Wanda Ortiz | |
|---|---|
 Ortiz at Wacken Open Air 2022 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Steph Harris (The Iron Maidens) |
| Origin | Huntington Beach, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Heavy metal, hard rock, blues, classical |
| Occupation(s) | Bassist |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Member of | The Iron Maidens |
| Website | theironmaidens |
Wanda Ortiz is an American musician best known as the bassist of the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens (billed as the "World's Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden").
Wanda Ortiz first learned to play the bass guitar at the age of nine, when the elementary school she attended had a music program that enabled students to sign up and choose an instrument. When she arrived late on the first day of music class, she wound up with a junior-sized double bass. While she took lessons on the double bass (also known as an upright bass), she taught herself to play electric bass at age 11 so she could play in the school jazz band. She continued playing bass throughout her school years, eventually earning a B.Mus degree from the University of California, Irvine. [1] [2]
Before joining The Iron Maidens, Ortiz was the bassist of the band Rotten Rod & The Warheads from 1997 to 2002 and Heartache City from 1999 to 2001. In 1998 and 2004, Ortiz won the Best Female Bassist award at the Rock City News Awards and in 2003, won the best bassist award at The All Access Music Magazine Awards. [3]
In September 2002, Ortiz joined The Iron Maidens and has remained with the band ever since. As a member of The Iron Maidens, Ortiz's stage name is "Steph Harris", a female version of Iron Maiden bassist/founder Steve Harris.
In addition to The Iron Maidens, Ortiz works as a freelance musician in various groups and orchestras in the Southern California area, including The South Coast Symphony Orchestra as principal bassist since 1996. She was also the bassist of an original rock/blues band called Field of Vision in 2004. [4]
Aside from Steve Harris, Ortiz cites Geddy Lee and Chris Squire among her influences. Her favorite Iron Maiden songs are "Losfer Words (Big 'Orra)", "Phantom of the Opera", "Powerslave" and "Rime of the Ancient Mariner". [5]
Wanda Ortiz is endorsed by BBE Sound, Gallien-Krueger, G&L Musical Instruments, RotoSound Strings, and Schroeder Superior Sound Cabinets.
Ortiz's main bass guitar on stage is a glitter blue G&L SB-2. She also uses a black SB-2 on select shows.
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Although fluid in the early years of the band, the line-up for most of the band's history has consisted of Harris, lead vocalist Bruce Dickinson, drummer Nicko McBrain, and guitarists Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Janick Gers. As pioneers of the new wave of British heavy metal movement, Iron Maiden released a series of UK and US Platinum and Gold albums, including 1980's debut album, 1981's Killers, and 1982's The Number of the Beast – its first album with Bruce Dickinson, who replaced Paul Di'Anno as lead singer. The addition of Dickinson was a turning point in their career, establishing them as one of heavy metal's most important bands ever. The Number of the Beast is among the most popular heavy metal albums of all time, having sold almost 20 million copies worldwide.
The Number of the Beast is the third studio album by English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It was released on 22 March 1982 in the United Kingdom by EMI Records and in the United States by Harvest and Capitol Records. The album was their first to feature vocalist Bruce Dickinson and their last with drummer Clive Burr.
Stephen Percy Harris is an English musician and songwriter. He is best known as the bassist, keyboardist, backing vocalist, primary songwriter and founder/leader of heavy metal band Iron Maiden. He has been the band's only constant member since their inception in 1975 and, along with guitarist Dave Murray, the only member to appear on every album.
Iron Maiden is the debut studio album by English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 14 April 1980 by EMI Records in the UK and Harvest and Capitol Records in the US. The North American version included the song "Sanctuary", released in the UK as a non-album single. In 1998, along with the rest of the band's pre-1995 releases, Iron Maiden was remastered with "Sanctuary" added in all territories. However, 2014 vinyl reissues, 2015 digital releases and 2018 CD reissues use the original track listing across the globe. It is the band's only album to feature guitarist Dennis Stratton.
Paul Andrews, better known by his stage name Paul Di'Anno, is an English heavy metal singer who was the lead vocalist for Iron Maiden from 1978 to 1981. In his post-Maiden career, Di'Anno has issued numerous albums over the years, as both a solo artist and as a member of such bands as Gogmagog, Di'Anno's Battlezone, Killers, Rockfellas, and more recently, Warhorse. Together with fellow Iron Maiden member Dennis Stratton, he joined Praying Mantis for the recording of their 1990 live album Live at Last.
