Interview: Lita Ford Discusses Upcoming Quakertown, PA Performance, Gives Update on New Album
Whether it’s her early years as a member of the all-female, proto-punk rock group, The Runaways, her sultry vocal prowess and guitar sexiness on monster hits like “Kiss Me Deadly,” “Close My Eyes Forever,” and “Playin’ With Fire,” or the tenacity on tracks from her emotionally-charged album, “Living Like A Runaway,” there’s no denying that Lita Ford has earned the title of legend.
Never one to rest on her laurels, the reigning Queen of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal has been hard at work on her next project. A concept album being produced by long time friend, and famed guitarist Gary Hoey. Ford is also currently embarked on another round of summer touring, with a killer band that includes bassist Marty O’Brien, drummer Bobby Rock and guitar wizard, Patrick Kennison.
On Wednesday, August 28, Ford will bring her high-energy show to Quakertown’s Univest Performance Center, where she’ll be supporting another of the genre’s most legendary artists, Vince Neil of Mötley Crüe. The event is part of Quakertown’s annual “Sounds of Summer” concert series.
I recently spoke with Ford about her upcoming performance in Quakertown, new music and more in this exclusive new interview.
What can fans expect from your upcoming performance with Vince Neil in Quakertown?
Lita Ford: It’s a high-energy show with great songs and a smoking hot band. The good thing about it is that I’ve been blessed with great musicians and we all feed off each other. It’s a fun show from beginning to end.
What can you tell me about your musical relationship with Vince Neil?
LF: Vince is family. I’ve known him since the early Runaways days and the two of us grew up together in the music industry. He’s had a lot of great and devastating things happen in his life but he’s such a great guy. I just love him.
What do you think makes your music so timeless and special after all these years?
LF: I think it’s because it was real. That’s not to say that today’s music isn’t real, but it’s so sterile these days. Back in the 70s and 80s the music was just so raw. You could have as much hair as you wanted or wear really colorful clothes. It was a really cool vibe. It doesn’t seem like there are a lot of real rock stars anymore. It’s almost like once the 80’s ended they all started disappearing.
There’s certainly been a resurgence of your music lately, notably your song, “Kiss Me Deadly,” being used in the “Captain Marvel” soundtrack. Did the Marvel producers give you a reason why they chose that track?
LF: They didn’t say but I think it was the whole female superhero thing that really clicked with them. It’s always great to get a song in a major motion picture, but having “Kiss Me Deadly” in something as big as “Captain Marvel” is the ultimate compliment.
Can you give me an update on your new album?
LF: We really wanted to create something that’s huge and off the charts special. Because Gary Hoey [producer] is on tour a lot, and so am I, it’s been hard to get our schedules to gel. My songwriting partner, Michael Emig, also lives on the East Coast, and I’m on the West Coast, so there was even more juggling. I won’t get into details yet but Gary has added so much to this record and the two of us have such a great musical chemistry. I’d have to say it will be out sometime in early 2020, but if it makes it out by the end of this year then that’s even better.
You’ve mentioned that the new music will be part of a concept album. Did the album start out as a concept or did it evolve as you were writing?
LF: It just evolved. This record wasn’t something we just recorded in two weeks. We’ve been putting it together for quite a while now. The titles, riffs and lyrics were all many years in the making. Just singing and jamming in the studio with Gary on some of these songs was magic. It’s a cool concept and we’re excited that people will soon be able to see the whole picture and what it’s all about.
Are there any other projects you’re currently working on?
LF: Right now we’re putting together the finishing touches on our fall tour. We’ll be doing some shows with Bret Michaels, which is always a blast. I’ve also been doing some writing with Jean Beauvoir, who was the bass player for The Plasmatics. He’s super-talented. I was doing some shows in the U.S. and he kept popping up. Then one day I said to him, “You know, God is putting you in front of me for a reason. I think we need to write something together.” So we started writing and it’s the last song on the new record. It was really a good move because it’s such an amazing track!
Lita Ford will perform at the Univest Performance Center in Quakertown, PA on Wednesday, August 28. Tickets are available here
