Lita Ford, a name synonymous with female rock empowerment, recently opened up about a pivotal moment in her career: her transformation after leaving the groundbreaking all-girl band, The Runaways. In a candid conversation with Axe Lords, Lita delved into the challenges and triumphs of forging her own path, and what she had to do to make it happen.
"It was a total reinvention," Lita explained, emphasizing the magnitude of stepping out of the shadow of The Runaways. The Runaways, a group of teenage girls, was where they were finding themselves. Each member emulated their heroes. It was like going to college and learning who to be. "I really had to become a solo artist."
But here's where it gets controversial... Lita realized she couldn't simply replicate her Runaways days. The band, in her eyes, was a crucial learning experience, a "college" where she discovered herself. She needed to carve out a distinct identity. "I need to figure out who is Lita Ford. Who is she? What does she look like? What does she wear? What kind of guitars does she play?" This quest led her to B.C. Rich guitars, a partnership that solidified her signature sound and style. It was a key element of her reinvention!
Lita didn't just reinvent her sound; she had to reinvent her image. She describes it as a "searching for Lita kind of experience -- the hair, the clothes, those guitars." It was a conscious effort to separate herself from the collective identity of The Runaways and establish herself as a unique, powerful solo artist.
And this is the part most people miss... Reinvention isn't just about changing your look or sound; it's about understanding who you are and what you want to represent.
This wasn't the only controversial topic Lita has recently discussed. Shifting gears, Lita also spoke with Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini about the 2010 Runaways biopic, a film that sparked strong reactions from the band members. Lita didn't hold back her feelings. "I felt that THE RUNAWAYS movie was all about Joan, and the stories that they told about Joan were just not accurate. They really made her to look larger than life. And I just didn't agree with any of it." She clarified her stance, emphasizing her respect for Scout Taylor Compton, who portrayed her in the film, but also expressing her less-than-favorable opinion of Kristen Stewart (who played Joan Jett) and Joan Jett herself.
"The movie is just kind of, for me in my book, I glanced over it when it first came out and just thought, 'Okay, I've seen it. I'm done. I don't ever wanna see it again,'" Lita stated, clearly unimpressed with the film's portrayal of events. She even hinted at potentially telling her own version of the story someday: "Yeah, I would've done it different. But maybe I will one day."
Before the film's release, Scout Taylor Compton showered Lita with praise, calling her an "icon of rock" and a "personal hero." She expressed her excitement for Lita to see the film and her dedication to portraying her accurately.
The Runaways, the first true all-girl rock band of the 1970s, achieved international recognition and chart success before disbanding at the end of the decade. The band's influence on female musicians remains undeniable, paving the way for future generations of women in rock.
However, a reunion seems unlikely. In 2018, Lita told the Daily Mail that a Runaways reunion would probably never happen. She pointed to Joan Jett's manager as a major obstacle, alleging that he is "very controlling" and sees her as a "threat."
"Joan Jett is very much in 'Joan Jett land,' I guess you could say. Will she ever come out of Joan Jett land? I don't think so. I think her manager controls that and it's really up to him and her. It seems to me like Joan Jett's manager just runs her life in every way, shape, or form. He's very controlling and he has a real problem with me. He has a real issue with me. He sees me as a threat, which is ridiculous, because she's like my sister and I love Joan. It's ridiculous, it's uncalled for, and it's caused a little bit of rivalry between her and I, which is totally uncalled for. It's his fault."
Lita even claimed that Jett's manager has actively prevented her from discussing a reunion with Jett.
"The hard part is just trying to communicate with Joan without her manager involved," she explained. She recounted an incident where she attempted to have a "girl's night out" with Joan, only to have her manager present.
"So it's like, 'Dude, answer the question. I'm trying to ask you a question. Are you interested in putting THE RUNAWAYS back together?' She never answered the question." This paints a picture of a deeply strained relationship, complicated by external influences.
Adding another layer to the story, former Runaways singer Cherie Currie revealed in 2016 that the band came close to reuniting three decades prior. "Lita had reached out to us to convince us, me and Joan, to do a RUNAWAYS reunion. And we did, with Kenny Laguna basically at the helm, he secured a tour and Lita, she just basically doesn't get along with Kenny and she just walked away from that."
Lita herself shed light on a separate potential reunion in the early 1990s, explaining that she ultimately decided against it because "NIRVANA was just kicking in, and it was really bad timing; it wouldn't have worked. People would have just turned their nose up at it." This highlights the ever-changing landscape of the music industry and the importance of timing.
Lita Ford's journey is a testament to the power of reinvention, the complexities of band dynamics, and the enduring legacy of The Runaways. What do you think about Lita's comments on the Runaways movie? And do you think a reunion is truly impossible, or is there still a glimmer of hope for fans? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
