Herman's Head.

Lita also lent her voice and likeness to the video game Brütal Legend in 2009. She appeared as the character Lita Halford. Her song "Betrayal" is also in the game.

In 2010, a major movie about Lita's first band, The Runaways, was made. It was called The Runaways. Actress Scout Taylor-Compton played Lita Ford in the film. Lita also appeared in the 2005 documentary Edgeplay: A Film About the Runaways. In it, she talked openly about her time in the band.

In 2013, Lita reunited with her former Runaways bandmate Cherie Currie. They recorded a Christmas song together. This song helped support Toys for Tots, a charity that gives toys to children in need.

Lita released her autobiography, Living Like a Runaway, in June 2016. In 2018, Lita Ford and Jim Cara started Lita Ford Guitars. They create guitars and special experiences for fans. Lita also appears as a guest on the AXS TV show Top Ten Revealed.

Discography

Lita Ford has released many albums throughout her career:

• Out for Blood (1983)
• Dancin' on the Edge (1984)
• Lita (1988)
• Stiletto (1990)
• Dangerous Curves (1991)
• Black (1995)
• Wicked Wonderland (2009)
• Living Like a Runaway (2012)
• Time Capsule (2016)

Filmography

Lita Ford has appeared in several films and TV shows:

Video Game Appearances

Lita Ford has also been in a video game:

See also

In Spanish: Lita Ford para niños

• List of glam metal bands and artists
• The Runaways