You know 26-year old Australian musician, song-writer and bad ass guitarist Orianthi best for being Michael Jackson‘s lead guitarist for his ill-fated This Is It concert tour and for appearing in the movie with the same name. But she’s also played with some other big names in the music business including Carrie Underwood and Carlos Santana and has her own solo album.
Orianthi released her major label record in October 2009. The album produced the worldwide hit According to You, which reached number 2 on US radio airplay and charted to number eight in Australia, three in Japan, and achieved platinum status in the US and Australia. In 2009 Orianthi was named one of 12 Greatest Female Electric Guitarists by Elle magazine. She also won the award as “Breakthrough Guitarist of the Year” 2010 by Guitar International magazine.
On being handpicked by Jackson as lead guitarist for This Is It, Orianthi told The Boston Herlad:
“ I don’t know exactly why he picked me, but he watched my YouTube videos and loved them. He had his choice of guitar players, but I came in and played the ‘Beat It’ solo for him. Afterward he was so happy he got up and grabbed my arm and started walking up and down the stage area with me. He said, ‘Can you play once for me?’ and hired me that night. I wish he was still around. He made me believe in myself more, and I learned so much.”
“ I don’t know exactly why he picked me, but he watched my YouTube videos and loved them. He had his choice of guitar players, but I came in and played the ‘Beat It’ solo for him. Afterward he was so happy he got up and grabbed my arm and started walking up and down the stage area with me. He said, ‘Can you play once for me?’ and hired me that night. I wish he was still around. He made me believe in myself more, and I learned so much.”
Orianthi is now working on her next album which she says will be a bit harder rock than her last one. She was spotted playing a concert at The Grove LA July 6, 2011 to kick off The Grove’s Summer Concert Series (With opener John West), with special guest Dave Stewart (Eurythmics, Super Heavy) and here are some photos from the event, including a meet and greet with fans. I also spotted at least two people giving Orianthi their own music CDs – I am sure she gets a lot of demos from fans hoping to catch her attention.
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| Ori and me 🙂 |