Lita Ford
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2008) |
Lita Ford | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Born | 23 September 1958 London, England |
Genre(s) | Glam metal, Hard rock, Punk rock |
Occupation(s) | Musician, Songwriter, |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, Guitar |
Years active | 1975 – present |
Label(s) | Mercury, RCA |
Associated acts | The Runaways |
Website | http://www.therunaways.com |
Lita Ford (born September 23, 1958) is a rock musician who achieved high popularity during the 1980s.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Ford was born Carmelita Rosanna Ford to a British mother, and a Mexican-Italian father in London, England. She moved with her family to the United States at age 4. She began playing the guitar at age 11. Her vocal range is that of a mezzo-soprano.[1]
In 1975 at the age of 17 she joined the all-female rock band The Runaways, for whom she played lead guitar.
[edit] Solo career
After the group folded in 1979, she began a solo career. Her first two albums, Out for Blood and Dancin' on the Edge were moderately successful. Out For Blood featured the single "Out For Blood". Her next album Dancin' on the Edge was even more successful. It featured the single "Fire in my Heart" which reached the top 10 in several countries. The next single "Gotta Let Go" was one of Ford's biggest hits. It reached number one on the Mainstream Rock charts and number one in England.
Ford toured extensively and made several guest appearances on TV shows for the next four years, but had no releases; a follow-up to Dancin' on the Edge, titled The Bride Wore Black, was abandoned and never released due to the fact Ford did not like the production of the album and this upset the head of her record label causing Ford to switch from Mercury Records to RCA Records. By the time Ford returned again, the lighter pop-metal she had long favored had broken through to mainstream audiences, which set the stage for her most commercially successful album, 1988's Lita. With Sharon Osbourne as her manager, and again produced by herself, the album featured four commercial hits, first was the #1 "Kiss Me Deadly", next #9 "Back to the Cave", #2 "Close My Eyes Forever", and #3 "Falling In and Out of Love". The ballad "Close My Eyes Forever," was a duet with Ozzy Osbourne. It was also her only Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit, reaching #8.
Her next release was called Stilleto. It featured the singles "Hungry" and "Lisa"; which was dedicated to her mother. However this album was not as successful as Dancin' on the Edge and Lita.
Ford's next release was Dangerous Curves. Ford's last release would be with XYZ Records and would be titled Black. It failed to repeat the success of 1991's Dangerous Curves.
Ford was asked by VH-1 to be in the cast of "The Surreal Life" for its 7th season, in 2007. She declined.
During her solo years, she was an endorsee of B.C. Rich guitars and used Mockingbird and Bich double-neck models.
In early July, 2008, Ford and her new solo band played several warm up gigs prior to Rocklahoma under the name Kiss Me Deadly in the New York City area.[2]
[edit] Personal life
Ford was married to Chris Holmes (from W.A.S.P.) from June 1990 to July 1991. She has been romantically involved with Nikki Sixx, Rainbow singer Joe Lynn Turner, Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi, Hurricane / ASIA drummer Jay Schellen, and finally, with successful business man and former bodybuilder Jimmy Tavis of Lostboys, Odin and The Anti Social.
Currently, she is married to Jim Gillette, of the band Nitro. With him she has two sons, with their first son having been born on Jim and Lita's third wedding anniversary.
[edit] Tributes
An achievement in the Xbox 360 version of the game Guitar Hero II, is titled the "Joan & Lita Award" in tribute to Lita and Joan Jett. It is awarded to two players who can get a 100 note streak in cooperative mode.
[edit] Rocklahoma 2008
For the first time in 15 years, Lita Ford will be taking the stage in her only North American appearance at Rocklahoma July 10-13[3]
[edit] Discography
Year | Title | Chart positions | ||
US Billboard 200[1] | UK | Certifications[2] | ||
1983 | Out For Blood | #- | #- | RIAA: - |
1984 | Dancin' on the Edge | #65 | #119 | RIAA: - |
1988 | Lita | #29 | #58 | RIAA: Platinum |
1990 | Stiletto | #52 | #75 | RIAA: - |
1991 | Dangerous Curves | #139 | #123 | RIAA: - |
1995 | Black | #- | #- | RIAA: - |
[edit] Other Compilations
- Greatest Hits - 1999
- Greatest Hits Live - 2000
- Platinum and Gold Collection - The Best of Lita Ford - 2004
[edit] Other appearances
- "I'll Be Home for Christmas" with Twisted Sister on A Twisted Christmas (2006)
- "I Want To Be Loved" with LOU on The Other Side (2005)
[edit] Singles
Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Billboard Hot 100 | UK Singles Chart | |||
1983 | "Out For Blood" | - | - | Out For Blood |
1983 | "Dressed To Kill" | - | - | Dancin' On The Edge |
1984 | "Fire in my Heart" | - | - | Dancin' On The Edge |
1984 | "Gotta Let Go" | - | #94 | Dancin' On The Edge |
1988 | "Kiss Me Deadly" | #12 | #75 | Lita |
1988 | "Back To The Cave" | - | - | Lita |
1989 | "Close My Eyes Forever" (with Ozzy Osbourne) | #8 | #47 | Lita |
1989 | "Falling In And Out Of Love" | - | - | Lita |
1990 | "Hungry" | #98 | #76 | Stiletto |
1990 | "Lisa" | - | - | Stiletto |
1991 | "Shot Of Poison" | #45 | #63 | Dangerous Curves |
1992 | "Playing With Fire" | - | - | Dangerous Curves |
1992 | "Larger Than Life" | - | - | Dangerous Curves |
1995 | "Killin' Kind" | - | - | Black |
[edit] Tours
- 1981 - Queens of Rock Tour with Joan Jett and Sandy West
- 1982 - Rulers of Metal Tour with Black Sabbath
- 1983 - Out For Blood Tour with Scandal, Wes Luthor, and Tony Schladora
- 1984 - Dressed To Kill Tour with Anthrax, The Johnson Brothers Band, Skillet, Metal Mania
- 1985 - South and Central America Tour with Soundgarden
- 1986 - Wild Tour with several local bands opening at different venues
- 1986 - Metal Rulz Tour with Poison, Motley Crue, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne.
[edit] References
- ^ Martin, Bill (2002). Pro Secrets Of Heavy Rock Singing. Sanctuary Publishing, Page 9. ISBN 1-86074-437-0.
- ^ http://www.eddietrunk.com/index.cfm/pk/view/cd/NAA/cdid/402306/pid/401816
- ^ Pryor Daily Times - Lita Ford to play Rocklahoma
[edit] External links
Persondata | |
---|---|
NAME | Ford, Lita |
ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Ford, Carmelita Rosanna |
SHORT DESCRIPTION | Musician, Songwriter |
DATE OF BIRTH | September 23, 1958 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | London, England |
DATE OF DEATH | |
PLACE OF DEATH |