Lita Ford recently shared her perspective on how the music industry’s shift toward grunge and rap in the 1990s affected her career. She explained her decision to stay true to her rock and roll roots in an interview with Get On The Bus.
The former Runaways guitarist discussed her approach to navigating the changing musical landscape. She also talked about her commitment to maintaining her authentic sound.
“Well, I mean the grunge scene did take over, you know, for quite a long period of time. It took over record companies and I mean there were some big hit records out there in Nirvana and Stone Temple Pilots and Alice In Chains,” Ford said. “It was time to back off and let them have at it and just kind of watch the world, see what happens in the music industry and uh and see if you still have a itch for what it is it what it is that you do.”
Ford emphasized her decision to remain authentic rather than adapt to industry trends.
“I don’t particularly want to change myself because the world is changing. I just need to be Lita. And this is how I originally, you know, came off the Runaways. I just wanted to be Lita,” she continued. “But after watching the 90s grunge scene and I love a lot of that stuff, but then rap kicked in and all this other stuff kicked in and I just thought, you know, I don’t really care.”
The rock veteran concluded by reaffirming her commitment to her musical identity.
“There’s people out there that still want to hear straight up rock and roll and this is what I do and this is what I’m going to do and that’s it. And so I picked up my guitars again and had some new clothes made again and and went out there and just, you know, I thought, well, I’m going to do what I know how to do and that’s be Lita,” Ford stated.
Ford’s unwavering commitment to authenticity has deep roots in her pioneering career. This career began decades before the grunge revolution.
Dig Me Out reported that she joined The Runaways in 1975. The band shattered expectations about what teenage girls could do with guitars, amps, and attitude. At just 16 years old, Ford became part of a groundbreaking all-female rock band that would influence generations of musicians.
The Runaways faced their own challenges with industry acceptance long before Ford encountered the grunge era. Guitar World noted that Ford reflected on the band’s early reception: “Back in 1976 people didn’t know what to make of The Runaways. They labeled us as teenage jailbait or punk rock. I didn’t care.”
This early experience of staying true to her vision despite industry skepticism clearly shaped Ford’s approach to later musical trends. Phoenix New Times revealed that after The Runaways disbanded, Ford launched a successful solo career in the 1980s that featured hits like “Kiss Me Deadly.” This proved her ability to maintain her rock identity across different musical eras.
Ford’s perspective on the 1990s industry changes reflects a seasoned artist who had already weathered decades of musical evolution while maintaining her core identity as a rock guitarist and performer.
