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Before Lita Ford became a defining figure of 1980s hard rock, she was simply a young guitarist eager to match the skill of her idols.
Born on September 19, 1958, in London, England, Ford relocated to the United States at age seven, settling in Long Beach, California. Inspired particularly by Deep Purple’s Ritchie Blackmore, she began playing guitar at 11. By 16, her talent earned her a spot with the pioneering all-female rock band, the Runaways.
As the Runaways’ lead guitarist, Ford contributed to shaping the band’s hard-rock sound alongside Joan Jett, Cherie Currie, Sandy West, and Jackie Fox. The group released their self-titled debut album in 1976 and toured internationally while still in their teens. However, creative differences-Jett leaning toward punk, Ford and West favoring hard rock-led to the band’s dissolution in 1979.
Ford’s journey, however, was far from over, though her path to solo success presented challenges.
“In the early 1980s, there were no other girls out there who could play like I could,” Ford recalled in a 2026 interview. “I had to prove it was me playing those songs because nobody could accept it.”
Launching her solo career, she released Out for Blood in 1983 and Dancin’ on the Edge in 1984. Her breakthrough came after signing with RCA and partnering with manager Sharon Osbourne. Ford’s 1988 album, Lita, climbed to No. 29 on the Billboard 200 and achieved platinum status.
The album featured her signature solo hit, “Kiss Me Deadly,” which reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. But an even bigger success was just around the corner.
Ford’s unexpected duet with Ozzy Osbourne, “Close My Eyes Forever,” came about spontaneously during a late-night jam session. Ford explained in a 2012 interview, “Ozzy stayed, Sharon got bored and left, and we had a couple of drinks and started jamming. We wrote ‘Close My Eyes Forever’ before we knew it-the sun was coming up.”
Recognizing its potential, Sharon Osbourne pushed them to record the song immediately. Released in 1989, the duet soared to No. 8 on the Hot 100, marking the highest-charting single of Ford’s career.
Despite the duet’s success, Ford’s two Grammy nominations came from her solo work: Best Female Rock Vocal Performance nods for Dancin’ on the Edge in 1985 and for her 1991 single “Shot of Poison.”
Ford’s trailblazing guitar work has been widely honored. In 2014, Guitar Player magazine recognized her as the first female shredder with its Certified Legend Award and Hall of Fame induction. She received the Icon Award at the 2017 She Rocks Awards, and in 2019 was inducted into the Metal Hall of Fame.
Her legacy is also preserved at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, where her distinctive B.C. Rich Warlock guitar-named “Maurice” after a character from the TV show Bewitched-was placed on display in 2021.
“He was a badass,” Ford said of the namesake, “so I named my guitar Maurice. Now he’s iconic.”
After stepping away from recording to raise her two sons, Ford returned to the stage in 2008 and has maintained an active touring and recording career since.
Asked in 2024 if she saw herself as a pioneer for women in rock, Ford was modest. “I wasn’t trying to carve out a path. I just wanted to be a leader and play guitar,” she said.
Yet many female guitarists credit her with breaking barriers. Lzzy Hale of Halestorm has acknowledged Ford for “kicking the door down” for future generations.
As Ford celebrates her 68th birthday, she is not dwelling on the past. She has been working on a new studio album slated for release later this year. Tonight, she marks the milestone performing live at the Rose Music Center in Huber Heights, Ohio, alongside Dokken and Lynch Mob.
More than fifty years after joining the Runaways, Lita Ford continues to rock with undiminished energy.