Carmelita Rosanna ‘Lita’ Ford was born in the UK, but moved to the United States as a child. She joined the girl-band The Runaways at age 16 first as a bassist and then as a guitarist. Ford actually left and returned to the band in time to record music.

Once The Runaways had run its course in 1979 Lita put together her own band this time also assuming the role of the vocalist. Her career started with two shredding hard rock albums before taking a more commercial bent. Out For Blood’s cover was in fact censored in Europe. Mercury shelved an album called The Bride Wore Black and Lita soon changed record labels. Ford quickly opened for Black Sabbath where she met Tony Iommi. She and Iommi would soon become a couple before Lita would graduate to other guitarists and eventually marry W.A.S.P.’s Chris Holmes. She also had Metallica open for her in Germany in 1984. The Lita album featured the single Close My Eyes Forever, which was a duet with Ozzy Osbourne. Lita Ford was not coincidentally managed by Ozzy’s wife, Sharon Osbourne, at this time. The song was a top 25 billboard hit and a regular video on MTV. The ballad was Ford’s commercial zenith. 1995’s Black was a disappointment for the fans and grungy.

Ford married Nitro’s Jim Gillette and exited the professional stage. Gillette and Ford would move to the Caribbean and develop property. She did appear on Twisted Sister’s 2006 Christmas album. Lita, surprisingly, returned to the arena and was to play at 2008’s Rocklahoma festival in July.