Ford proves her mettle with metal

For many people, Lita Ford was the first woman they saw shredding hard rock on the guitar.

From her beginnings as a founding member of the seminal all-female rock band the Runaways in the 1970s to her success as heavy-metal hit-maker in the 1980s and ’90s, Ford has stamped her legacy loudly onto rock history. She joined the Runaways at age 16 and from there went solo and landed hits such as “Kiss Me Deadly” and “Shot of Poison,” as well as the duet “Close Your Eyes Forever” with metal icon Ozzy Osbourne. Ford became an MTV staple in the era of big hair and tight leather.

Then she all but disappeared from the music scene, for almost 15 years, to raise her family. But since returning full force in 2009, Ford has shown no signs of slowing down. Her skills as a musician earned her a guitar legend award by Guitar Player magazine, one of only a handful given out by the publication since its inception. It was an honor Ford said was hard-earned. Still today, she has to fight for her rightful recognition as an artist.

“You know, some people still today don’t think I’m playing the guitar. They just don’t. Unless I’m standing right in front of you, they don’t know. The fans that have seen the recent shows, they get it. Otherwise, people who haven’t seen me, even ones who have heard my records, don’t think that’s me playing on the f------ records,” she said from her home in Los Angeles. “So that meant the world to me to receive that achievement. I had waited a lifetime for something like that, to be acknowledged.”

Ford and her full band will headline the Northern California Women’s Music Festival at 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Fat Cat Music House & Lounge in downtown Modesto. The 57-year-old rocker spoke with The Modesto Bee from her home in L.A. about her beginnings in music, her time away and what brought her back.

Q: So, you were, of course, in the seminal all-female rock band the Runaways. At the time, did you realize you guys were doing something special and different or that would be revered as it has been through the years?

A: We knew we were doing something special, yeah, we did. The only trouble with it was we also knew we were way before our time. Although it was still a hell of a lot of fun at the time.

Q: You took a long break from the mid-’90s to late 2000s. What was it that brought you back to music, and since you’ve returned, how has it felt – different, or the same?

A: I missed it, first of all. I missed the music industry terrible. I missed it in the ’90s when things turned to grunge. But there was no place for me as an artist in the ’90s or anybody from the ’80s. So I think it was a graceful time to bow out and become a mother and raise two boys. And then I had the itch to get back into the music industry. I really honestly had no clue as to where the music industry was at at the time. I didn’t give a f---; I just wanted to play guitar. I didn’t care. I said, “You know what, I’ve got something to put down. I’ve got lyrics flying around like crazy. I’ve got titles; I’ve got riffs; I’ve got to make a record.” And I think I made a kick-ass record. If anyone really, truly listens to the album “Living Like a Runaway” (released in 2012), to the lyrics and riffs, it’s a magical record.

Q: You’ve got a new memoir coming out early next year, also titled “Living Like a Runaway.” What inspired you to write that, and what can people expect?

A: “Living Like a Runaway” is the story of my life. From my beginning as a teenager and then joining the Runaways and then going solo. It’s just a journey through the life of a woman who had to crack open the rock market as a female.

Q: I’ve talked with other women in hard rock, and they think the atmosphere is changing a little for women in the genre. Is that something you’ve seen as well?

A: In rock and hard rock, I honestly think that we still have to fight battles. They’re not all won yet. I am still dealing with naive people that refuse to accept the fact that maybe my song wasn’t so easy to learn, or maybe they might not look at me as a guitar player still. Instead they have to see me naked because I am a beautiful woman. When you’re a woman, you’re able to play that; you can play that card. Us women know what that card is; some of us use it and some of us don’t.

Q: When you meet young fans, what advice do you usually give them about music or the industry?

A: Well, the only advice I can really give is if you have a vision, follow it – don’t let anybody tell you what you’re doing wrong. You obviously see something. If you see it and it’s in your heart, you obviously need to chase that dream.

Q: I understand you’re working on new music. Tell me about that and what can people expect from the live show.

A: The new music is righteous; it’s freaking wicked. I hope we can get a record out soon. My book is coming out in 2016, and that should hold everybody over until we can get the next record finished. And when I come to Modesto, I’ll be playing with my full band. They are f------ awesome. The four of us on stage are like rolling thunder. Honestly, it’s Hollywood, California’s, finest lineup.

This story was originally published October 21, 2015 at 10:09 AM with the headline "Ford proves her mettle with metal."