Thread: Orianthi: Michael Jackson's Guitar Thriller

Michael Jackson's concert documentary This Is It made the King Of Pop the King Of The Box Office this week, as fans flocked to the theaters to catch a glimpse of what might have been, had the late superstar's London O2 Arena dates actually taken place. But the film also offered a glimpse of a young new talent whose career is just starting to explode: Jackson band member and guitar prodigy, Orianthi..

This 24-year-old Australian guitar goddess first captured American audiences' attention at this year's Grammy Awards, when she blazingly accompanied (some might even say upstaged) Grammy performer Carrie Underwood, and she has also been quite vocally championed by six-string legends Steve Vai and Carlos Santana. ("If I was going to pass the baton to somebody, she would be my first choice," Carlos once said of Orianthi.) It was in fact Orianthi's buzzy Grammy performance that made Michael himself take notice, and he quickly hired her to be his guitarist for the This Is It concerts. In fact, she was actually supposed to be Michael Jackson's official spokesperson during his much-hyped London residency. .

Obviously, that sadly never came to pass, and Orianthi--who was actually with Michael the night before his death--ended up performing at Michael Jackson's Staples Center memorial instead. But still she raves: "Working with Michael was a life-changing experience, one I will never forget."

And now as Orianthi--recently named one of the "12 Greatest Female Electric Guitarists" in Elle magazine--releases her debut solo album Believe and lead single "According To You," she is all over This Is It, electrifying the screen.

The New Now

She sounds cool. She's no doubt very talented, of course I would say she upstaged Carrie at the Grammys. Although, in my biased opinion, no one can. But I like her.