Orianthi won the "2010 Breakthrough Guitarist of the Year" award hosted by Guitar International magazine.
40 Facts About Orianthi
2.
Orianthi Penny Panagaris was born in Adelaide, Australia to Greek parents.
3.
Orianthi began playing piano at the age of three, and at the encouragement of her father, moved to acoustic guitar at the age of six.
4.
Orianthi attended St Peter's Collegiate Girls' School for a short period.
5.
Orianthi has been playing in bands since the age of 14 and performed in her first stage show for Steve Vai at the age of 15.
6.
Orianthi met and jammed with Carlos Santana when she was 18.
7.
Orianthi invited Orianthi to get up and jam with him at soundcheck then later asked if she would join him on stage that night to jam at his Adelaide concert, Memorial Drive on 30 March 2003.
8.
Orianthi independently released her debut studio album, Violet Journey in 2005, composing all the material, contributing guitar, vocals, and drums on most cuts.
9.
Orianthi produced and mixed the final product at her home studio.
10.
Orianthi relocated to Los Angeles, signed with Geffen Records in late 2006 and struck a management deal with 19 Entertainment.
11.
Orianthi has made a commercial for Panasonic, featured in the song "Now or Never" for Bratz: The Movie, played at the Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival, appeared in The New York Times business section promoting eco-friendly acoustic guitars, and opened for Steve Vai in the US.
12.
Orianthi appeared at the 51st annual Grammy Awards in February 2009 as Carrie Underwood's lead guitarist, with Underwood inviting Orianthi to become a member of her band.
13.
Orianthi was hence Michael Jackson's lead guitarist and was present at all rehearsals for his This Is It concerts before his death.
14.
Orianthi had his choice of guitar players, but I came in and played the 'Beat It' solo for him.
15.
Orianthi made me believe in myself more, and I learned so much.
16.
Orianthi played and sang at Jackson's memorial, globally televised live on 7 July 2009.
17.
Orianthi appears in the film Michael Jackson's This Is It, which chronicles the rehearsals for the tour and shows her and Jackson on stage.
18.
Orianthi presented an award at the 2009 American Music Awards, which Jackson won posthumously.
19.
Orianthi plays guitar on the song "Monster" by Michael Jackson featuring 50 Cent which was released on Michael on 14 December 2010.
20.
Orianthi started working on her major label debut Believe in 2007, which was released in October 2009.
21.
Orianthi appeared on several late-night shows; most notably, she appeared on American Idol results show, which aired on 26 March 2010.
22.
Orianthi performed at various music festivals and charity functions most notably at the Stand Up to Cancer telethon.
23.
In 2020 Orianthi signed an exclusive record deal with rock label Frontiers Records.
24.
In January 2022 Orianthi announced that a live DVD and album would be released later in the year through Frontiers Records.
25.
Orianthi has been very prolific in collaborating and being featured by many artists.
26.
Orianthi is featured on Iraheta's third single "Don't Waste the Pretty" and on Fefe Dobson's song "Can't Breathe" which appears on Fefe Dobson's album Joy released in November 2010.
27.
The song became very popular and garnered substantial media coverage in India for Orianthi, being cited for her time as Michael Jackson's lead guitarist.
28.
Orianthi joined supergroup Hollywood Vampires on the track "Whole Lotta Love" from the band's 2015 self-titled debut album.
29.
In October 2016, Orianthi featured in the 2016 NRL Grand Final pre-game entertainment alongside Richie Sambora.
30.
Orianthi appears on the track Limelight from Don Felder's American Rock and Roll album, released in April 2019.
31.
On 29 August 2011, Orianthi was announced as Alice Cooper's new guitarist.
32.
Orianthi replaced Damon Johnson, who is a member of Thin Lizzy.
33.
Orianthi was the first female member of the Alice Cooper band.
34.
Orianthi did two world tours with Alice Cooper, but resigned in June 2014, and was replaced by Nita Strauss.
35.
Orianthi's departure caused a rift between her and Strauss' respective fanbases, though the guitarists themselves are friends.
36.
Orianthi has appeared as a guitarist for other stars including shows with Michael Bolton, Dave Stewart and James Durbin.
37.
Orianthi appeared on the Top 7-week season 12 of American Idol on 3 April 2013 to play guitar for each of the performances.
38.
One month later Orianthi performed Fine China with Chris Brown at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards, and on 8 December of that same year she paid tribute to Carlos Santana, performing in the Kennedy Center Honors Gala.
39.
Orianthi met with Little Kids Rock students at the annual trade show for music merchants in 2010 after they opened for her.
40.
Orianthi has a special private stock PRS Custom 24 guitar, nicknamed "MJ", made for the "This Is It" concerts.