19-543: Nikki Stringfield (born 1990) is an American heavy metal musician. She is the current guitarist for The Iron Maidens , Femme Fatale , and Heaven Below , as well as the former guitarist for Before the Mourning . Born in 1990 in Red Oak, Texas , Stringfield attended Red Oak High School and graduated in 2008. She studied at The University of Texas in Austin , graduating in 2012 with
38-500: A Blue Man Group show and upon seeing Draven on stage told her that he wanted her to play for his touring show. By April 2015, he hired Draven and she went on a residency tour with his Supernaturalists show. In 2001, Draven composed her first film score for the motion picture Hell Asylum . Since then, she has gone to score other independent films such as Patient Seven starring Hollywood's favorite bad guy Michael Ironside . In 2016, she joined other accomplished female composers in
57-577: A degree in Radio/TV/Film. After an internship with Warner Brothers Music Stringfield moved to Los Angeles in January 2012 and became part of American melodic metal bands Before the Mourning and The Iron Maidens . In 2014, Stringfield and Before the Mourning parted ways, after which time Stringfield joined Femme Fatale in May 2015. In September 2015, The Iron Maidens brought the former guest guitarist on as
76-594: A settled member for the ensemble. Stringfield and The Iron Maidens vocalist Kirsten Rosenberg appeared as contestants on the August 3, 2017, episode of the music game show Beat Shazam . In 2017, Stringfield released music videos for her solo singles "Save Our Souls" and "As Chaos Consumes", followed by " Heart Shaped Box " in 2018. In late 2018, Stringfield became a touring guitarist for American rock band Heaven Below . In January 2019, she announced that she plans to release her debut solo EP some time that year. In July 2019,
95-454: The Iron Maiden tribute band Wrathchild . Drummer Linda McDonald and guitarist Josephine Draven , both formerly of Phantom Blue , and guitarist Sara Marsh, joined Warren and Sisneros shortly afterward to form the band's first lineup. Sisneros left the band in 2002 to pursue other interests and was replaced by Wanda Ortiz . In 2003, the band started work on their debut album. The project
114-592: The Japanese tour shows and did not rejoin the band. Baker rejoined the band to temporarily fill in Marsh's spot for a handful of shows. In August 2010, The Iron Maidens released a DVD of their Japan tour titled Metal Gathering Tour Live in Japan 2010 . Upon Marsh's departure from the band, former members Elizabeth Schall and Heather Baker would return briefly to fill in the vacant Murray position (2009–2010). For tours 2010–2014,
133-630: The Living Room which she created with Kennison. The two plan to perform that same date at Hard Rock Cafe in Hollywood, California . Additionally, on the last 3 Wednesdays in July 2022, Stringfield plans to perform at the same venue, with Kennison performing on the latter two dates. In July 2023, it was announced her debut full-length album, Apocrypha , would be released on September 29. On 24 January 2025, Stringfield and Kennison plan to release Ghost Notes ,
152-533: The Maidens earned her three Los Angeles Rock City Awards for Best Female Guitarist. Shortly after the release of the band's self-titled debut album in 2005, Draven left the Maidens to pursue a career in composing film scores – many of which have been produced and/or directed by her husband, Danny Draven. She was featured in the album Warmth in the Wilderness , a tribute album to pay homage to Jason Becker, appearing in
171-614: The album alongside Marty Friedman , Paul Gilbert and Vinnie Moore . In 2001, she recorded "Baby's on Fire" featuring Ralph Saenz (lead singer for Steel Panther) on vocals, Ray Luzier (drummer for Korn and David Lee Roth Band) on drums, Tip Petersen on bass, and Jojo Draven on guitar. In April 2011, through an audition process Draven was hired as guitarist for the Blue Man Group in Las Vegas, Nevada , beating many other male candidates. In March 2015, illusionist Criss Angel came to
190-458: The band released its second album Route 666 , which features a guest appearance by Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell . In summer 2008, Heather Baker and Aja Kim left the band to pursue solo careers. The two were replaced by guitarist Courtney Cox and vocalist Kirsten Rosenberg (formerly of the Maryland -based cover band HighWire). In January 2010, Marsh, who was ill, was taken off some of
