Interview with Lita Ford
with Song River
With seven studio albums, one best
of and one live vinyl Lita Ford has been soaring solo under the
deserved title “Queen of Metal” for a long time. Who else could
ever fill those shoes or should we say hard, driving, shred mistress?
Lita Ford reigns. Touring
this year has taken her to 10 different cities as she promotes her
book, Living Like A Runaway, and soon she begins touring with
Halestorm on April 1st. How does one catch up with the
“Queen of Metal” when she's constantly in motion? Easy, by
sliding in next to her favorite axe and meeting her time-line set.
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| Lita Ford Photo Credit: Erin Williams |
Song River: Hey Lita how are you doing?
Lita Ford: So sorry about all the back
and forth we are just really crazy out here in New York City today,
with the rain and the book tour.
SR: Well, you are doing something you
love, so it is worth it!
LF: Oh yes. Absolutely.
SR: Congratulations on the book. It was
a non-stop good read. It would seem that the last few pages really
sum up your life in general and your journey in the music industry.
You were heading for the Monsters
of Rock Cruise and one thing after another kept getting in
your way as you were trying to catch your transportation. Even with
all the mishaps, and missed connections, there was no way you were
going to stop until you reached your destination to perform. That is
you really in a nutshell... full on, bull horns down, not going to
quit isn't it?
LF: Yes, yes it really is. I am very
focused on a daily basis and having to shift your focus to whatever
it is you’re doing at the time, like if you’re going hop onto a
cruise and do that, or go on a book tour, or even writing the book.
It is all staying focused deliberately.
SR: After reading the book it sounded
like you really had the stamp of approval from everyone involved to
say what you wanted to say and to be completely honest. Because in
truth that is you- you say it like it is, right?
LF: Yes it's true, very true. It's a
tell-all book. I am just that kind of person.
SR: Do you find that people sometimes
don't know how to deal with that?
LF: Right. It depends on too if you’re
a guy or a girl. If a guy goes out every night and has sex its okay,
but if a girl does it- she's a whore. It's a double-standard.
SR: Do you think the double-standards
will ever be overcome?
LF: No, no I don’t think they will.
It will always be a man's world, but that’s okay.
SR: You talk towards the end of your
book more about the situation with your sons. How old are they now?
LF: My boys are now 18 and 14.
SR: Has anything changed with your
connection with your boys since the publication of your book?
LF: No, no, unfortunately, it has been
five years for me. But at times, it feels like it has been five
seconds. The legal system all over the world uses the kids to rake in
more money. And in the end, you end up with nothing. You've sold your
home, car, everything. There are some good lawyers out there, but
there job is about making money.
SR: In the end does it feel like the
system works more for the criminals than it does for justice?
LF: Yes, it does and they try to
justify it.
SR: For what it is worth, don’t quit
trying. Your kids are always worth it. A mother's love can never be
severed, no matter anyone says or does. You love them.
LF: Absolutely. I can not.
SR: Sitting listening to your album,
Living Like A Runaway, and really tuning into the lyrics.
These songs are the words that represent in truth your life,
perspectives, challenges, and triumphs. Are these songs on this
particular album really your life?
LF: It is, it really is. Living Like
A Runaway really spins with everything to do with when I was
married, each song written on paper, I just poured my guts out into
that album, and now as well into my book. Living Like A Runaway
is such a great title, and I felt like I had to take it from the
album and use it for the book because it applies to the book in many
ways. Not just 'living like a runaway' because I really was living
like a runaway and I don't mean the band. But in some ways, it also
does apply to the band at the same time.
SR: It would seem that the album and
the book could be applied synonymously. They go hand in hand
together?
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| Lita Ford Photo Credit: Dustin Jack |
LF: Yes.
SR: Lita as we are sitting here today,
for just a few moments in between stops on your book tour, I would
like to know if you could sit down with your mom and dad, what would
you tell them right now today Lita?
LF: Oh, my, um [paused]. I think my
parents are with me, I feel them. Things happen in a weird sort of
way that I just feel like they are looking over me. Like the way
things pan out or are planned out it's just bizarre. You couldn’t
plan it out the way things happen in my life. It's like God is up
there making the pieces fall together so perfectly and I think that
really comes from my parents.
SR: I know you have to get going, so
one final question. Life is a journey and you certainly have been on
a great one. Tonight as you look out your window from where ever you
are on your book tour and you see that star, your star that you
prayed to so many times growing up and into adulthood, what is it you
pray for Lita? What is it ultimately Lita that you want?
LF: [long pause] I want my boys back.
And I know they want me too.
SR: As we have seen in the music you've
created and this book you've written they both have been somewhat
healing for you. So as the reigning “Queen of Metal,” when can we
possibly see another album from you?
LF: Well, we have an album coming out
April 15th that is an album packed full of different rock stars. It's
a throwback album to the 80's that I have had on analog tape that we
transferred to digital. It's a gift to the fans and to those who
didn’t get to live through the 80's because they were too young.
This album will be out April 15th and we will be on tour with
Halestorm starting April 1st.
SR: Album title?
LF: It is called, Lita Ford's Time
Capsule and it rocks BIG time!
SR: Well it has to, you are the “Queen
of Metal!”
LF: [laughed] Yeah! Oh, and you can go
to pledgemusic.com/LitaFord where you can get the book, the album
Lita Ford's Time Capsule, and other merch too.
SR: Keep wailing on that guitar, take
care of your vocals- because the world of rock needs you! Thank you
so much for talking with me today Lita.
LF: Absolutely, I am here for the long
haul!
LINKS:
Website Lita
Ford
Pledgemusic Lita
Ford
YouTube Lita
Ford