Orianthi recently discussed her time with legendary rock icon Alice Cooper and the circumstances that led to her departure from his band. She shared her insights on Get on the Bus.
During her tenure with Cooper, Orianthi served as the guitarist for the band. She described this role as both rewarding and demanding. She explained how what began as a single tour evolved into a multi-year commitment.
“I just was working with Alice Cooper prior to that. I was on tour with him, which was fun. And he’s a legend. Celebrating Halloween every night for I think it was had a blood on me. I can’t remember. I think it was four or five years I was with him. I thought it was going to be for one tour. Then it just kept on, you know, more tours were booked,” Orianthi said.
She reflected on the appeal of the role and her admiration for Cooper’s work ethic. “I’m like, this is fun. I just get to be the guitar player. I don’t have to remember lyrics. Not that I do now, but you know, just I don’t have to front anything, you know, I get a day sheet, get off stage, have a martini, and put on blood again. And Alice, I got to tell you, he’s 100% every night he gives. He’s one of the most incredible entertainers.”
Ultimately, Orianthi decided to pursue her own artistic vision as a singer-songwriter. She approached Cooper personally about her decision and ensured a smooth transition.
“I felt bad when I had to depart the band cuz I walked into his hotel room one time and with his wife Cheryl and I’m like, you know, I think it’s time for me to go off and make a another record, you know, singer/songwriter kind of thing. And I met Richie and we kind of wanted to do a joint record together. So I thought it was time for me to leave and I said, ‘But you know, if you need me, I’m not going to just leave you. Looking after me. I’ll be in your band until you find some a replacement,'” she continued.
Orianthi expressed satisfaction with her successor. She noted that Nita Strauss has embraced the role with passion. “And they luckily found incredible Nita Strauss who is amazing. I’m so happy that she’s, you know, doing that cuz she’s a she owns it. She loves it. She owns it and that’s her thing. And for me, I’m a singer songwriter like so I love being guitar player for sure. That’s so fun. But it got to that point where I was like, I have to make another record as an artist.”
Orianthi’s departure marked a significant moment in Alice Cooper’s touring history. According to Wikipedia, Orianthi was Alice Cooper’s guitarist from 2011 to 2014. She served as the first female member of his touring band during this period. She performed two world tours with Cooper before resigning in June 2014 to pursue her own career as a solo artist and singer-songwriter.
When Orianthi left in 2014, Nita Strauss replaced her. Strauss would go on to become one of the most recognized guitarists in rock music. Guitar World reported that Nita Strauss joined Alice Cooper’s band and remained with the group for eight years. She eventually earned recognition as the No. 1 ranked female guitarist on Guitar World’s list. Strauss became known as an accomplished electric guitar virtuoso, bringing her own distinctive style to Cooper’s legendary live performances.
The relationship between the two guitarists remained professional and respectful despite the transition. Ultimate Guitar noted that the two guitarists maintained a friendly relationship with each other. Their respective fanbases occasionally created tension around the transition.
Interestingly, the two musicians’ paths would cross again years later. In late 2024, it was announced that Orianthi would return to fill in for Strauss during Cooper’s January and February 2025 tour dates. Strauss had conflicting scheduling obligations with her solo tour. However, this reunion tour did not proceed as planned. Just days before the tour was set to begin on January 31, 2025, Orianthi was forced to cancel due to a leg injury. Gilby Clarke, a former Guns N’ Roses guitarist, ultimately replaced her for the tour dates running from January 31 through February 13.
