Alice Cooper guitarist Ryan Roxie shared his thoughts on Anna Cara, who joined the touring lineup while Nita Strauss takes maternity leave.
Roxie stands as the longest-serving current guitarist in the band. During a recent interview, he answered questions about his early impressions of Cara and her connection with the rest of the group.
Asked, “Ryan, you’ve been with Alice the longest and have been in the band with a lot of great guitarists. What did you think of Anna after first hearing her, and did you get the sense she’d be a good cultural fit?” Roxie responded:
“Absolutely. Fitting into any gig is just as important, if not more so, than musicianship,” Roxie said. “You have to have a high level of musicianship, but in this band you wear a lot of hats and share a lot of things. You have to be adept at learning a whole spectrum of music.”
Roxie expressed strong admiration for Cara’s skill, highlighting her mature guitar tone. “When I heard Anna play, I thought, ‘How the hell is that sound coming out of a 22-year-old’s fingers?'” Roxie continued. “Usually, to get a tone like that, it comes from years of playing. You’ve heard the stories about smokey bars and how you get experience, but she got it from many years of woodshedding in her room and putting out videos.”
He also noted their shared musical tastes despite the age difference. “The crazy thing is that I’m 60 and she’s 22, but we have the same influences,” Roxie said. “That might have something to do with the way she plays – old-school influences. It reflects in her playing.”
Cara comes from Newcastle, England, and built an audience online. In 2022, at age 19, her Instagram and YouTube guitar videos caught the attention of Alice Cooper guitarist Tommy Henriksen, who also leads Crossbone Skully. When Strauss needed time away for pregnancy, Henriksen shared Cara’s clips with the team, leading to her spot on tour.
The role demands high technical precision, as past Alice Cooper guitarists include Dick Wagner, Steve Hunter, Kane Roberts, Vinnie Moore, Orianthi, and Strauss.
Cara’s run with the band remains temporary, with Strauss expected back around September. In the meantime, Cara performs on tour with Cooper while continuing to collaborate with Henriksen on Crossbone Skully projects.
