Following stints in Femme Fatale and the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens, and being ranked #1 on Guitar World’s list of “10 Female Guitar Players You Should Know,” Nita Strauss landed a 2014 gig as the official in-house guitarist for the L.A. KISS, the arena football team owned by KISS’ Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons.
Months later, Alice Cooper’s touring guitarist, Orianthi, resigned mid-tour. Strauss, hired as her replacement, played the remaining dates and continued as a member of Coop’s touring band.
Strauss became the first ever female Ibanez signature artist with her own model guitar, the Ibanez JIVA10. She was also honored at the 7th Annual She Rocks Awards with Inspire Award, presented to her by legendary guitarist Steve Vai.
Not to be left behind, Guitar World magazine readers listed her among “The Guitarists Of The Decade” – along with Mark Tremonti (Creed/Alter Bridge), Derek Trucks (Allman Brothers Band/Tedeschi-Trucks Band) and Joe Satriani.
Using Kickstarter to fund her album, Strauss recorded her debut solo set. Sumerian Records picked it up and released “Controlled Chaos” in ’19.
Many articles on Strauss mentioned her stunning appearance. Like her guitar playing she came by it through hard work.
Strauss, passionate about health and fitness who works out daily, launched the Nita Strauss: Body Shred fitness challenge, with a companion e-book titled “Body Shred: Your Guide to Feeling and Looking like a Rock Star.”
After leaving Alice Cooper for a short time to support Demi Lovato on her “Holy Fvck” tour, Strauss issued her second solo album, “The Call Of The Void.”
The album generated five singles with guest vocalists: “Victorious” (Dorothy‘s Dorothy Martin), “Dead Inside” (Distubed’s David Draiman), “The Wolf You Feed” (Arch Enemy‘s Alissa White-Gluz), “Winner Takes All” (Alice Cooper) and “The Golden Trail” (In Flames’ Anders Fridén).
Strauss became the first solo female artist to have a #1 hit at Active Rock radio when “Dead Inside” topped the chart.
