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Thursday, April 5, 2012

F Is For Lita Ford

You know I could not have a blog about strong women and not have a rocker on here. I did a post last challenge about Joan Jett, so this year I'm going to talk about her band mate from The Runaways, Lita Ford.

Carmelita Rosanna Ford was born in Britain and moved to the States at age 4. At age 11, she picked up a guitar and that was it. By 16, Lita was a member of the seminal all girl rock band The Runaways along with Joan, Cherie Currie, and Sandy West, making her mark in the all boys' world of hard rock.

Her first solo album, Out For Blood, failed to chart in the U.S., but she didn't let that discourage her. She continued to tour, playing constantly in every place imaginable. Her second album, Dancin' on the Edge made moderate waves with singles like "Fire In My Heart" and "Gotta Let Go," which was a Number One hit and her biggest single to date. A follow up album, Bride Wore Black was never released because she hated the finished project and left her label Mercury, for RCA.

She didn't hit the charts again until 1988 with her self-titled album, Lita. Self-produced, this third album resulted in Lita's biggest commercial success  with hits like "Kiss Me Deadly," "Back to the Cave," "Falling In and Out of Love," co-written with Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue and the power ballad duet "Close My Eyes Forever" with Ozzy Osbourne. She followed this album up with Stiletto, Dangerous Curves (which featured her final charting single "Shot of Poison" and finally, Black. She basically disappeared for the remainder of the 90's.

In 2008, Lita formed a new band and released Wicked Wonderland in 2009. She continues to rock out wherever she can. Being a woman in a man's world like this meant she had to not only rock harder, but put up with a lot of sexist crap, including videos where some guy covered her guitar work while she was forced to scamper around in a barely there costume "seducing" the guitar and the "male" viewers. I respect her because she pushed through to find her own path, strumming her ax her way.

Here's a clip of Lita jamming with Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath on her pink B.C. Rich. Check out her skills...



Fun Factoid

Micki Steele from The Bangles once played bass guitar in The Runaways along side Lita and Joan.

Hope you are all enjoying the big A to Z. I thank you for stopping by and visiting. To check out my fellow awesome bloggers in this challenge please click here.







42 comments:

  1. Oh, what music she makes! I have had a huge crush on her for 20+ years - but I was always afraid that if we got together she would hurt me. Badly.

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    1. LOL, she is one tough rocker babe. I love how she always held her own in hard rock. She was sexy, but tough. And never a follower.

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  2. Lita is a super-hot rocker chick with a cool voice. I don't know much of her work or The Runaways' work, but "Cherry Bomb" and "Close My Eyes Forever" are classics!

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    1. She does have the most amazing voice. Cherry Bomb is one of my all time favorite tunes. She was managed by Sharon Osbourne at one time, which is why they did the song together. And yeah, I love that tune as well. :)

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  3. I must be a git. I don't know Lita. What a strong, talented woman. Thanks for sharing. Also thanks for visiting my blog and for the kind comments you left for Sarah. I'm loving doing this series.

    Denise

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    1. Thanks, Denise. And you are in no way a git. :) Lita is one woman I have always loved and was happy to do this post about her. The clip I found was was a completely random happenstance, but I think it really showcases her skill more than her videos.

      This challenge is so incredible, I'm inspired by my fellow challengers.

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  4. She's one heck of a rocker!


    Jamie
    Fellow A-Z bloggy buddy
    Mithril Wisdom

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    1. That she is, Jamie. I have loved her since I was a kid. :)

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  5. Awesome choice, Melissa! Enjoyed her music - and her videos, for obvious reasons. Did you know she married the lead singer for Nitro? At least he lost the big hair. (Remember their video for Freight Train?)

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    1. Thank, Alex! I knew you would appreciate this post, being an ax man yourself.

      I did not know that about her husband. How cool. And oh yes, I remember Freight Train. Oh the hair...;)

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  6. I'm enjoying the A to Z. Every time I open a blog, I find a fun theme and a great post. Thanks.

