Thank you, Lita, we really appreciate you taking time to answer a few questions for our readers at METAL TEMPLE and to talk about your amazing career and the current tour. I am a big fan of yours and I’ve seen you “live” three times in the last two years, you look and sound terrific, so this is truly a wonderful experience for me.   

MT: First, how are you doing?

Lita: Still alive and well, thanks!  

MT: Well, it looks like you are the answer to a rock and roll trivia question, “who was the very first guest on That Metal Show with Eddie Trunk”, that must have been a pretty exciting experience?

Lita: Eddie is a great talent , as it was a great honor to be on his pilot.  He is forever grateful for me doing so and so am I grateful to Eddie for having me... You never forget your first love.  So to speak. Ha Ha  

MT: I know you have a new album in the works, can you fill us in on the details and progress, and possible release date? Any surprises?   

Lita: I will tell you all about it when it is released as I am chomping at the bit. LOL 

MT: You’re back on the road again here in the States and the UK/EU with a theme of “Rock meets Classic” that officially starts April 3^rd , sounds super intriguing, can you tell us what to expect?   

Lita: RMC is an amazing group of A + musician. The orchestra is phenomenal and I am so excited and honored to be a part of this awesome tour. I think for me I am just so happy to be back in Deutschland with mega rock stars and top songs from all artists .  I will be playing KISS ME DEADLY,  CHERRY BOMB, and will sing  CLOSE MY EYES FOREVER  with Glenn Hughes.   

MT: I saw the video of you and Dee Snider together on stage in Tennessee last month, that must have been a fantastic experience sharing the stage with such an incredible and talented musician like Dee, anything crazy happen?   

Lita: Ha Ha!  Well, that show was a warm up show, as we have many shows in 2025.  Dee Snider is part of the musical soundtrack of our lives , so is Lita , together we are 2 rock legends bring you the soundtrack of our lives,  and the fans loved us,  can’t wait to do it again this weekend on the 28th at the Treasure Island Casino , also with Firehouse. 

MT: Sharing the bill with Firehouse at the end of May and then again later in the year for several shows, it is such a shame we lost one of the true iconic voices in rock last year in C J Snare, I’ve seen Firehouse a lot over the years, what a great loss.

Lita: CJ was the greatest ! A great talent and such a huge loss. He was my buddy; every show we would cheer each other on and when I couldn’t be on the same show as Firehouse I would text him words of encouragement for a great show.  We had a lot of respect for each other. 

MT: You went from being handpicked to be part of this all-girl band, to your solo career where you were the band leader and chose who you were playing with, what was that transition like for you?  

Lita: I had to create LITA, after being in an all-girl group. I needed to completely re-invent myself. Who was Lita? What did she look like?  What did she wear?  What did she sound like and how was she going to do it?  Sing or play guitar or both?   It was a work in progress and took some time to figure out.  But of course, it all came together eventually!  I got the right people to work with me, who were a huge help with songs, sound, and image:  the right guitars and the right sound.    I was basically given a second chance at being Lita.  Ha Ha !    

MT: At that point when you started your solo career, what did it mean to you to be the only female lead guitar player in hard rock and heavy metal at the time when that genre’s popularity was soaring?  

Lita: Oh, there were other female artists that were great!!  Pat Benatar - Chrissy Hynde, but they didn’t really play an instrument - although Chrissy strummed a telecaster .  Their records were very radio friendly but mine not so much.  It was a lot of fun being in a 3-piece band and doing what the hell I wanted to do, as a woman on guitar. Love 3-piece bands , like Hendrix or Van Halen.  They just rocked!   

MT: You are one of the hardest working musicians around with constant touring, what do you find the biggest challenge?    What’s the least glamours aspect of being on the road?   

Lita: Least glamours/ biggest challenge for me is sitting on plane as travel has changed so much over the decades.  But it’s the fastest way to get from point A to Point B. That’s probably the worst thing.  I feel very blessed to be playing rock n roll for living as it is what we do best, together with my kick ass band I have no complaints .  It’s a great life and it’s a great time to be Lita.    

MT: You’ve preformed some amazing covers “live” over the years, “The Bitch is Back”, “Burn”, “Rock Candy”, “Only Woman Bleed” , do you find it fun to put your own spin on these classic songs?  

Lita: I love doing these songs! Only Woman Bleed we have been doing for so long it feels like a LITA song , and BITCH with Elton John’s approval. We recorded it back in 2012 and now we still play it live, it feels like we own it, so to speak.  If you are going to do songs of such greatness you better own them, or they will own you.   

MT: I know it must be an absolute great feeling to have so many people in the industry call you a true “trailblazer” for females in rock and roll and with so many calling you their inspiration.  

Lita: I feel everyone needs inspiration in their lives, no matter if they are 13 yrs old or 60 yrs old.  At any age… We all need someone to look up to and get inspired by. I am so happy and honored to be an inspiration for people .  A role model, as a woman in rock it has been a hard road, but I feel I have come full circle, and I am on the other side now.  It’s a very satisfying feeling .    

MT: You’ve worked with some amazing musicians over your career, who’s somebody you’d love to collaborate on a song with?   

Lita: I have been lucky to have had worked with some amazing musicians , I’ve always had the best drummers, ever since the Runaways with Sandy West , till now with Bobby Rock.  Touring with The Ramones, and touring with my inspiration, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow .  The Def Leppard/Poison tour in 2012 saved my life after coming out of a divorce.  I never looked back.  Life is good .  If I could bring back Jimi Hendrix I would have loved to work with him, I would have tried on his clothes and played all his guitars. Ha Ha !!    

MT: You’ve put together a pretty incredible band to say the least with the legendary Bobby Rock on drums, Marten Anderssen on bass and Patrick Kennison on guitar, whom we had a wonderful interview with Patrick’s wife Nikki Stringfield on our Podcast Creativity Talkin a few months back, it must be amazing to go be on stage with such an incredible group of talent.   

Lita: We are a powerful team, like going to battle with your troops, you know they have your back in tough times and in good times. We support each other when we are on stage together - it’s a very special time. You really can’t get that unless you have a great team!         

MT: Not that your career is even close to being over, you’ve got a lot of rocking left in you but when it’s finally time to call it quits, what would you like your legacy to be?   

Lita: I hope I can leave a legacy of being a trailblazer and an encouragement to young people whom I may have inspired over the years. I want to be remembered as LITA.     

MT: Thank you so very much Lita to take some time out from your very busy schedule, I’ll see you at The Arcada Theater in St. Charles, IL. on December 5^th, best to you and the band on the tour and from a music lover like myself, thank you for all the great music! 

Lita: You are very welcome