You’re wondering, why did I group these five ladies together. There are many talented guitarists out there anyone could pick and choose who they think could stand out. These five ladies bring God-given unique and individual talent to a whole new level. They are the face and part of The Who’s Who of guitar playing in rock and metal.
Courtney Cox
Courtney Cox is an absolute monster on the guitar. After celebrating her 18th birthday in her native town in Philadelphia, Courtney moved over to Los Angeles where she made shared the stage with the Iron Maidens as a guest performer. Having sensed that she was just perfect missing puzzle piece of the band, the Iron Maiden’s offered her a permanent position as the lead guitarist. Courtney has since lit up the fretboard paying tribute to Iron Maiden. With her exceptional talent and stellar vibrato, the skies the limit for CCSHRED!
Gretchen Menn
All That Shreds Hall Of Famer Gretchen Menn blew me away when I first started listening to her debut album.
Gretchen Menn is one such name – talented, meticulous and high on life! Music is etched in her genes and flows within her veins. From the child who dabbled on whatever instruments her parents allowed her to rent, to the teenager who couldn’t keep her fingers off the fretboard, to a current student of orchestration and large-scale composition, Gretchen is always exploring new areas of music and expanding her skill set.
Unlike many of her contemporaries. Gretchen Menn didn’t leave her education to pursue her musical passion. She rather made her studies be in furtherance of her artistic tendencies and completed a degree in music from Smith College. During her time there, she studied classical guitar, yet also convinced a very classically-focused department to allow her to do individual studies on the music of Frank Zappa.
Jasmine Cain
Jasmine Cain is badass. She does her booking, promoting and every inch a manager and publicist would do for a band. Born and raised in Sturgis, South Dakota, Jasmine is very active playing at Motorcycle events and other venues. Jasmine gave me the best quote about a record label who wouldn’t sign her:
“When I met my first label, I was excited. The guy told me they were going to pass. I asked him why. He said I’m just going to put it like this because we’re looking for hamburger we can shape and mold and into the next greatest trendy cuisine. Whether it be meatballs or burgers or whatever you’d like it to be. We create this trend or this image that we shape this person into the hamburger into what we want it, and then we sell and then when people are tired of it it was we discard it, and we get something else. Another thing. He said you’re like a prime rib. Would you sell? Absolutely. Would people be happy and pleasantly surprised when they purchased who they taste for the first time? Oh, they’re going to love it. They’re going to fall in love with it. Would they spend the money to do it? Yeah but the problem is that the record label would have to pay so much money to buy this prime rib that it doesn’t make sense for them. To get behind it and push it like that when they can buy a hamburger and make three to four times the profit. It doesn’t make sense. So that’s the best way he could describe it to me, and it made sense to me.”- Jasmine Cain
Nikki Stringfield
Young, intelligent, talented, colorful, and high on life, the next-age music sensation, Nikki Stringfield has managed to make herself a household name. With a myriad of accolades to her name, including a Schecter Guitar endorsement and bagging in tremendous praise from the critic’s camp. This Red Oak, Texas native is a sure sign that she’s going places and adding more on her acclaim and well-established fame as she progresses in her career.
She started by attending the University of Texas, graduating with a degree in Radio/TV Film. After interning for Warner Brothers Music, Nikki relocated to Los Angeles to join the band Before the Mourning. With superior guitar skills, Nikki also joined the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens. The Iron Maidens have featured guitarists such as Nita Strauss, who’s with The Alice Cooper band, and Courtney Cox, who presently shreds with Nikki on the extensive collection of Iron Maiden covers. Since then, she has toured worldwide, joined forces with Femme Fatale, and shared the stage with many other acclaimed artists and has an upcoming record being released on October 30th.
Stephanie Bradley
If you follow Steve Vai, chances are you know who Stephanie Bradley is. Stephanie is a frequent visitor to Vai Academy and Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp. You can read Stephanie’s new interview with us here