Ex-RUNAWAYS guitarist Lita Ford (real name Rosanna) struck a huge blow for female rock with a string of accomplished heavy chart albums in addition to boast stunning looks with virtuoso guitar playing. London born to British parents, Lita's family emigrated to America when the would be star was a mere toddler. Getting her first guitar at the age of 11, she attended her first concert (BLACK SABBATH at Long Beach Arena) at 13. Gaining employment at a local hospital a year later, having lied about her age, she saved up $400 to buy a Gibson SG and promptly learnt the BLACK SABBATH and DEEP PURPLE back catalogues.

Lita wound up in THE RUNAWAYS at 16 after substituting for the bass player in a friend's band. Kim Fowley, looking for promising female musicians in order to piece together his dream of a jailbait, all-girl Rock band, originally asked her to audition as a bassist. However, after discovering she actually played guitar was promptly blown away by her prowess and offered her the gig, only for Ford to quit after three days due to Fowley's obnoxious treatment.

Having tried to find a suitable replacement Ford was back in the band following a plea from the other members of the band asking her to return to the fold, by which time the group was holed up in Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles recording demos.

Post RUNAWAYS, Lita intended forming a new band with the band's drummer, Sandy West, but unable to find suitable musicians the pair split. Lita worked as a beautician before picking up the guitar once more andtook vocal lessons in order to train her voice for the role of a front woman. Her first post RUNAWAYS performance came as guest guitarist on the punk act THE STEPMOTHERS 1981 album on the RUNAWAYS cover 'American Nights'.

Signed by Mercury Records (ironically the same label that had eagerly been sold THE RUNAWAYS by the band's guru Kim Fowley), Ford hooked up with Canadian guitarist NEIL MERRYWEATHER (who produced the debut album 'Out For Blood') and drummer Dusty Watson. Both were soon replaced for slightly younger, leaner models once Ford began to tour in earnest, her live band son comprising of ex KNACK and MASTERS OF THE AIRWAVES bassist Randy Rand and former THE OFFENDERS and THE MOTELS Albuquerque, New Mexico born drummer Randy Castillo. The latter had just prior to hooking up with Ford been a member of guitarist MITCH PERRY's band CODE BLUE. With this line-up Ford opened for RAINBOW and BLACK SABBATH during late 1983.

The original artwork used on the American release of 'Out For Blood' (depicting a scantily clad Ford tearing apart a blood filled guitar) was considered to be too strong an image for the British end of PolyGram and thus the record was released in an extremely toned down sleeve. The clothing was just as skimpy, but the guitar now held by Ms Ford remained intact without a drop of the red stuff to be found!

'Out For Blood's follow-up, 'Dancin' On The Edge' was released in 1984 and produced by Lance Quinn. Whilst Castillo played on the record, Rand had departed (joining STONE FURY then AUTOGRAPH). The bass parts were thus recorded by Hugh McDonald, a man who would replace Alec John Such in BON JOVI some ten years later.

The album also featured a couple of co-writing credits for one Jeff Lieb, who also appeared playing synthesizers and singing back ups on the title track. Under his stage name of JEFF PARIS Mr. Lieb would create his own cult following a few years later.

For the tour Castillo was replaced by Eric Singer (later of KISS). Castillo promptly joined STONE FURY to hook up with Rand once more and would of course later journey through OZZY OSBOURNE's band and MÖTLEY CRÜE.

Lita actually recorded a third album for PolyGram, entitled 'The Bride Wore Black'. The cover was to have featured Ford dressed in a specially made black wedding dress, but the album was never released and, as a result, Lita parted company with the label. During this period Ford would be dating BLACK SABBATH guitarist TONY IOMMI and loaned out her rhythm section of bassist Gordon Copley and drummer Eric Singer for work on Iommi's 'Seventh Star' opus.

1988's Mike Chapman produced relaunch album 'Lita' was backed by an impressive arsenal of big time managers and name session musicians. Lita was now benefiting from business guidance from Sharon Osbourne, wife of OZZY OSBOURNE, and the album featured no less than PAT BENATAR drummer Myron Grombacher as well as noted keyboard player David Ezrin. Ford had also drafted guitarist STEVE FISTER. Fister had applied to audition for OZZY OSBOURNE but was manouevered into Ford's camp.

