Guitar Legend Lita Ford Coming To Ridgewood Feb. 24

By Brian Aberback

Lita Ford’s captivating new memoir, “Living Like a Runaway,” isn’t your typical rocker biography, and Ford hasn’t lived the typical rock star life. The book is available Feb. 23, and Ford will sign copies on Feb. 24 at Bookends in Ridgewood at 7 pm.

In the memoir, Ford chronicles her story, from her time in The Runaways, the pioneering all-female teenage wild child rockers, through her successful solo career, harrowing marriage and time away from the music scene, and recent triumphant return.

Ford details the many obstacles she faced while trying to prove herself as a female guitar hero in a decidedly man‘s world. There are also by turns fun and shocking stories that may have you looking at your idols a bit differently.

While many did not take her seriously at first, Ford has had the last laugh, with album sales in the millions, legions of fans, Grammy nominations and a Top 10 single. In 2014, Guitar Player magazine named her a Certified Guitar Legend for being the first female shredder.

In addition to her book, Ford will release a new album, “Time Capsule,” on April 15 and embark on a tour with Halestorm.

We recently spoke with Ford.

You have a remarkable life story. What inspired you to tell it at this point in time?
I had been reading [Runaways singer] Cheri Currie’s book and then they came out with The Runaways movie and I just felt like there was a lot that I had to say as well. I’ve had a career with The Runaways and as a solo artist and then I disappeared to raise a family for 15 years and then coming back to the music industry. I feel like I’m back on my heels again. I thought I had a lot to say and wanted to say it.

While The Runaways’ image was a band of rebellious girls who railed against authority, you write about the strong ties that you had with your parents, who were very supportive of your career.
I think a lot of people who don’t know me directly would think I came from a wacky family, but my parents were my biggest fans. My father would come to the shows and my mother would say, “Oh Lita (with heavy Italian accent), play me some Black Sabbath. They both loved it and were always supportive.

You were 16 when you joined The Runaways and 17 on your first tour. Was it nerve-wracking recording and touring at such a young age?

It was for a little while but once I got our first tour under my belt I was okay. Some people would say we weren’t the first all-women rock band. There were some, but The Runaways were girls. We were underage. We had to have somebody with us at all times. Some of the places we couldn’t even play because they served alcohol.

When The Runaways disintegrated you decided to pursue a solo career.
I just wanted to play a little bit heavier music and I wanted to play guitar and be recognized as the lead guitarist. I put together a three-piece band for recognition, to get recognized as a chick on guitar. Back then some of the looks on people’s faces, when I would stand onstage and throw out some licks, they were just in shock. Back then we didn’t have YouTube or cameras where you could videotape stuff but I wish we did. I remember those stunned faces like it was yesterday. It was very ahead of its time. I think if I came out now I would’ve been more accepted in the music industry.

And you blazed that trail, which must make you feel very good
It does. I can go to my grave and know that I left my mark in this world.

Your breakthrough album, “Lita” (1990), featured the infectious single, “Kiss Me Deadly,” and your duet with Ozzy Osbourne, “Close My Eyes Forever,” which hit No. 8 on the Billboard charts. Would those be your proudest accomplishments?

I think just being successful as a solo artist. I was proud of myself then in that era. And coming back again after being gone for so long, being gone from music for 16 years, and writing a kick-ass album “Living Like a Runaway” (2012).

The most emotional part of the book is about your marriage to your then-husband who isolated you from your friends, your career and, ultimately, your children. You write that he turned your two young boys against you and you haven’t seen them since your divorce five years ago. Do you think you will ever see them again? Are you pursuing legal action?
This is something they’re going to have to do on their own. if they want to see me they’re going to have to reach out to me. They’ll figure out what happened if they haven’t already. The lawyers, as far as I’m concerned, I have such little respect for most of the lawyers I’ve met on this case. They’re just in it together for money. They don’t care about the well being of the children.

You’ve become an advocate against parental alienation.
It isn’t something that a lot of people are aware of. It’s such a nasty thing. It’s the closest thing to evil that I’ve ever seen. I hope that people get that from the book. People don’t want to talk about it but it has to exposed in order for people to do something about it.

You have a new album, “Time Capsule,” coming out on April 15, that consists of songs you recently found on analog tape from the 80s and includes guests like Billy Sheehan and Dave Navarro. Can you tell us more about it?
There was some amazing stuff from the 80s that was not recorded under management or for an album. It was during a time in my life and I had some downtime and wanted to get into the studio to record. The next thing I know we’ve got these celebrities on these recordings. We just started rocking out and they’re some of the best recordings I’ve ever done. We didn’t touch one note. We did remix the songs, just to transfer them from analog to digital, but otherwise nothing has been altered.

Following the album’s release you’re going on tour with Halestorm, which is led by female singer-guitarist Lzzy Hale. How does it feel touring with someone whose path you helped lay out?
The great thing about Lzzy is she talks about where she comes from and who she likes musically. She doesn’t try to candy coat anything. She’s the real deal.

What would you say to a teenage girl who plays guitar and asked for your advice about entering the music business?
I would say to just follow your heart and don’t let anybody steer you in the wrong direction. Listen to criticism, but you’ve still got to be you to make your music true to yourself and true to your heart.

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