Hellter Interviews Guitarist Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper Band)!!
Today we are proud to bring to you such an amazing talented guitarist, her name is Nita Strauss. Nita was known for a Iron Maiden all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens. She also performed with Femme Fatale and the LA Kiss musical backing group. In June 2014, she replaced Orianthi in the Alice Cooper Band. She was also ranked #1 on the list of 10 Female Guitar Players You Should Know published by Guitar World. She is hard at work on making her Solo album and On April 8, 2018, Strauss appeared at WrestleMania 34, playing guitar in a live performance of Shinsuke Nakamura’s entrance theme. So talented. Please welcome Nita Strauss.
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HELLTER: How long have you worked with Alice Cooper now and how did all this come about, you playing for Alice?
NITA: I’ve been playing with Alice since June of 2014. I was recommended to his management by Kip Winger, who was kind enough to put my name out there when he heard they were looking for a guitarist.
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HELLTER: Glad he got you to play with Alice. What do you think of the big horror shock show that Alice Cooper adds on to the live performance and do you ever participate in them?
NITA: It’s a blast! I’m on stage the whole show, so I get to be chased around by Frankenstein, watch Coop get decapitated and everything in between.
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HELLTER: I would love to participate in a Alice Cooper stage show. I love horror films and being in a Alice Cooper show is like doing a horror film on stage. What is your favorite song to play live?
NITA: Off the top of my head, I have to say Feed my Frankenstein. It’s a really fun, heavy song and the guitar solo was recorded by one of my all time heroes, Steve Vai. So being able to play his parts during the show is really cool for me.
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HELLTER: Wow, that’s awesome!! You were part of a all female Iron Maiden tribute band called The Iron Maidens. How did the band come about?
NITA: The Iron Maidens were actually a band for 10 years before I started playing with them- they started in 2001 and I played my first show with them in March 2011. I had such a great time touring with such a talented and fun group of girls, paying tribute to one of the most legendary bands in history.
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HELLTER: I love Iron Maiden. Do you prefer acoustic or electric guitar?
NITA: Electric. I actually don’t even own an acoustic guitar- never have.
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HELLTER: What is your solo album about and do you write your own music for it?
NITA: I just recently did a Kickstarter for my solo album. I want to do this first record myself. I want to make the album I want to make, and not have to get final approval from anyone else. The funds I raised from this campaign will help me record, mix, master and promote this album. I also want to go on tour with this album. Alice will be doing his own tour with Hollywood Vampires again. Touring budget is a huge part of a record deal, and since playing live is what I do best, I want to be sure I can get out there on the road and play these songs for you guys.
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Also in April of 2016 I met my hero Stevie Vai and he approached me about a project he was working on a compilation album of female guitarists for his label Favored Nations. He then asked me if I had a song I can send over to him. I told him Yes totally. Absolutely. I’ll send something to you right away. But I had no idea what to send him since I had no single (laughs). The day after meeting Vai, I started working on what would become my first solo single, Pandemonium (laughs).
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HELLTER: Stevie Vai is amazing and I can’t wait for your solo album. What is your band We Star Wars about?
NITA: We Start Wars is the band I’ve wanted to be in since I started playing guitar- a badass, hard hitting group of girls who can play and sing anything we want. It’s hard driving, heavy music but something a lot of people can enjoy as well.
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HELLTER: What was the best moment and craziest moment you ever had on stage?
NITA: It’s so hard to choose one! I’d say the best AND craziest moment was looking over and seeing Alice Cooper on stage with me for the first time. Very surreal.
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HELLTER: I bet. That has to be such an amazing moment. Did Alice Cooper ever pull any pranks on you during the tour and would you ever play golf with Alice (laughs)?
NITA: Yes, he hid a skeleton in my bunk once complete with someone’s phone making scary noises under the covers! I don’t know how to golf, so he probably wouldn’t have much fun golfing with me.
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HELLTER: (laughs). That is soo funny. How was it like touring with Motley Crue for their last tour that they will ever do and did you have any interactions or jam sessions with Mick Mars?
NITA: Touring with Motley Crue for 2 years was a really incredible experience. They have some of the most passionate and intense fans I’ve ever seen. Getting to witness that every night was unforgettable. I didn’t get to jam with Mick unfortunately- he really kept to himself for the most part.
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HELLTER: I went to that tour. Amazing!!! Crue and Alice both rocked. It was really sad seeing Motley Crue saying goodbye. How is it like being on this current tour playing with all ICONS like Alice Cooper, Deep Purple, and Edgar Winter?
NITA: The tour was really inspiring for me as a guitar player- Doug Rappaport playing with Edgar and Steve Morse with Deep Purple really made me step up my game! Edgar’s set in particular consistently blew me away. His band is always on fire!
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HELLTER: They do put on a great live set. Anything else you want to discuss? And thank you for joining us today.
NITA: Thank you for having me on your site! Please check out my website www.nitastrauss.com or my social media pages to keep up with what I’m up to!!
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www.facebook.com/nitastrauss
www.twitter.com/hurricanenita
www.instagram.com/hurricanenit
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KICKSTARTER
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