Alice Cooper guitarist Nita Strauss named first ever female Ibanez Signature artist
Nita Strauss has been become the first ever female Ibanez signature guitarist.
The 31-year-old rocker, who replaced Orianthi in Alice Cooper’s band four years ago, introduced her signature guitar, the Ibanez JIVA, on her social channels last night.
Thrilled to be rubbing shoulders with fellow Ibanez Signature artists like Joe Satriani, Paul Stanley and her musical hero Steve Vai, Nita said: “After years of dreaming, hoping and working, followed by months of planning and preparation I am honoured and proud to introduce my signature guitar, the Ibanez JIVA.
“This beauty will be sold worldwide and comes equipped exactly how I play it live, including brand new signature DiMarzio pickups meticulously designed by yours truly.”
> A post shared by Nita Strauss (@hurricanenita) on Jan 25, 2018 at 12:58pm PST
She continued: “When I had my first meeting with Ibanez in September of 2008, they asked me why they should add me to the artist roster. My (typically emotional) answer was... ‘All my heroes are Ibanez players. It’s a dream come true for me to just come and meet you guys. If you don’t want to give me an endorsement, I’ll still play my Ibanez guitars proudly, but it would be a huge honour to join the family and represent the company officially.’
“They took a chance on a basically unknown girl from LA (I was actually the only girl on the USA roster at that time) and coming up on my 10th amazing year as an Ibanez artist, words cannot express how honoured and thrilled I am to now join the ranks of my greatest heroes as a signature artist.
“I am so grateful to Mike Orrigo, Shogo Wada, Moti Kishiuchi, Tyler Busque and all at Ibanez Guitars, to Rob Nishida and Mike Taft for your support at the beginning and especially to Josh for making this dream a reality!!”
Before joining Alice Cooper’s band, Nita was a member of the Los Angeles based all-female Iron Maiden tribute act The Iron Maidens.
Nita was also recruited as a member of hard rock outfit Femme Fatale in 2013 when vocalist Lorraine Lewis reformed the band after a 23-year break.
One of Nita’s ancestors on her father’s side of the family is Austrian composer Johann Strauss II.
Nita told Rolling Stone in 2015: "What's funny about that is people always think I'm using a classical-sounding stage name, like Sebastian Bach. But no, it's real."
Don’t forget, Nights With Alice Cooper airs on Planet Rock at 7pm on Mondays, and Tuesdays to Fridays at 10pm. Listen here.