Strauss, Villalta Play Rams Halftime Medley
Guitarist Nita Strauss and drummer Josh Villalta performed a short cover set at SoFi Stadium during the Rams' Salute to Service halftime show.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Metal
Nita Strauss and Josh Villalta performed a short cover set at the Los Angeles Rams' Salute to Service halftime show at SoFi Stadium on Sunday. Villalta drummed for Strauss during the set, which closed with a mashup of Queen and Metallica.
Why it matters
The performance highlights the Rams' use of an in-house guitarist for game-day entertainment, a role Strauss has held since the team moved to SoFi. It also showcases Villalta's expanded part in Strauss's halftime appearances this season.
The halftime set ran nine songs, including the Top Gun theme, Metallica's For Whom the Bell Tolls, and Iron Maiden's The Trooper. The source does not say how many additional home games Strauss will perform at this season.
The players
Nita Strauss
Nita Strauss is a guitarist who has performed with Alice Cooper's band and serves as the Los Angeles Rams' official in-house guitarist.
Josh Villalta
Josh Villalta is a drummer from New Orleans who performs with the band Choleric and joined Strauss for the Rams halftime set.
Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams are an NFL franchise that plays home games at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
The details
Strauss performed on stage at SoFi Stadium while Villalta, who is from New Orleans and plays with the band Choleric, provided drums. The set also included Godsmack's Awake, Kenny Loggins' Danger Zone, and Foo Fighters' My Hero before closing with the Queen and Metallica mashup.
Timeline
2018: Strauss first performed at a Rams game, playing America the Beautiful.
2020: Strauss became the Rams' official in-house guitarist after the team moved to SoFi.
2022: Strauss received an official Super Bowl ring following Super Bowl LVI.
November 1, 2026: The Rams' Salute to Service halftime show took place with Strauss and Villalta.
Industry Dynamics
Strauss's path from a 2018 single-anthem debut to a 2020 in-house role and a 2026 multi-song halftime set reflects a broader pattern of NFL teams using recurring musicians as part of their game-day presentation. Her ongoing work with Alice Cooper's band, which resumes in Las Vegas later this month, shows how such stadium roles often run alongside touring careers.
Fans who want to see Strauss perform live can attend Rams home games at SoFi Stadium, where she plays during halftime. Those interested in the Cooper residency will need to travel to Las Vegas for the shows later this month.
The takeaway
Recurring stadium roles like Strauss's give musicians a steady platform alongside their touring work, and fans who catch a team halftime show may find the same performer appearing across multiple formats.
What happens next
Strauss is set to return to Alice Cooper's band when Cooper resumes his Welcome To My Nightmare Las Vegas residency with Criss Angel later in November 2026.
Further reading
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Source note: This article includes information reported by Loudersound.
