Although I have featured Lita Ford's "Kiss Me Deadly" during Rocktober before (in 2015), I can't in good faith have a Rocktober comprised solely of hair band songs without including one of my favorites.
Lita Ford and Joan Jett were kind of the First Ladies of Glam Metal. Of course, they had both been members of the pioneering all-female '70s rock band The Runaways. After the band split up in 1979, both Ford and Jett forged solo careers and became successful in the '80s.
Ford's biggest success came with her 1988 album Lita, which got up to #29 on the Billboard album charts and has been certified platinum by the RIAA. Her duet with Ozzy Osbourne, "Close My Eyes Forever," rose to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it both her most successful single ever and Ozzy's most successful, as well. "Kiss Me Deadly" didn't do so bad either, peaking at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Lita Ford and Joan Jett were kind of the First Ladies of Glam Metal. Of course, they had both been members of the pioneering all-female '70s rock band The Runaways. After the band split up in 1979, both Ford and Jett forged solo careers and became successful in the '80s.
Ford's biggest success came with her 1988 album Lita, which got up to #29 on the Billboard album charts and has been certified platinum by the RIAA. Her duet with Ozzy Osbourne, "Close My Eyes Forever," rose to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it both her most successful single ever and Ozzy's most successful, as well. "Kiss Me Deadly" didn't do so bad either, peaking at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In addition to the tight clothes, teased blond hair, and good looks, "Kiss Me Deadly" made my 11-year-old self fall in love with Lita Ford. It's catchy and it rocks, which, as we've discussed many times this month, could describe most of the hair band genre. And that opening line is just phenomenal: "I went to a party last Saturday night / I didn't get laid / I got in a fight / Uh huh, it ain't no big thing." If you think Lita Ford is just some pretty face -- who gets in fights at parties instead of having sex, but doesn't give a shit -- you're selling her very short. She can also play a wicked guitar. In an interview I saw with her, she recounted a story about someone asking her who played the solo on "Kiss Me Deadly," as this guy assumed it was a man. Lita, rightfully incensed, explained (presumably in flowery language) that she played the solo (which is pretty damn good, too).
As my girls are getting older, they are now discovering -- with a little help from dad -- Lita Ford, Joan Jett, The Runaways, and Heart. I think it's pretty cool that they're learning women don't just have to be pop stars, but rather they can rock too. Some of the old Runaways clips with Ford and Jett are pretty cool, even if my kids have no idea what the song "Wasted" is about.
Unfortunately, the official video for "Kiss Me Deadly" is nowhere to be found on YouTube. There are a couple fake videos, as well as the one below, which features the actual music video behind the backdrop of a Guitar Hero screenshot of someone playing the song. The guy (or gal) playing got a very respectable 98% on the expert level, but even he (or she) couldn't nail Ford's solo.
As my girls are getting older, they are now discovering -- with a little help from dad -- Lita Ford, Joan Jett, The Runaways, and Heart. I think it's pretty cool that they're learning women don't just have to be pop stars, but rather they can rock too. Some of the old Runaways clips with Ford and Jett are pretty cool, even if my kids have no idea what the song "Wasted" is about.
Unfortunately, the official video for "Kiss Me Deadly" is nowhere to be found on YouTube. There are a couple fake videos, as well as the one below, which features the actual music video behind the backdrop of a Guitar Hero screenshot of someone playing the song. The guy (or gal) playing got a very respectable 98% on the expert level, but even he (or she) couldn't nail Ford's solo.
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