Home SportsFootballNITA STRAUSS + JOSH VILLALTA ROCK LOS ANGELES RAMS HALFTIME SHOW FOR SALUTE TO SERVICE
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NITA STRAUSS + JOSH VILLALTA ROCK LOS ANGELES RAMS HALFTIME SHOW FOR SALUTE TO SERVICE

by Amy Sciarretto
written by Amy Sciarretto 0 comments

Guitarist NITA STRAUSS and drummer JOSH VILLALTA brought their signature, high-voltage playing to the Los Angeles Rams’ halftime performance this past Sunday, honoring the U.S. military as part of the NFL’s Salute to Service initiative.

WATCH THEIR HALFTIME PERFORMANCE HERE.

For the duo, this was far more than a guest appearance. NITA has served as the Rams’ official guitarist for seven seasons, becoming a defining part of the team’s game-day experience and earning a Super Bowl ring alongside the organization following its Super Bowl LVI championship. After performing at games together for the past two years, JOSH was officially brought on by the team in 2026 to add his drumming to the game day experience. Their collaborative work with the Rams has been a major milestone for years, bringing their world-class playing to one of professional sports’ biggest stages.

Dubbed the “Battle of Los Angeles,” Sunday’s matchup saw the Rams face off against fellow Los Angeles team the Chargers, with both teams calling SoFi Stadium home. STRAUSS and VILLALTA blazed through a high-powered medley featuring some of rock and military culture’s most iconic anthems, including the Top Gun theme, Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” Godsmack’s “Awake,” Iron Maiden’s “The Trooper,” “Danger Zone,” Foo Fighters’ “My Hero,” and a mashup of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” with Metallica’s “Sad but True.”

The set brought together the power of rock music, the spirit of competition, and a tribute to the men and women who serve. Godsmack’s “Awake,” in particular, has a longstanding connection to military recruitment advertising, making it a fitting addition to the Salute to Service celebration.

The performance also marks a special family milestone. STRAUSS and VILLALTA took the field together as new parents, with their son, Maxwell, attending his first Rams game. Having welcomed Max in May, the pair returned to the stadium with a new chapter of life underway, proving that becoming parents has only added another dimension to their already formidable presence onstage.

Widely regarded as one of the premier guitarists of her generation, STRAUSS has built an international career spanning solo releases, a #1 song at rock radio, more than 11 million streams across her solo catalog, signature instruments and products with Ibanez, D’Addario, Levy’s and DiMarzio, and performances with artists including Alice Cooper and Demi Lovato, as well as WWE. Her seven-season tenure with the Rams stands as a unique and enduring part of that résumé.

JOSH VILLALTA is a drummer, artist manager, and entrepreneur known for his high-energy performances and extensive work behind the scenes in the music industry. An accomplished drummer in his own right with endorsements from Tama, Vater Percussion, Evans and more, VILLALTA has performed on major stages around the world and currently joins Nita on drums as part of the Los Angeles Rams’ game-day entertainment at SoFi Stadium.

Aside from their usual in game performances, the pair have previously provided halftime entertainment at Rams games including performances of #1 single “Dead Inside” and “Victorious” alongside vocalist Dorothy Martin.

This Sunday, STRAUSS and VILLALTA brought it all together: seven seasons of rocking the Rams, a Super Bowl ring, a Salute to Service performance, and the chance to share the field with their son experiencing his first game.

The Rams get a hometown rock powerhouse.
Max gets his first taste of the family business.

Atom Splitter PR | Website | + posts

When it comes to publicity, media relations imaging, and marketing, Atom Splitter PR Principal and Founder Amy Sciarretto personifies dexterity, diligence, and devotion as she envisions and executes campaigns that don’t just impact tastemakers, but audiences worldwide.

Boundaries don’t exist for her initiatives. Sciaretto’s versatile ability to maneuver outside of expectations and elevate talent to new heights has been a cornerstone of the success of award-winning RIAA-certified juggernauts such as current clients Killswitch Engage, Falling In Reverse, Seether, Hatebreed, Helmet, Zeal & Ardor, Attila, Code Orange, and countless others. Following a storied tenure as an editor at CMJ, she became a fixture at Roadrunner Records before formally launching Atom Splitter PR in 2012. At Roadrunner, she operated point on campaigns for seminal albums such as Slipknot’s platinum-selling Billboard Top 200 #1 opus All Hope Is Gone, Korn’s GRAMMY® Award-nominated Korn III: Remember Who You Are, Killswitch Engage’s gold-selling The End of Heartache and As Daylight Dies, and more in addition to key releases from Meat Loaf, Rob Zombie, Stone Sour, Tommy Lee, and more.

Atom Splitter PR illuminates the scope of her vision. With a powerhouse roster spanning heavy metal, rock, alternative, indie, and pop, she continually lands high-profile placements across print, online, and television. Her drive and dedication remain unparalleled, adding a personalized fire and flare reflective of every artist’s individual needs. As the engine of Atom Splitter PR accompanied by a full staff of equally passionate PR impresarios, she continually raises the bar and redefines what publicity can be in the age of streaming and social media.

Outside of public relations, Amy remains staunchly devoted to her family and bulldog Higgins. She spends as much time as possible walking dogs at a local shelter, giving them a little extra love. In 2009, she co-authored the music industry survival guide Do The Devil’s Work for Him alongside Rick Florino. Expect her to make more history going forward…

When it comes to publicity, media relations imaging, and marketing, Atom Splitter PR Principal and Founder Amy Sciarretto personifies dexterity, diligence, and devotion as she envisions and executes campaigns that don’t just impact tastemakers, but audiences worldwide. Boundaries don’t exist for her initiatives. Sciaretto’s versatile ability to maneuver outside of expectations and elevate talent to new heights has been a cornerstone of the success of award-winning RIAA-certified juggernauts such as current clients Killswitch Engage, Falling In Reverse, Seether, Hatebreed, Helmet, Zeal & Ardor, Attila, Code Orange, and countless others. Following a storied tenure as an editor at CMJ, she became a fixture at Roadrunner Records before formally launching Atom Splitter PR in 2012. At Roadrunner, she operated point on campaigns for seminal albums such as Slipknot’s platinum-selling Billboard Top 200 #1 opus All Hope Is Gone, Korn’s GRAMMY® Award-nominated Korn III: Remember Who You Are, Killswitch Engage’s gold-selling The End of Heartache and As Daylight Dies, and more in addition to key releases from Meat Loaf, Rob Zombie, Stone Sour, Tommy Lee, and more. Atom Splitter PR illuminates the scope of her vision. With a powerhouse roster spanning heavy metal, rock, alternative, indie, and pop, she continually lands high-profile placements across print, online, and television. Her drive and dedication remain unparalleled, adding a personalized fire and flare reflective of every artist’s individual needs. As the engine of Atom Splitter PR accompanied by a full staff of equally passionate PR impresarios, she continually raises the bar and redefines what publicity can be in the age of streaming and social media. Outside of public relations, Amy remains staunchly devoted to her family and bulldog Higgins. She spends as much time as possible walking dogs at a local shelter, giving them a little extra love. In 2009, she co-authored the music industry survival guide Do The Devil’s Work for Him alongside Rick Florino. Expect her to make more history going forward…

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