Lists of the greatest rock guitarists of all time are typically overwhelmingly male, but one woman who regularly shows up alongside the best of the best is Lita Ford. Ford got her start as a member of seminal all-female punk band The Runaways, alongside fellow future rock icon Joan Jett. After The Runaways broke up in 1979, Ford launched a solo career that made her one of the biggest stars of ’80s hair metal, with a string of hits including “Kiss Me Deadly,” “Gotta Let Go,” “Back to the Cave” and the Ozzy Osbourne duet “Close My Eyes Forever.” Ford’s vocal snarl and soaring guitar were the perfect combination for the era of pop-metal excess.
She took 15 years off to focus on family, but has been going strong since returning with 2009 album Wicked Wonderland, tapping into the still-hungry audience for ’80s hard rock by touring with acts like Def Leppard and Poison, and returning to her classic sound for 2012’s Living Like a Runaway. Her most recent release is Time Capsule, a collection of lost ’80s recordings. Whether on early efforts or new songs, Ford’s guitar heroics remain unparalleled.
Golden Nugget, 8 p.m. Jan. 5, starting at $42.51 plus tax and fee. 866.946.5336
