Fender Stratocaster 1959 Turquoise blue Ex Orianthi

Orianthi
(1985)

Band: RSO
Main guitar: PRS Signature
Must-hear track: According To You

Orianthi’s career began with a huge missed opportunity — she was set to be Michael Jackson’s guitarist for his *This Is It* concert series in 2009. Although the superstar’s untimely death cancelled the shows, the documentary film that followed gave fans a glimpse of what could have been, showcasing rehearsal footage. In those scenes, Orianthi shines with her PRS in hand, delivering a blazing rendition of the ultimate guitar moment in Jackson’s discography: the solo from *Beat It*, originally played by Eddie Van Halen.

Riding the wave of this global exposure, the young virtuoso released her album *Believe* just a few months later. In fact, the album had been ready since 2007, but the publicity surrounding *This Is It* was too good to pass up. The record was a success, especially boosted by her instrumental duet with Steve Vai, *Highly Strung*, which became a viral video sensation.

In 2011, Orianthi became the first female musician to join the Alice Cooper Band — a refreshing addition to a lineup more known for tattooed goths than blonde guitarists in hats. The legendary shock-rock frontman appreciated the balance so much that when Orianthi left the band in 2014, he replaced her with another shredder, Nita Strauss.

After this departure, the Australian guitarist continued to juggle her solo career and work as a hired gun, notably alongside Dave Stewart and later Richie Sambora. The chemistry with Sambora proved so strong that they formed a band together: RSO. Their debut album, *Radio Free America*, released in 2018, marked yet another milestone in Orianthi’s already impressive musical journey.