By Rikki Lee Travolta
When it comes to rock n’ roll, the women who have risen to dominate the field all possess an elite talent. Women like Janis Joplin, Pat Benatar, Ann Wilson, and Melissa Ethridge have all done their part in showing that rock is not just a man’s world.
When it comes to heavy metal and hard rock, one woman’s name stands out above all others. Lita Ford , the incredible guitarist and passionate singer, is in a class by herself.
Lita broke into the industry at the age of 16 when she was recruited to be the lead guitarist in the all-female group The Runaways. By the time Lita was 17, the band had a record out and was opening for Van Halen, Talking Heads, Cheap Trick, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. They scored hits with songs like “Cherry Bomb”, “Heartbeat”, “School Days”, “Hollywood”, and “Queens of Noise”.
In the 1980s, Lita attained Rock Goddess status as a solo artist. She had huge hits in that era with songs like “Kiss Me Deadly”, “Close My Eyes Forever”, “Dressed to Kill”, “Back to the Cave”, and “Falling In and Out of Love”. That last song was co-written by Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe. In fact, she collaborated with some of the most dynamic creative forces of the time. A number of those musical partnerships would be highlighted on the retrospective album Time Capsule – including songs with Billy Sheehan, Jeff Scott Soto, Rick Neilson, Dave Navarro, Bruce Kulick, and Gene Simons.
Lita’s music career is truly the stuff of legends. She stands as a dominant force in the highly male-dominated heavy metal industry. She has made leather and blazing guitars her signature calling card.
I recently had the chance to sit down with Lita and talk about her career in an interview for the entertainment podcast It’s Showtime with Rikki Lee. More than a walk down memory lane rehashing her past hits, our interview puts a focus on what makes Lita stand out and why Lita Ford is regarded as the Queen of Heavy Metal.
Like many red-blooded young men, I grew up mesmerized by Lita’s beauty. With teased blond hair and form-fitting black leather, Lita was a dream match for music videos and sexy album covers. But while those pretty pictures might have drawn people in, it is the incredible music that pours out of her that captivates audiences and keeps her shows packed and overflowing with die-hard fans.
Throughout her solo music career, Lita has used B.C. Rich guitars – and it’s not for the endorsement dollars, she truly loves the brand.
“They’ve always had the best guitar builders,” she explains about B.C. Rich in our interview.
The B.C. Rich company was founded in 1969 and started making electric guitars in the 1970s. The company was founded by acoustic guitar maker Bernie Rico.
The company became one of the instrument makers of choice for heavy metal guitarists in the 1980s. In the early days, the high-end custom versions of their electric guitars were handmade by Ron Estrada.
When she first decided to give the brand a try, Lita told Rico that she was going to put the guitar to the test. She was going to play it hard and loud – seeing how difficult it would be to break the guitar or throw it out of tune. To her surprise and delight, the B.C. Rich axes didn’t falter.
“I couldn’t break it. I couldn’t pull it apart. I couldn’t knock it out of tune!” she says of the brand. “And so, through the years, I have struck true to my old guitars.”
B.C. Rich has had a number of popular models. The Warlock is one of the most well-known of the B.C. Rich guitars. It began production in 1981 and became a favorite of Mick Mars of Mötley Crüe, Paul Stanley of KISS, C.C. DeVille of Poison, and Craig Goldy of Dio. Other users since then include Chris Kael of Five Finger Death Punch, Blackie Lawless of W.A.S.P., Mick Thomas of Slipknot, and Robb Flynn of Machine Head.
Lita Ford, of course, has been the poster woman for B.C. Rich guitars in heavy metal, including a long-term affair with the Warlock model. In fact, one of Lita’s signature Warlock guitars is on display at the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH – a signal of how respected the female shredder is in the world of rock.
While it certainly wasn’t as a heavy metal guitarist, I achieved a certain level of notoriety as a performer. In my case, I became known in theater and film. And I can tell you, interactions with fans can be one of the most rewarding experiences for an entertainer.
