Former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke recently shared details about how he came to fill in for Nita Strauss in Alice Cooper’s band, recounting the last-minute opportunity in an interview with Indie Power TV.
Clarke explained the rapid sequence of events that led to his temporary role with the legendary shock rock performer. The guitarist described receiving an urgent call from Alice Cooper’s bassist Chuck Garric about the unexpected opening.
“Earlier this year — well, actually, we’re about to go into [2026] — I got a call from my good friend Chuck Garric, who plays bass for Alice Cooper,” Clarke said. “Chuck calls me on a Friday. He goes, ‘Hey, if we needed you to play guitar for Alice, would you do it?’ Because I have been offered that gig before, and it just didn’t work out, a few times; it just didn’t work out for some reason.”
Clarke continued describing the tight timeline he faced to prepare for the tour.
“And I go, ‘Yeah, I would, of course.’ I go, ‘I love you, guys. I love Alice and his music’ and stuff,” he said. “He goes, ‘Well, Nita was never able to do this next run we have coming up. And we had Orianthi to fill in for her because she’s done it, but Orianthi just pulled out today. She has a medical issue.’ And I go, ‘Yeah, yeah, I could do it.’ And I go, ‘Well, when does it leave?’ He goes, ‘Monday.’ He called me Friday, so I had Saturday and Sunday to learn almost 30 songs, get on a plane with them Monday, one rehearsal Tuesday, and show Wednesday.”
The guitarist reflected positively on his experience performing with Cooper’s band and learning new material.
“And thank God it’s Chuck and Ryan Roxie, and, of course, Tommy [Henriksen] too. Ryan and I go way back to CANDY days and stuff, of course. And Ryan came over one day and helped me tweak it up,” Clarke said. “But I had so much fun on that run because, first of all, Alice’s music is just the best. And Alice is one of the greatest human beings in the world. And then a couple times I got poked with a sword and I got whipped, but it was really, really, really nice stepping into that.”
“Even the songs that I really don’t know — the ‘Poison’ era and all that stuff, ‘Lost In America’; I kind of missed that [since] I was doing other stuff at that time — I really enjoyed learning those songs and playing those songs,” he added.
Clarke’s temporary stint with Alice Cooper represents another chapter in his diverse musical career. He has collaborated with numerous rock legends over the decades.
The 63-year-old guitarist brings considerable experience to any stage he graces. Blabbermouth reported that Clarke previously replaced Izzy Stradlin in the Guns N’ Roses lineup during the band’s massive “Use Your Illusion” tour in 1991. He stayed with the group for three years during one of their most commercially successful periods.
The circumstances surrounding Nita Strauss’s absence have since become clearer. Metal Injection revealed that Strauss and her husband Josh Villalta are expecting their first child, with the baby due in summer 2026. This personal milestone explains her unavailability for the tour dates that Clarke ultimately filled.
Meanwhile, Alice Cooper continues to maintain an active touring schedule well into 2026. Ultimate Classic Rock noted that Cooper has announced additional 2026 tour dates, including U.S. shows in Las Vegas and various festivals across Europe. This demonstrates the enduring appeal of his theatrical rock performances.
Clarke’s ability to step in at such short notice highlights the tight-knit nature of the rock community. Seasoned musicians often support each other during unexpected circumstances. His previous connections with band members like Ryan Roxie, dating back to their CANDY days, proved invaluable in making the transition seamless despite the compressed preparation time.
