Nita Strauss

Nita Strauss

Nita Strauss performing with Alice Cooper in 2015
Background information
Birth name Nita Strauss
Also known as Mega Murray (stage name)
Born (1986-12-07) December 7, 1986
Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres Heavy metal, hard rock, tribute music
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Guitar
Years active 2003—Present
Labels Powerslave Records
Associated acts First national tour 2003, Kill Slowly 2006–2008, As Blood Runs Black 2009–2010, Jermaine Jackson 2010, Consume The Fire 2011–2013, The Iron Maidens 2011–present, Femme Fatale 2013–present, Critical Hit 2013–present , LA KISS 2014–present, Alice Cooper 2014-present
Website nitastrauss.com
Notable instruments
Guitar

Nita Strauss (born December 7, 1986) is an American guitarist. Best known for her work with Iron Maiden all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens, her career has meant involvement with several rock ensembles such as the band Femme Fatale and the LA Kiss musical backing group. In June 2014, she replaced Orianthi in the band of American hard rock legend Alice Cooper, giving her an even larger platform. She was also ranked #1 on the list of '10 Female Guitar Players You Should Know' published by Guitar World.[1] She comes from a long line of classical musicians - one of her ancestors on her father's side of the family is the Austrian composer Johann Strauss II.[2][3]

Career

Nita Strauss was born in Los Angeles in California on December 7, 1986. She began her guitar playing career playing metal shows at the age of 13; she did not take any formal music training or attend music college.

In 2009 Strauss became a touring member of As Blood Runs Black, playing in Europe and later in 2010 at Bamboozle West at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA.

Also in 2010 Strauss was hand picked to join Jermaine Jackson and members of Michael Jackson's band for a special series of stadium shows in Africa.

Later in 2011 Strauss was invited as a guest performer with The Iron Maidens, after which Nita Strauss became a member of that band. As a member of the Maidens, her stage name is "Mega Murray", a female version of Iron Maiden guitarist Dave Murray. Strauss works with Courtney Cox, also known as "Adriana Smith", a female version of Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith.

In 2013 Strauss became a member of the band Critical Hit, founded by World of Warcraft composer Jason Hayes and "Piano Squall" aka Michael Gluck, performing arrangements of video game music.

Also in 2013 Strauss was invited to join Femme Fatale along with Courtney Cox

In 2014 Strauss signed on as the official in-house guitarist for the Los Angeles Kiss arena football team, owned by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of Kiss.

In June 2014, it was announced that Nita would replace Orianthi as Alice Cooper's touring guitarist[4][5] for the 2014 tour dates.

Nita is featured as the main guitarist on seven songs in Docker's Guild album called The Heisenberg Diaries – Book A: Sounds of Future Past, released on January 21, 2016.[6]

Her guitar skills have enabled her to play shows in the US, UK, Europe, Asia, South America, Africa and the Caribbean.

Her guitar skill, exuberant stage presence and professional reputation has led to endorsements from Ibanez, DiMarzio, Dunlop Manufacturing, Bogner Amplification, Boss Corporation, Roland Corporation, GHS, Rocktron, Line 6, Korg, Affliction and more.

Nita has been featured in many worldwide commercials and print ads and on dozens of albums, trailers, and soundtracks, most recently the computer game Heroes of the Storm (Blizzard Entertainment) and Grammy-nominated Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (Konami / Platinum Games), and is the author of the Premier Guitar column "Drop Dead Shred".

She was ranked #1 on Guitar World' list of "10 Female Guitar Players You Should Know", and has been featured in Revolver's annual "Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock" issue and calendar for the last 2 years.

Strauss has also played as a hired guitarist for many other bands including Dreaming Dead, Lacey Conner's HALO, and The Dreaming featuring Chris Hall of Stabbing Westward.

Videos

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.metal-rules.com/metalnews/2014/06/13/alice-cooper-kicks-off-north-american-tour-with-release-of-super-duper-dvd-and-new-guitarist/
  2. ↑ Bienstock, Richard (2015-10-27). "Nita Strauss Proves Shred Guitar's Not Dead". Rolling Stone. New York City, USA. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  3. ↑ Adams, Ryan (2015-10-15). "No limits for Alice Cooper's shooting star guitarist Nita Strauss". Record-Journal. Meriden, Connecticut USA. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "ALICE COOPER Parts Ways With Guitarist ORIANTHI, Taps THE IRON MAIDENS' NITA STRAUSS". Blabbermouth. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  5. ↑ Woods, James. "Guitarist Nita Strauss Talks Touring with Alice Cooper, Gear and Three-Guitar Attacks". www.guitarworld.com. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  6. ↑ "Docker's Guild - The Heisenberg Diaries - Book A". Docker's Guild Official Website. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
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