Close My Eyes Forever

The Zoo Crew is spinning the haunting duet Close My Eyes Forever by Lita Ford and Ozzy Osbourne, a track that’s got some wild stories behind it. One of the juiciest bits of trivia comes from Lita herself, who shared in a 2013 interview with Metal Underground that the song was born out of a boozy, stoned jam session with Ozzy. Managed by Sharon Osbourne at the time, Lita recalled how she and Ozzy were hanging out in the studio, playing pool and messing around, when Sharon brought a life-sized replica of Koko the gorilla as a housewarming gift. After Sharon left, the two kept drinking, jammed into the early hours, and accidentally crafted this iconic power ballad. Lita mentioned in a 2020 Sweetwater interview that they holed up in a tiny closet-like space with a guitar, keyboard, and amp, emerging at sunrise with a song that became her highest-charting single, peaking at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1989.

Another cool tidbit is how the song’s creation was almost a happy accident. Lita shared on X in 2018, linking to a mini-documentary with Professor of Rock, that she and Ozzy didn’t set out to write a hit—they were just vibing. Fans on platforms like Reddit have speculated about the song’s dark lyrics, with some interpreting it as a tale of love tangled with pain, possibly hinting at themes like addiction or loss, though Lita and Ozzy have never pinned down one meaning. The music video, as noted in a Headbangers Vault post, kept Lita and Ozzy mostly separate, with Lita rocking purple boots and shredded jeans, while Ozzy’s shadowy presence added a spooky vibe—some say they weren’t even filmed together until the final shot.

Lita Ford’s journey to rock stardom kicked off early. Born on September 19, 1958, in London, England, to an Italian-heritage family, she moved to the U.S. as a kid, as detailed in her bio on Last.fm. She picked up the guitar at 11, driven by a love for rock’s raw energy. By 17, she was shredding as the lead guitarist for The Runaways, the all-female punk-rock band that shook up the mid-’70s with hits like Cherry Bomb. After The Runaways split in 1979, Lita went solo, carving out a glam metal niche. Her 1983 debut album, Out for Blood, showed off her gritty vocals and killer riffs, but it was 1988’s Lita album, with tracks like Kiss Me Deadly and Close My Eyes Forever, that made her a household name, earning platinum status.

Zoo Freaks looking to dive deeper can connect with Lita’s world online. Her official website, litafordonline.com, has tour dates, merch, and news. She’s active on Facebook, sharing throwbacks and updates, and on Instagram, where she posts behind-the-scenes shots and guitar love. On X, Lita engages with fans, often hyping her shows or reflecting on her career. Fans can also join communities like the Lita Ford Fan Club on Facebook, a group buzzing with diehards swapping stories, rare pics, and concert memories. Another spot is litafordfan.com, a fan-made site packed with discography details and vintage photos.