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 BELOW.
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, STRAUSShas 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.
PHOTO CREDITS: HANNA YAMAMATO
