Alice Cooper guitarist Nita Strauss has addressed her return to the Alice Cooper band. She confirmed her plans to rejoin the group for its upcoming tour after a temporary absence during her pregnancy. Strauss stepped away from the band to focus on a healthy pregnancy and welcome her first child, a son named Max.
Strauss spoke openly about the logistical and creative aspects of bringing her newborn son on the road. She noted that the experience will come with its own unique challenges — and surprises.
“Bringing a stroller and all the baby stuff on the road is gonna present a new challenge,” Strauss said. “Oh, I guarantee he’s gonna make his way into the show when we go out with Coop. There’ll be some Billion Dollar Babies gag or something that they want to do.”
She went on to explain how the Alice Cooper touring production is known for involving everyone — and her son will be no exception.
“One fun thing about the Coop tour is everybody’s put to work onstage, everybody from the merch girl to the stagehands to anybody and everybody,” Strauss continued. “My guitar tech is out in a black jumpsuit killing Alice at one point or another in the show. So if Max is out on tour, they’re gonna make him work.”
Strauss’s return brings to a close a maternity break that saw the band move quickly to keep its live operation running.
To fill the void during Strauss’s absence, Cooper turned to Anna Cara, a 22-year-old guitarist from Newcastle, England. Strauss handpicked Cara as her own replacement, signaling a level of trust and continuity rarely seen in high-profile touring bands. Cara made her debut with the Cooper camp during the “Welcome To Our Nightmare” residency in Las Vegas from April 2–4, 2026, a production staged in collaboration with illusionist Criss Angel.
Strauss has been a fixture in the Alice Cooper band since 2014. Her maternity leave marked the first significant break from the group in nearly a decade of touring together.
With her return now confirmed, Strauss is set to reclaim her place in the fold for the group’s next touring cycle — and, if her plans hold, with a new addition to the road crew in tow.
Source: Guitar Player