"The Trooper" is a song by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released as the second single on 20 June 1983 from the band's fourth studio album, Piece of Mind (1983). It was one of only a few songs to achieve frequent radio airplay in the United States, thus peaking at No. 28 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock. It also achieved success in the United Kingdom, peaking at No. 12 in the UK Singles Charts, as well as gaining a better reception than the band's previous single, "Flight of Icarus". The song is one of their most popular and remains an essential track of heavy metal music.
"Run to the Hills" is a song by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It was released as their sixth single and the first from the band's third studio album, The Number of the Beast (1982). It is their first single with Bruce Dickinson as vocalist. Credited solely to the band's bassist, Steve Harris, Dickinson contributed to the song but could not be credited due to a contractual agreement with his former band Samson. "Run to the Hills" remains one of the band's most popular songs, with VH1 ranking it No. 27 on their list of the 40 Greatest Metal Songs, No. 14 on their list of the Greatest Hard Rock Songs, and Rolling Stone ranking it No. 10 on their list of the 100 greatest heavy metal songs
"Hallowed Be Thy Name" is the final track on Iron Maiden's 1982 album The Number of the Beast. The song was written by bassist Steve Harris and has been acclaimed as one of the greatest heavy metal songs of all time. It is also considered one of the band's signature songs.
The Iron Maidens are an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 2001 as an all-female tribute act to English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. The band currently consists of drummer Linda McDonald, bassist Wanda Ortiz, lead vocalist Kirsten Rosenberg and guitarists Nikki Stringfield and Shani Kimelman.
Year Long Disaster was an American rock band from Los Angeles. Formed in 2004, the band was composed of vocalist and guitarist Daniel Davies, bassist Rich Mullins and drummer Brad Hargreaves. Hargreaves was later replaced by Rob Oswald, and guitarist Will Mecum also joined in a later incarnation of the group.
The Iron Maidens: World's Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden is the debut album by American all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens. The album features selected tracks originally performed by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. Michael Kenney, keyboardist for Iron Maiden, appears as a guest musician on the Japanese import version.
Route 666 is the second album by the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens and the first under their Japanese label Powerslave Records. It is also the first release featuring guitarist Heather Baker. Produced by Bob Kulick and Brett Chassen, Route 666 is a CD/DVD package, with the DVD featuring the band's live performance at the Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana, CA, on March 12, 2005. Most notable are the guest appearances of Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell and Iron Maiden keyboardist Michael Kenney.
The Root of All Evil is a Japan-only EP release by the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens. It includes three new cover recordings of Iron Maiden songs and a dance remix of "The Trooper." This was the band's last recording to feature lead vocalist Aja Kim and guitarists Sara Marsh and Heather Baker, who left the band.
Heather Baker is an American producer, guitarist and musical director. Baker is known for being a session and touring guitar player for the likes of Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Adam Lambert, Bea Miller, Bonnie Mckee and many more. Her musical direction clients include Olivia Rodrigo, Tegan and Sara, Ricky Montgomery, Meg Myers, Em Beihold, Peter McPoland and many others under Direction Music Group, a musical direction collective based in Los Angeles, California.
Jenny Warren is an American singer, best known as the co-founder of the all-female tribute band the Iron Maidens.
Melanie Sisneros is an American bassist and a member of four bands: Crescent Shield, Whole Lotta Rosies, Hangar 18 and Mz Led. She is also a former member of the bands Sinergy, The Iron Maidens and New Eden.
Jojo Draven is an Indonesian-born American musician and film score composer. She is a cast member of the Blue Man Group. She has worked as sole touring musician with illusionist Criss Angel. She was also the guitarist for the Shrapnel Records/Geffen Records recording artist all-female heavy metal band Phantom Blue and was the co-founder and original member of the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens.
Kim Nielsen is an American hard rock bassist known for being a member of the all-female band Phantom Blue.
Courtney Cox is an American guitarist and former member of the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens and currently the lead guitarist for heavy metal band Burning Witches.
Metal Gathering Tour Live in Japan 2010 is a Japan-only live video by the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens. Recorded live during their tour in Japan in January 2010, it was the band's first release with new lead vocalist Kirsten Rosenberg and new guitarist Courtney Cox, and also the last to feature guitarist Sara Marsh, who was released from the band after this tour.
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