Lita Ford’s upcoming solo album, Living Like A Runaway, will be released on June 19, 2012 by SPV/Steamhammer.
The album from the former Runaways member will be available in five different formats: as a limited edition digipak featuring two bonus tracks and a poster, as a gatefold double LP, a jewel case version, an exclusive iTunes version including a bonus track, and for download.
A British born rocker who grew up in Los Angeles, Lita Ford is among the most important female representatives of female guitarists.
Being a founding member of the Runaways starting at age 16, the group was one of the first all female girl bands that worked their way through the male-dominated world of rock music, causing a stir with their six rebellious album releases.
Following the break-up of the Runaways, Lita Ford, like Joan Jett, who was also in the group, focused on having a successful solo career.
Ford has had a string of memorable hits, including the chart topping duet with Ozzy Osbourne “Close Your Eyes Forever,” ”What Do You Know About Love,” “Shot Of Poison,” “Larger Than Life,” and her massive hit single “Kiss Me Deadly.”
Currently on tour, Ford will join Def Leppard on the road as their opening act on June 20th.
For years, she has been playing B.C. Rich guitars, and is heavily involved with the company in various ways with the new B.C. Rich Black Warlock.
In an interview last week, Ford told me, “One of the magazines I have the most difficulties getting photos or articles in is guitar magazines. I have the most difficult time getting write-ups in guitar magazines. They don’t want to do it.”
I then asked her how she feels about some of the marketing in the guitar magazines that use female models holding guitars in a way that indicates the model has never held an electric guitar in her life, let alone played one.
“They’re using women as models, and not as musicians,” says Ford, who signed autographs this year at the B.C. Rich, Dean Markley and Seymour Duncan booths at NAMM this year, and performed at NAMM’s Dean Markley party.
“Well, I’m working on that. I’m working on it,” says Ford. “ It’s one of my pet peeves. If these idiots can’t put a woman on the cover of their magazine, because we’re women, someone’s just got to break that ice, and I can’t believe it hasn’t been broke yet.”
“I’ve gotten features, but it’s the covers,” emphasizes Ford. “And even features are hard to get. It’s still hard to get.”
“And it’s a guitar, not anything else,” she says, dumbfounded by the males only approach of marketing used in guitar magazines.
She says of those that can’t deal with the concept of a female being a proficient electric guitarist, “They get intimidated. It’s just a chauvinistic sort of thing, I guess.”
It is probably no irony that on her upcoming album, the guitar riff-based song “Relentless” includes the lyrics, “Had every door slammed in my face, told me a girl needs to know her place. I never listened, I proved them all wrong. I rocked their asses from here to Hong Kong.”
TRACKLISTING:
Standard jewel case version
1. Branded
2. Hate
3. The Mask
4. Living Like A Runaway
5. Relentless
6. Mother
7. Devil In My Head
8. Asylum
9. Love 2 Hate U
10. A Song To Slit Your Wrists By
Limited edition Digipak version
1. Branded
2. Hate
3. The Mask
4. Living Like A Runaway
5. Relentless
6. Mother
7. Devil In My Head
8. Asylum
9. Love 2 Hate U
10. A Song To Slit Your Wrists By
BONUS TRACKS:
11. Bad neighborhood
12. The Bitch Is Back
Exclusive iTunes version
1. Branded
2. Hate
3. The Mask
4. Living Like A Runaway
5. Relentless
6. Mother
7. Devil In My Head
8. Asylum
9. Love 2 Hate U
10. A Song To Slit Your Wrists By
EXCLUSIVE iTunes Bonus Track
11. Boiling Point
Double gatefold LP version
LP SIDE 1:
1. Branded
2. Hate
3. The Mask
LP SIDE 2:
1. Relentless
2. Devil In My Head
3. Asylum
LP SIDE 3:
1. Living Like A Runaway
2. Mother
3. A Song To Slit Your Wrists By
LP SIDE 4:
1. Love 2 Hate You
BONUS TRACKS:
2. Bad Neighborhood
3. The Bitch Is Back
~ Phyllis Pollack