nita strauss

Both shredders first established themselves as top-level hired guns—Nita Strauss (left) with Alice Cooper and Jennifer Batten with Michael Jackson—before setting off on their long careers.

Photo by Ana Massard

These super-guitarists talk about originality, busting the patriarchy, supporting Jeff Beck, touring with Alice Cooper, Demi Lovato, and Michael Jackson, guitar education, their secret weapons, and … oh, how to be badass!

It’s a fact: Women and minority artists have often been marginalized, unacknowledged, and even ripped off—both musically and financially. And while the industry has slowly gotten better about amplifying their significant contributions, white male artists have historically been heralded as the heroes and innovators. Even with all of the progress made in recent years, one niche where bias still seems the norm is “hired gun.” The commonly used term “sideman” demonstrates the pervasiveness of male-dominated norms entrenched in our collective psyche. But there are exceptional sidewomen who have broken the glass ceiling with their primetime gigs. And among the most notable are Jennifer Batten and Nita Strauss.

Read MoreShow less

Wolfgang Van Halen of Mammoth WVH announces a headline tour this Fall to support Mammoth II.


Read MoreShow less

Watch the video for "Victorious" now featuring vocalist Dorothy. New album The Call of the Void out July 7.

Los Angeles-born guitar ace Nita Strauss recently announced her brand new album The Call of the The Void, out July 7 via Sumerian Records.

"'Victorious' is the anthem I always wanted, a song about inspiring change, marching forward relentlessly, being willing to save yourself instead of waiting for someone to do it for you, and never backing down from a fight," Strauss shares. "Dorothy was the perfect powerhouse voice and personality to stand and deliver, and knock this one out of the park."

NITA STRAUSS - Victorious ft. Dorothy (Official Music Video)

Dorothy shares Strauss' enthusiasm for the track, stating, "I'm honored to be a part of 'Victorious' with my friend Nita Strauss. She is the embodiment of a bold, beautiful, strong woman. The song and video scream #GIRLPOWER and we know you'll love it!"

The video features two cameos. 13-year-old rising guitar star Charlotte Milstein plays the role of a young Nita, while U.S. Olympian, former WBO and IBF champion Mikalea Mayer, a childhood friend of Strauss and former bandmate, also appears. Learn more about their relationship here!

The Call of the Void

THE CALL OF THE VOID TRACK LISTING:

PHYSICAL:
"Summer Storm"
"The Wolf You Feed" (Feat. Alissa White-Gluz)
"Digital Bullets" (Feat. Chris Motionless)
"Through the Noise" (Feat. Lzzy Hale)
"Consume The Fire"
"Dead Inside" (Feat. David Draiman)
"Victorious" (Feat. Dorothy)
"Scorched"
"Momentum"
"The Golden Trail" (Feat. Anders Fridén)
"Winner Takes All" (Feat. Alice Cooper)
"Monster" (Feat. Lilith Czar)
"Kintsugi"
"Surfacing" (Feat. Marty Friedman)

DIGITAL:
"Summer Storm"
"The Wolf You Feed" (Feat. Alissa White-Gluz)
"Digital Bullets" (Feat. Chris Motionless)
"Through the Noise" (Feat. Lzzy Hale)
"Consume The Fire"
"Dead Inside" (Feat. David Draiman)
"Victorious" (Feat. Dorothy)
"Scorched"
"Momentum"
"The Golden Trail" (Feat. Anders Fridén)
"Winner Takes All" (Feat. Alice Cooper)
"Monster" (Feat. Lilith Czar)
"Kintsugi"
"Surfacing" (Feat. Marty Friedman)
"The Wolf You Feed" (Instrumental)
"Digital Bullets" (Instrumental)
"Through the Noise" (Instrumental)
"Dead Inside" (Instrumental)
"Victorious" (Instrumental)
"The Golden Trail" (Instrumental)
"Winner Takes All" (Instrumental)
"Monster" (Instrumental)

Nita Strauss Tour Dates

NITA STRAUSS + ALICE COOPER ON TOUR:

5/13 — Knoxville, TN — The Tennessee Theatre
5/14 — Spartanburg, SC — Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium
5/15 — North Charleston, SC — North Charleston Performing Arts Center
5/17 — Shreveport, LA — Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
5/18 — Biloxi, MS — Beau Rivage Theatre
5/20 — Daytona Beach, FL — Welcome to Rockville*


SUMMER HEADLINE TOUR: WITH LIONS AT THE GATES:

6/13 — Nashville, TN — Exit / In
6/14 — Atlanta, GA — The Loft
6/15 — Greensboro, NC — The Hangar 1819
6/17 — New York, NY — The Meadows
6/18 — Toronto, ON — Horseshoe Tavern
6/19 — Mechanicsburg, PA — Lovedraft's
6/21 — Harrison, OH — The Blue Note
6/22 — Flint, MI — The Machine Shop
6/23 — Angola, IN — The Eclectic Room
6/24 — Bloomington, IL — The Castle Theatre
6/25 — Madison, WI — Majestic Theatre
6/26 — Omaha, NE — The Waiting Room
6/28 — Denver — The Bluebird Theater
6/29 — Salt Lake City — Urban Lounge
6/30 — Boise, ID — Neurolux
7/1 — Portland, OR — Hawthorne Theatre
7/2 — Vancouver, BC — The Rickshaw Theatre
7/3 — Seattle, WA — El Corazón
7/5 — Sacramento, CA — Goldfield Trading Post
7/6 — Los Angeles, CA — Whisky a Go Go
7/8 — Las Vegas, NV — The Space
7/9 — Phoenix, AZ — Crescent Ballroom
7/11 — San Antonio, TX — The Rock Box
7/12 — Dallas, TX — Trees
7/13 — Houston, TX — Scout Bar
7/14 — New Orleans, LA — The Parish @ House Of Blues


WITH DEF LEPPARD + MOTLEY CRUE:
8/5 — Syracuse, NY — JMA Wireless Dome
8/8 — Columbus, OH — The Ohio State University Ohio Stadium
8/11 — Fargo, ND — Fargodome
8/13 — Omaha, NE — Charles Schwab Field Omaha
8/16 — Tulsa, OK — Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium
8/18 — El Paso, TX — Sun Bowl Stadium


CO-HEADLINE "FREAKS ON PARADE" TOUR WITH ROB ZOMBIE:
8/24 — Dallas, TX — Dos Equis Pavilion
8/26 — Tampa, FL — Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre
8/27 — West Palm Beach, FL — iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
8/29 — Raleigh, NC — Coastal Credit Union Music Park @ Walnut Creek
8/30 — Virginia Beach, VA — Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheatre
9/1 — Tinley Park, IL — Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
9/2 — Des Moines, IA — Wells Fargo Arena
9/5 — Clarkston, MI — Pinke Knob Amphitheatre
9/6 — Toronto, ON — Budweiser Stage
9/8 — Scranton, PA — The Pavilion @ Montage Mountain
9/9 — Wantagh, NY — Northwell Health Theatre @ Jones Beach
9/10 — Hartford, CT — XFINITY Theatre
9/12 — Nashville, TN — Bridgestone Arena
9/15 — Bonner Springs, KS — Azura Amphitheatre
9/16 — Englewood, CO — Fiddler’s Green
9/19 — Ridgefield, WA — RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheatre
9/20 — Auburn, WA — White River Amphitheatre
9/22 — Concord, CA — Pavilion
9/23 — Anaheim, CA — Honda Center
9/24 — Phoenix, AZ — Ak-Chin Pavilion

More info: nitastrauss.com.

Pre-order The Call of the Voidhere.