Who can deny the impact that Lita Ford has had on rock and metal music throughout her career which spans almost four decades? She’s often referred to as the “Queen of Hard Rock and Metal.” Who is going to argue with that? She was out of the spotlight for a little over ten years and made a return in 2009 with Wicked Wonderland, although it fell a bit short. Many consider 2012’s Living Like a Runaway her true comeback album and if you’ve heard it, you know it’s classic Lita.
What better way to celebrate a triumphant return to the spotlight than with a throwback that’s missing in rock music today: a live album. They used to be such a staple of classic rock throughout the years. Who doesn’t remember Frampton Comes Alive, KISS Alive! or Cheap Trick’s Live at Budokan? Listening to those albums was the closest thing that you could have than actually being at the show itself. You just don’t see as many of those being made today and Lita decided to kick it old school and remind us just how awesome those albums can be.
The Bitch is Back Live is the name of Lita’s new live album and the second of her career. The title is taken from the opening track which is the Elton John classic “The Bitch is Back.” The song was actually included on the limited edition digi-pack of her last album, so many may not be aware that she had covered the song before. The album spans her solo career going back to her 1983 solo debut album Out For Blood, whose title track is included.
The album does pull heavily from her 1988 album Lita, which is represented by four tracks: “Back to the Cave,” the Lemmy Kilmister co-penned “Can’t Catch Me,” plus her two mega hits “Kiss Me Deadly” and “Close My Eyes Forever.” I was pleased to see that it also pulls heavily from Living Like a Runaway which has four songs included as well: the title track “Relentless,” “Devil in my Head” and my personal favorite “Hate.” The amazing thing is that the old stuff sounds fresh and fits right in and flows effortlessly with the new stuff.
The album is raw and real and that’s what rock and roll is all about. I mean this in a good way, but I was totally surprised by how freaking amazing Lita’s voice sounds. I don’t think I have ever heard her voice sound so strong. Her band, consisting of Mitch Perry on guitar, Bobby Rock on drums and Marty O’Brien on guitar, definitely brought their A game to this show, just as they always do. The riffs are plentiful and at times you get caught up in how amazing the album sounds that you just want to pump your fist in the air as if you were actually there. It’s definitely a party and you are invited to rock; aquanet and spandex not included.
By: Johnny Price, Senior Journalist
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