Wanda Ortiz is an American musician best known as the bassist of the all-female tribute band

The Iron Maidens 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 ...

(billed as the "World's Only Female Tribute to

Iron Maiden Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. While fluid in the early years of the band, the lineup for most of the band's history has consisted of Harri ...

").

Biography

Wanda Ortiz first learned to play the bass 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. Before joining

, Ortiz was the bassist of the band Rotten Rod & The Warheads from 1997 to 2002 and

Heartache City ''Heartache City'' is the sixth studio album by American musical group CocoRosie. It was released by CocoRosie's own record label, Lost Girl Records, on September 18, 2015. The album is described by music webzine '' The Line of Best Fit'' as a ...

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. 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

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 Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and cultural region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. It includes the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the second most populous urban a ...

area, including The South Coast Symphony Orchestra as principal bassist since 1996. She was also the bassist of an original

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

/ blues band called Field of Vision in 2004. Aside from Steve Harris, Ortiz cites

Geddy Lee Geddy Lee (born Gary Lee Weinrib; July 29, 1953) is a Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush. Lee joined the band in September 1968, at the re ...

and

Chris Squire Christopher Russell Edward Squire (4March 1948 – 27June 2015) was an English musician, singer and songwriter best known as the bassist and backing vocalist of the progressive rock band Yes. He was the longest-serving original member, having r ...

among her influences. Her favorite Iron Maiden songs are " Losfer Words (Big 'Orra)", "Phantom of the Opera", "Powerslave" and "Rime of the Ancient Mariner".

Discography

Heartache City

* ''Heartache City'' (2000)

Field of Vision

* ''FOV'' (2004)

The Iron Maidens

* ''

World's Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden ''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 Ke ...

'' (2005/2006) * '' Route 666'' (2007) * '' The Root of All Evil'' (2008) * '' Metal Gathering Tour Live in Japan 2010'' (video, 2010)

Equipment endorsers

Wanda Ortiz is endorsed by BBE Sound, Gallien-Krueger,

G&L Musical Instruments G&L is an American guitar manufacturing company founded by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Dale Hyatt in the late 1970s. G&L produces electric guitars and basses with designs based on some classic Fender instruments. The company also produce ...

RotoSound Rotosound is a British guitar and bass string manufacturing company based in England. History Rotosound was started in the late 1950s by James How, a musician and engineer by trade. How started manufacturing music strings for many famous arti ...

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.

References

External links

Wanda Ortiz – Official MySpaceThe Iron Maidens official siteThe Iron Maidens official Japanese siteThe Iron Maidens official MySpace siteG&L Guitars' Wanda Ortiz profileOfficial Field of Vision site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ortiz, Wanda Year of birth missing (living people) Living people American heavy metal bass guitarists Women bass guitarists American women guitarists Hispanic and Latino American musicians People from Huntington Beach, California 21st-century American women Women in metal The Iron Maidens members