Guitarist Lita Ford reveals the 10 albums that changed her life

By Pat Prince

From being a ‘Runaway’ to living like one, Lita Ford’s life has never been boring.

The guitar slinger, who got her start alongside fellow Runaways Joan Jett, Cherie Currie, Sandy West and Jackie Fox at the tender age of 16, stepped into her own as a solo artist in the 1980s.

While she is perhaps best known for her single “Kiss Me Deadly” and her duet with Ozzy Osbourne (“Close My Eyes Forever”), Ford has kept busy on the road and in the studio. Her latest effort, “Living Like A Runaway,” brings her back to her ’80s roots. So what kind of music knocks her hard-rockin’ socks off? Well, you’ll just have to keep on reading.

Elton John, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
These songs told stories and made me feel happy. I listened to them while drinking Boone’s Farm wine and walking with my wiener dog in the park. Absolutely beautiful songs. Very visual.

Pink Floyd, The Dark Side of The Moon
The female vocal tracks were amazing on this album, on “Great Gig In The Sky” and also this album in its entirety was life changing. A journey.

Jimi Hendrix Experience, Are You Experienced?
Jimi made his songs so different than anyone else: sloppy noise that spoke a thousand words, feedback on guitar channeled into awesome guitar riffs, burning guitars, which no one did.

Black Sabbath, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Heavy Metal at its finest. Also, some of the best rock riffs in the world. Evil, dark and haunting.

The Monkees, The Monkees
These guys were so cute, and the TV show was awesome. Loved their songs, too.

Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin I
Again, they brought to heavy rock a completely original sound. Led Zep are the grandfathers of rock ‘n’ roll. I listened to them in my teen years and was in awe of Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, “one of a kind drumming” and, of course, the higher vocal register of Robert Plant.

Grand Funk Railroad, Grand Funk
Some of the best riffs I ever heard. Jim Dandy was the original David Lee Roth.

The Who, Who’s Next
This album was truly life changing because of the aggressive performances this band did live, and their songs were so beautiful and well written.

Deep Purple, Deep Purple in Rock
Deep Purple had the best musicians; all of them were my favorites. Ritchie Blackmore was my first guitar god. I worshiped his playing.

Deep Purple, Fireball
Again, Blackmore was the best guitar player and was my idol. Songs that were sung with such feeling.