Lita Ford
b. 23 September 1959, London, England. Ford was one of the original members of the Kim Fowley-conceived Runaways, first joining the band at age 15. A disagreement within the ranks in 1979 over musical direction led to the Runaways break-up, leaving Ford to explore a solo career on the US glam/metal circuit (initially subsidised by her day job as a beautician). Her debut album was recorded for Mercury with the assistance of Neil Merryweather on bass, though it was Ford's guitar playing which took centre stage. DANCIN’ ON THE EDGE made a minor impact on the US album charts reaching number 66, though this was a less seamless collection. Almost four years later in 1988 came LITA. Housed on RCA (a third album for MCA, THE BRIDE WORE BLACK, had been abandoned) it reached the Top 30 and spawned the US number 12 hit, Kiss Me Deadly, plus a Top 10 hit on the duet with Ozzy Osbourne, Close My Eyes Forever. Later that year she married W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes, though this would be an ill-starred union. STILETTO continued to display Ford's commitment to the formula rock format prevalent in the USA, but she would leave RCA following disappointing sales for 1991's DANGEROUS CURVES.