One of the really cool things that Lita shared with me is that she has introduced a special fan opportunity at select shows. The Lita Ford Guitars Rock Star Experience gives one fan exclusive access to sound check with the band and backstage access to watch as Lita plays a custom-built guitar that will transfer ownership to the fan at the end of the night. That fan and a companion also get to meet Lita, get autographs, and get the full celebrity treatment.
The one-of-a-kind Lita Ford guitars for the fan experience come from custom builders Cara Guitars – who I’m told make one hell of an axe. For information on the Lita Ford Guitars Rock Star Experience visit www.LitaFordGuitars.com.
Lita Ford is the whole package. She is not only a phenomenal guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter, she also understands the nuances of how to put on a live show. If people just wanted to hear good music, they could listen to the record. People go to concerts for the live experience – which includes the visual aspects of the concert performances. This is not lost on Lita.
“If you’re going to put on a show, put on a show and entertain,” she says with conviction.
While not comparing herself to the guitar legend, Lita cites Jimi Hendrix as a role model she emulated as she developed her onstage showmanship. Lita expounds on how disappointing it can be to those watching a show if the guitarist spends the entire concert staring at their own hands on the fretboard. To perfect her own stage show, Lita spent countless hours practicing without a single glance at her own hands.
“One of the things that used to bother me about certain guitar players is they always have to have their eyeballs on the fretboard,” explains Lita. “I almost want to say, ‘hey, don’t look at your fingers. Look at the audience and make eye contact with your band and just look to see your surroundings.’”
To make sure she didn’t fall into this trap herself, early in her career Lita took the inlays off of her guitar for practicing. That way she wouldn’t be tempted to look at her fingers.
“The first fret feels different than the third fret, or then the fifth fret. So, it’s almost like reading Braille,” cites Lita. To bring her point home, she references Johnny Winter and Jeff Healy.
“They were blind. They couldn’t see where their fingers were. But they could feel it and they could hear it,” she explains. “And that leaves you free to play guitar and entertain the audience and focus on the vocal.”
Jon Bon Jovi once said that the reason he ended up the lead singer in his first teen band was because he was the only one who could sing and play guitar at the same time. Lita started off as strictly a guitarist; learning to be the spotlight vocalist as well was something that took a great deal of effort and practice. But now, that mastery is part of what makes her hard rock royalty.
Being a great vocalist and a great guitarist is only part of the equation for live performances. Putting on a great show involves a lot of variables including connecting with the audience, filling the stage with choreographed action, and having set lists rehearsed to perfection. In my talk with the great Lita Ford, she expounded on all of these elements.
As a publicist in the entertainment field, I have worked on accounts for a number of high-profile stars ranging from pop queen Janet Jackson to sludge metal phenoms Crowbar. I currently handle PR for Steven Adler, of Guns N’ Roses fame. In these various capacities, I am very attuned to the importance of image in the rock music industry.
I recently cited Bret Michaels of Poison for his mastery of creating and maintaining his image as a public figure in rock. Lita Ford has achieved her image as the leading lady of heavy metal by putting the focus on her music. Although, it doesn’t hurt that she’s a knockout.
Lita’s focus on making great music has made her an icon in hard rock. She is recognized and beloved the world over. One question she is routinely asked is when fans can expect a new record. Lita confided that she plans to have a new album out in 2024. To that end, we got to talk pretty intimately about her songwriting process. In fact, we touch on a lot of really fascinating aspects of Lita’s music and career.
If you are a fan of Lita Ford, a fan of heavy metal and hard rock, or just interested in the rock n’ roll world in general, I think you’ll really enjoy my talk with Lita on my signature entertainment news podcast It’s Showtime with Rikki Lee.
Make sure to keep up to date on Lita Ford at www.LitaFordOnline.com. You’ll find information on her upcoming concerts and festival appearances, her albums, merchandise, and fan experiences.
