The Iron Maidens guitarist Nita Strauss, who recently replaced Orianthi in shock rock legend Alice Cooper's band, is featured in a new interview with The Examiner. An excerpt is available below.

Q: How much of an influence was he on you growing up musically?

Nita: "Alice Cooper, I think, transcends anybody's influence. The cool thing about him is that even today, there's not that many artists from that generation that are still so relevant and touring so much. Alice now tours with Iron Maiden and Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie. He's touring with these artists that are a little bit newer. And definitely also, Steve Hunter was of course a huge influence on me as a guitarist as well. I think their influences are more far-reaching than any of us really know."

Q: You got involved with guitar playing as an early teen. Which artists and type of music were you listening to at that time that shaped your desire to play?

Nita: "I started guitar when I was 13, and I started with Steve Vai. I wasn't really playing the Vai stuff at that age. I was listening to Guns N' Roses, of course, and some heavier stuff. And then in my teens, when I got a little better at playing guitar, I got into Paul Gilbert, John Petrucci -- that stuff has always been my driving force to get better and to keep practicing."

Click here for the complete interview.

featured in the All Axess clips below offering some tips on improvisation and tapping techniques:

Alice Cooper tour itinerary:

July

12 - Wichita, KS - INTRUST Bank Arena
13 - Tulsa, OK - BOK Center
15 - Cedar Park, TX - Cedar Park Center
16 - Dallas, TX - Gexa Energy Pavilion
18 - Albuquerque, NM - Isleta Amphitheater
19 - Phoenix, AZ - Ak-Chin Pavilion
21 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl
22 - Irvine, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
23 - Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre
25 - Reno, NV - Reno Events Center
26 - Ridgefield, WA - Sleep County Amphitheater
27 - Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre
29 - Wheatland, CA - Sleep Train Amphitheatre

August

1 - Salt Lake City, UT - USANA Amphitheatre
2 - Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
3 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
5 - Sturgis, SD - Sturgis Buffalo Chip
6 - Sioux City, IA - Tyson Events Center
8 - Tinley Park, IL - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
9 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
10 - Toronto, ON - Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
12 - Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Blossom Music Center
13 - Burgettstown, PA - First Niagara Pavilion
15 - Pelham, AL - Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
16 - Atlanta, GA - Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood
17 - Tampa, FL - MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
19 - Charlotte, NC - PNC Music Pavilion
20 - VA Beach, VA - Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach
22 - Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube Live
23 - Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center
24 - Mansfield, MA - Comcast Center
26 - Saratoga Springs, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center
27 - Allentown, PA - Great Allentown Fair
29 - Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
30 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
31 - Darien Center, NY - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center

October

10 - Oklahoma City, OK - Chesapeake Energy Arena
11 - The Woodlands, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
12 - Bossier City, LA - CenturyLink Center
14 - Louisville, KY - KFC Yum! Center
15 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
17 - Hollywood, FL - Seminole Hard Rock
18 - Hollywood, FL - Seminole Hard Rock
19 - Jacksonville, FL - Veterans Memorial Arena
21 - Greenville, SC - Bon Secours Wellness Arena
22 - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum
25 - Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata Events Center
26 - Montville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
28 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
29 - Syracuse, NY - The OnCenter

November

5 - Biloxi, MS - Mississippi Coast Coliseum
6 - Southaven, MS - Landers Center
8 - Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena
9 - Moline, IL - iWireless Center
11 - Green Bay, WI - Resch Center
12 - Madison, WI - Alliant Energy Center
13 - Omaha, NE - CenturyLink Center
15 - St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
16 - Fargo, ND - FargoDome
18 - Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place
19 - Calgary, AB - Scotiabank Saddledome
21 - Vancouver, BC - Rogers Arena
22 - Spokane, WA - Spokane Arena