The album also boasted guest appearances from ex-boyfriend MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx (who co-wrote 'Falling In And Out Of Love') and OZZY OSBOURNE himself aided a duet 'Close my eyes Forever' which gave Lita a huge American hit single. A further album track 'Can't Catch Me' was co-written with MOTÖRHEAD's infamous LEMMY.

Ford would hit the headlines once again, although this time for the wrong reasons, when her marriage to W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes quickly floundered. Fister decamped to join STEPPENWOLF later working with DEREK ST. HOLMES and PAT TRAVERS.

The 1991 released 'Dangerous Curves' record, produced by Tom Werman, featured Matt Bissonette (A=440 / DAVID LEE ROTH) on bass, Grombacher on drums and a cameo guitar part for HEART guitarist Howard Leese.

1993 also found Lita playing herself in the American TV comedy show 'Herman's Head'. In 1994 Malibu Comics, using their Rock-It imprint, released an official LITA FORD comic book, intended to be the first in an on-going series. Certainly, the plot indicated that future editions were only a formality, a scantily clad Lita battling with the evil forces of a thinly disguised Tipper Gore led P.M.R.C., with DEEP PURPLE's RITCHIE BLACKMORE making a mysterious cameo appearance.

Signing to the German label Zyx Records, more noted for their Techno product, Lita returned with a heavily Grunge influenced affair simply titled 'Black', featuring fiance Jim Gillette, ex FASTWAY and KATMANDU vocalist Dave King and the legendary JEFF SCOTT SOTO all on backing vocals. Lita actually married the former TUFF and NITRO front man Jim Gillette in 1995 and the pair began working on a totally new band project tentatively titled RUMBLE TRIBE. Her other plans included the release of a second comic book and complimentary CD-ROM plus the endorsement of Gibson's new Nighthawk line of guitars.

A number of plans were, only naturally, put on hold before Lita and Jim celebrated the birth of their first child, James, in May 1997 and were still planning to release some form of product at a later date despite rumours of a RUNAWAYS reunion that Lita was certainly very keen on.

Interestingly, to highlight Ford's popularity as a solo artist, she was still winning awards in America in 1998 despite not having released a record for three years. She beat off the current crop of female recording artists to win 'Metal Edge' magazine's readers poll as 'Best Female Performer'!

During 2001 Ford, kept in the public eye by the release of an archive live album, would be resident in Florida having given birth to her second child. Lita made a return to the stage on 12th June 2004 when, alongside GLENN HUGHES and KEVIN DUBROW, she appeared at the 4th annual 98.9 WMMO Rock Forever Golf Classic and Concert in Orlando, Florida.

Lita was apparently set for a return to the public eye in 2006 as a contestant on the reality TV show 'Surreal Life 7'. Although this was officially announced by the programmers, Ford swiftly denied inclusion. Ford was back again that year courtesy of TWISTED SISTER, their seasonal 'A Twisted Christmas' featuring a duet between Ford and Dee Snider on the song 'I'll Be Home On Christmas'.

Lita Ford returned to live action during 2008. Her live band comprised drummer Stet Howland, of W.A.S.P., bassist Teddy Cook, of DIO, keyboard player Michael T. Ross, of HARDLINE and ANGEL, plus guitarist Tom Cavanagh, of ALMOST QUEEN and BENT PUSSYCAT. 

In May 2009 it was announced that Lita was working on new album material, 'Wicked Wonderland' issued through JLRG Entertainment. The album was co-produced by husband Jim Gillette and Greg Hampton. Studio musicians included Hampton on bass plus W.A.S.P. veteran Stet Howland on drums. Lita's band for US shows throughout June and August featured GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Bumblefoot and drummer Dennis Leeflang.

In a novel marketing move, the song 'Bed' saw exclusive release through erotic website Stockroom.com. Lita explained the move by stating "My husband Jim Gillette and I have carved out our own path to develop a wonderful and close family life," said Lita. "Though we're a long-married couple, we both have very active imaginations, including being kinky with each other, and that's what this album is about. It's sort of a sexual autobiography. We've partnered up with Stockroom.com because it's our favorite outfitter for kink products."

Garry Sharpe-Young