Alice Cooper Recruits New Guitarist Anna Cara for Tour

The 22-year-old British guitarist will fill in for Nita Strauss during Cooper's upcoming tour.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 8:15pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up photograph of Alice Cooper's black leather gloves and silver rings, shot in dramatic high-contrast studio lighting to create a glitzy, high-fashion aesthetic.The theatrical stage attire of shock-rock legend Alice Cooper will take on a new shine with the addition of rising guitarist Anna Cara to his live band.Las Vegas Today

Alice Cooper has announced that 22-year-old British guitarist Anna Cara will be joining his live band for his upcoming tour, filling in for Nita Strauss who is on maternity leave. Cooper praised Cara as a "brilliant" and "dynamic shredder" who will "fit in with our gang perfectly" while Strauss is away. Cara expressed excitement about the opportunity, saying it's a "dream come true" to join Cooper's band after watching his live shows as a teenager.

Why it matters

Alice Cooper is an iconic rock legend, and his live shows are known for their high-energy performances and theatrical stage production. Bringing in a new guitarist, especially a young up-and-comer like Anna Cara, signals Cooper's commitment to maintaining the quality of his live shows even with Strauss temporarily absent.

The details

Nita Strauss, Cooper's regular guitarist, is expecting her first child and will be taking maternity leave. Cooper says he found a "brilliant British female guitarist" in 22-year-old Anna Cara to fill in, praising her as a dynamic shredder with a style of her own that will fit in well with the band. Cara expressed excitement about the opportunity, saying it's a dream come true to join Cooper's band after watching his live shows as a teenager.

  • Cooper's tour launches on Thursday in Las Vegas.

The players

Alice Cooper

An iconic American rock singer and songwriter known for his theatrical live performances.

Anna Cara

A 22-year-old British guitarist who will be filling in for Nita Strauss on Alice Cooper's upcoming tour.

Nita Strauss

Alice Cooper's regular guitarist who is on maternity leave for the upcoming tour.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Nita found a brilliant British female guitarist to fill in for her while she is on maternity leave. Anna Cara is a beautiful dynamic shredder in the vein of Nita but with a style of her own. She will fit in with our gang perfectly while Nita is away and we can't wait for the sick things to meet her. Welcome to the show, Anna!”

— Alice Cooper

“This is like a dream come true, to join Alice and his great band. Back when I started playing guitar at 14, I was watching Alice Cooper live shows on YouTube dreaming of joining one day! Nita Strauss is a tough act to follow, and she's been so encouraging to me this past month, so I am looking forward to showing everyone who I am and what I can do.”

— Anna Cara

The takeaway

Alice Cooper's decision to bring in a young, up-and-coming British guitarist like Anna Cara to fill in for his regular guitarist Nita Strauss during her maternity leave shows Cooper's commitment to maintaining the high-energy and theatrical quality of his live shows, even with a temporary lineup change. It also provides a major career opportunity for the 22-year-old Cara to showcase her skills on a big stage.