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    1. This challenge is a whole lotta fun, isn't it? So inspiring, too. I'm so happy you stopped by and enjoyed my piece on Lita.

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  7. never heard of her, but she sound dangerous :))

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    1. LOL, and that's probably why I love her so much. ;)

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  8. I heard of Joan but not her, kudos to her for hanging around....it's a pity that sexism exists in a country like the U.S...I always wonder why the female stars have to still gyrate around in scraps while their male counterparts can get away with some jumps and somersaults while fully clothed.

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    1. You are so right, Rekha. It is a frustration that wears on me daily. And it is exactly why I chose my theme for the challenge. Thanks for stopping by. :)

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  9. Ah, Lita Ford. I, well, *ahem* burst into puberty during her short domination of MTV and chart topping singles.

    I'll say nothing else about that.

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    1. LMAO! Not gonna comment on that, Rusty. ;)

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    1. She sure does, Heather! Love to listen to Lita to get my energy up.

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  11. I like The Runaways, Lita Ford and of course, a delicious tribute.
    Saludos.

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    1. Thanks, Leovi. :) The Runaways were awesome!

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  12. i've never heard of her either! but i'm guessing she's who dakota fanning played in the runaways film...

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    1. Actually, Scout Taylor Compton played her. Dakota played Cherie Currie. It was a pretty good film with an even better soundtrack. :)

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  13. Love her music!

    Look forward to your challenge run…
    --Damyanti, Co-host A to Z Challenge April 2012

    Twitter: @AprilA2Z
    #atozchallenge

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    1. Thank you so much! Lita is certainly a giant among women and I love to rock out to her tunes.

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  14. What an awesome choice. It's always annoyed me that there aren't more successful women in rock, love the ones that do make it.

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    1. Thanks, Julie! I feel you, my sister. I wish there were more women in rock and it frustrates me, the sexism they still face.

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  15. gosh Melissa, I'd never heard of her but enjoyed the video...

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the video! It's great seeing a woman riffing on a guitar in a hard rock/metal jam instead of man.

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  16. Hello Melissa,

    Great post, I think I just found my new favorite blog. Love the way you write!

    I discovered your site through the A to Z Challenge and am now a follower, but not in a stalker-ish way with binoculars and night vision goggles or anything like that ….

    Feel free to take a peek at my blog too if you have time. I write humor, and people tell me I’m funny (maybe it’s just the voices in my head, that’s what the doctor told me this last time when he upped my meds again).

    http://mothersofbrothersblog.blogspot.com

    best,
    MOV

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    1. Hi MOV! Thank you so so much for your kind words. And no worries, I'll just stalk you right back. ;) I love to read funny women.

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  17. Been in love with her for a long time. Did you know she was born in England?

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    1. Hi Jay! I did know she was born in Britain and I assumed England, but thank you so much for confirming.

      I've loved and admired her for a long time, too. :) She is an amazing and tough-minded woman.

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  18. My brother was a huge Ozzy fan and I remember Lita's duet with him because my bro played the video ENDLESSLY! (Wonder why? lol) I didn't know all these other facts about her. Thanks for another great post! :)

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    1. LOL, Cat! My cousin was the same way. I'm glad I chose the Tony Iommi jam vid as I almost chose the duet one. ;) Lita is badass all the way and it's a shame she's not a lot more popular than she is.

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  19. Wow! Don't know Lita but her music sounds great.
    dreamweaver

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    1. Hi Debra! Glad you enjoyed reading about Lita. Her music is great and she is one I have always loved.

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  20. Lita Ford is a very good if not great choice for a strong female hard rocker! She and her fellow band members, had a tough time getting their music out to the world in that era, very hard competing in what was a mans world!

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    1. Thanks C.M.! So many women rockers had and still have such a hard time making it hard rock and heavy metal. A man's world indeed.

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