209-447: The band until its demise in late 2001. On June of that same year, she and drummer Linda McDonald joined vocalist Jenny Warren , bassist Melanie Sisneros and guitarist Sara Marsh (formerly of Bandit) to form the tribute band The Iron Maidens ("World's Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden "). Her stage name in the Maidens was "Adrianne Smith," a female version of Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith . Draven's tenure in both Phantom Blue and
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#1733084889994228-935: The debut EP from the husband and wife duo. The album will coincide with the 2025 Live Drama Tour starring American heavy metal guitarist Marty Friedman . Stringfield and Kennison married on November 4, 2022 after almost ten years of friendship and dating. The couple met in 2012 at an all-star jam night in Hollywood, California. The Iron Maidens The Iron Maidens are an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 2001 as an all-female tribute act to English heavy metal band Iron Maiden . The band currently consists of drummer Linda McDonald , bassist Wanda Ortiz , lead vocalist Kirsten Rosenberg and guitarists Nikki Stringfield and Shani Kimelman. The Iron Maidens were originally formed in June 2001 by lead vocalist Jenny Warren and bassist Melanie Sisneros , formerly of
247-472: The guitarist and main songwriter and found some success touring and recording with the band before relocating to the U.S. where she studied at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California . There, she became the protégé of Alex Skolnick , guitarist of the heavy metal band Testament . In 1996, Draven joined the all-female band Phantom Blue as their main guitarist. She remained with
266-469: The role of Dave Murray would be shared between artists Nili Brosh, Nita Strauss, and Nikki Stringfield. In 2014, the band approached Nikki Stringfield to become a permanent member in the Murray position. Nita Strauss (Ibanez), Courtney Cox (Caparison) and Nikki Stringfield (Schecter) are the first female artists to have their own signature guitar with their associated guitar companies. In June 2014, Nita Strauss
285-820: The singer announced the title of the album, Harmonies for the Haunted , with a September 2019 announcement that she expects to release the album on October 30, 2019. On October 18, 2019, Stringfield debuted "When the Devil Comes Down", her first single from the EP. In March 2021, the singer announced that she is working on a full-length studio album. On Sundays in February 2022, Stringfield and Heaven Below lead vocalist/ Lita Ford guitarist Patrick Kennison performed during their residency at Hard Rock Cafe in Hollywood , California . On 26 June 2022, Stringfield plans to release Live in
304-425: Was delayed when Warren gave notice of her departure from the band to focus more on her personal and child's needs. After Warren's departure, new vocalist Aja Kim made her debut in the band and helped complete the album ( World's Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden ), which was released in June 2005. After the album's release, Draven left the band. In February 2007, Heather Baker joined to replace Draven. In May,
323-480: Was hired to replace Orianthi as Alice Cooper's touring guitarist for the remaining 2014 tour dates. She has toured with Alice Cooper since that time. On September 8, 2015, the group announced that long-time guest guitarist Nikki Stringfield had been officially added as a permanent member of the band. Rosenberg and Stringfield appeared as contestants on the August 3, 2017, episode of the music game show Beat Shazam . In August 2023, Courtney Cox announced that she
342-603: Was leaving The Iron Maidens to take up a full time role in Burning Witches . Former members / fill-in members Jojo Draven Jojo Draven is an Indonesian-born American musician and film score composer. She is a cast member of the Blue Man Group . She has worked as sole touring musician with illusionist Criss Angel . She was also the guitarist for the Shrapnel Records/Geffen Records recording artist all-female heavy metal band Phantom Blue and
361-457: Was the co-founder and original member of the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens . Born in Java , Indonesia, Jojo Draven started her music career as a keyboardist for several rock bands in the country. She learned to play guitar in her last year of Senior High School, after being told that she was too old to start learning a new instrument. Shortly afterward, she joined an all-female rock band as
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