Lita Ford Wants Nothing to Do with Upcoming Runaways Film
Former Runaways member and “Kiss Me Deadly” hard rocker Lita Ford is making it real clear she has nothing to do with the upcoming Runaways movie. The biopic, due for release next year, follows the career of the all-woman hard rock group that also featured Joan Jett.
The film, based on Runaways singer Cherie Currie’s book Neon Angel, follows the late ’70s band through their struggles in the music industry. Currie is to be played by Dakota Fanning, Jett by Twilight star Kristen Stewart and Ford by modern-day scream queen Scout Taylor-Compton (Rob Zombie’s Halloween movies, April Fool’s Day, Obsessed, etc.). But Ford told Rolling Stone that she has no connection to the film whatsoever, citing an ongoing feud with Jett’s manager.
“I just want people to know that I have nothing to do with that film,” she said. “Joan’s manager offered to buy the rights to my life story for a thousand bucks. I thought that was pretty disgusting — we never even replied.”
According to Ford, the manager has caused a huge rift between the two former Runaways members who will see their early lives immortalized onscreen. “[He’s] managed to cause a war between us — this has been going on since 1985,” Ford said. “So far, I’ve kept my mouth shut, and I don’t know how somebody like him can spend so much time trying to destroy somebody else’s career. Joan and I have done nothing to hurt each other. I’ve always loved Joan. I don’t know what the problem is with him — he really goes out of his way to fuck me up. I despise him for it. But there’s a place in my heart for Joan that will always be there.”
Meanwhile, Ford is flogging a new album, entitled Wicked Wonderland, due out September 15 on her own label, JLRG Entertainment. The album is co-produced by her husband, ex-Nitro singer and hair farmer Jim Gillette (he’s the blonde), and is Ford’s first album since 1995. She is also contributing vocals on one of her classic cuts, “Betrayal,” for the upcoming videogame Brütal Legend, which also features the voice talents of Rob Halford of Judas Priest and Motörhead’s Lemmy.
In other Runaways movie news, iT IS REPORTED that garage band Living Things will cameo as punk rockers the Ramones in the film.