Classic Rock Revisited has issued the following from Jeb Wright:

I interviewed LITA FORD this July for the jumbo-tron at The Moondance Jam in Walker, Minnesota only moments before she went onstage. Her two sons were in the room watching the interview, her oldest even recorded it for a school project. I could not help but notice that next to Lita, just out of camera range, was a giant of a man with red flame tattoos up and down his arms who was sporting a blonde Mohawk. I had been warned earlier by some staffers not to upset this man as he was Jim Gillette, Lita’s husband and that he had a black belt in everything and that if I upset her during the interview it would be curtains for me. Luckily, the short chat came off splendidly and I didn’t get my ass kicked.

I have interviewed hundreds of artists over my ten-year career and, I must admit, there are still times the rock fan in me comes out. When I interview someone who I admire then it is still thrill for me. I have always admired Lita Ford. From the first moment in the 80’s when I saw her rip out a killer solo on her BC Rich Warlock guitar I have had a thing for her. I bought her albums and read her articles in all of the rock magazines. Instead of fearing Jim Gillette, I found myself envying him. After all, he is married to Lita fucking Ford. How cool is that?

After the interview, we were standing there chatting and I said, “Jim, where I come from we are gentlemen. I love your wife’s music and I admire her as a person. I need to ask your permission to give her a hug.” Jim instinctively looked over at Lita. A mean scowl appeared on his face. He looked at me and held up his right hand and made a motion with his thumb and forefinger and said, “Just a little one.” As soon as he did that, his face broke out in a big smile. I hugged Lita and shook Jim’s hand and we talked for a while. Jim gave me his business card and we have been emailing each other, giving each other shit, and becoming friends ever since.

Fast forward a few months and I am waiting for the phone to ring so I can interview Lita again. This time we are going to talk about her new album Wicked Wonderland. This album is, by far, the heaviest music Lita has ever written and recorded. She has honed her chops and is kicking out the jams throughout the entire disc. Lita called right on time and I picked up the phone. After exchanging a few pleasantries, I confronted her concerning her change in style from the pop metal she did in the 1980’s to the brutality that is Wicked Wonderland. Lita explained to me that the times have changed, “What was heavy back then were things like ‘Close My Eyes’ and ‘Kiss Me Deadly.’ Things have gotten heavier, now, fifteen years later. We wanted to appeal to our older fans as well as a younger audience. Jim and I decided to go heavier and make music that had a lot of energy.”

We discussed the difficulty of coming back after fifteen years and playing a new type of music. Lita even admitted that while she loves the new stuff, her listening tastes have not changed, “You just have to listen to what is out there today and try and play off of it a little bit. You have to be careful not to stray too much from your roots. Personally, I don’t listen to too much new music these days. I am still listening to METALLICA, THE RAMONES and VAN HALEN. I like the older stuff but Jim is pretty hip to what is going on today. Greg Hampton, who is his songwriting partner, also listens to a lot of the newer stuff. Together, the three of us wrote this album.”

Read the full story at Classic Rock Revisited.

The first videos from QUEENSRŸCHE's current tour with Lita Ford are available for viewing below. Queensrÿche - who have been touring since late March in support of their newest effort American Soldier (Atco/Rhino) - have taken Lita Ford on the road with them for over two dozen dates beginning October 15th (see full itinerary below).

Ford will hit the stage during the Queensrÿche set to perform three songs including her Top 10 Billboard hit (performed with OZZY OSBOURNE), 'Close My Eyes Forever', which she will duet with Queensrÿche front man Geoff Tate.

For all songs, Lita will be backed by Queensrÿche - Geoff Tate on vocals, Michael Wilton and Parker Lundgren on guitars, Eddie Jackson on bass and Scott Rockenfield on drums.

Queensrÿche tour dates:

October

20 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore
21 - Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theatre
22 - Philadelphia, PA - Theatre Of The Living Arts
23 - Norfolk, VA - The Norva
24 - Englewood, NJ - Bergen Performing Arts Center
25 - Westbury, NY - Capital One Bank Theatre
27 - Covington, KY - Madison Theater
28 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
29 - Indianapolis, IN - The Vogue
30 - Fort Wayne, IN - Piere’s
31 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant

November

1 - Joliet, IL - Rialto Square Theatre
2 - Fargo, ND - The Venue
4 - Missoula, MT - The Wilma Theater
5 - Spokane, WA - The Knitting Factory
6 - Boise, ID - The Knitting Factory
7 - Stateline, NV - Harrah’s Lake Tahoe
10 - Houma, LA - The City Club
11 - Nashville, TN - Cannery Ballroom
12 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade – Hell Stage
13 - Jacksonville, FL - Plush
14 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Revolution

15-20 - Grand Cayman & Jamaica - ShipRocked Cruise

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