Lita Ford And The Childhood Dream That Kept Her Going Through Label Rejections

April 3, 2025

Lita Ford always dreamed of being a rock star. As a little girl, she would watch her older brothers play in their garage band and imagine herself on stage, electric guitar in hand, with the crowd cheering her name. Growing up in the suburbs of Los Angeles, Lita would spend hours practicing in her bedroom, strumming her guitar and singing along to her favorite artists like The Runaways and David Bowie. She envisioned a life filled with music, lights, and the thrill of performing. But as she grew older, she realized that achieving her dream would not be as easy as she had hoped.

After joining the all-girl band The Runaways at just 16, Lita felt like she was living her dream. The band had hits like “Cherry Bomb,” and they toured with some of the biggest names in rock music. But when The Runaways disbanded in the late 1970s, Lita found herself at a crossroads. She tried to start her solo career, but the rejections from record labels piled up. Each “no” felt like a dagger, but Lita refused to let these setbacks extinguish her passion. Instead, she clung to the vision of herself playing on stage, her heart full of music and energy.

Lita spent her days writing songs and honing her guitar skills, pouring her emotions into every lyric and riff. She found joy in small victories, like winning a local battle of the bands or receiving praise from fellow musicians. But the fear of failure loomed over her, and doubt sometimes crept in. “What if I never make it?” she wondered. During those tough times, she would close her eyes and imagine herself in front of thousands of fans, the lights shining bright, feeling the rush of performing. That dream became her lifeline, a source of inspiration that kept her going.

Finally, her hard work paid off when she signed with a record label and released her debut solo album, “Out for Blood,” in 1983. The album showcased her talent as a guitarist and a songwriter, and it was a turning point in her career. Lita went on to create hits like “Kiss Me Deadly” and “Close My Eyes Forever,” and she became a symbol of female empowerment in rock music. She proved that perseverance and passion could conquer rejection, inspiring countless young musicians to follow their dreams, no matter how far away they seemed.

Through the ups and downs, Lita Ford never forgot her childhood dream. It had fueled her journey and shaped her as an artist. She often told fans, “Believe in yourself and never give up, because dreams do come true.” Lita’s story reminds us that while the road to success can be bumpy, the fire inside us is what will ultimately lead us to the stage we were meant to own. And for her, that dream was not just about fame or fortune; it was about the joy of music and the power of resilience.