Carmine Appice
On 27th May 2021
The creator of heavy rock drumming as we know it -Drummer magazine -UK
“Carmine Appice set the foundation for heavy drumming… before Bonham, before Ian Paice… before anyone else.”—Rick Van Horn, Modern Drummer
As drummer for Vanilla Fudge, Carmine Appice set the grooves for the groundbreaking band’s 1967 psychedelic debut, inadvertently inventing Stoner Rock in the process. The Fudge had no precedent. The band was totally unique. No rock group, up until that point, had ever so lugubriously s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d out well-known pop tunes like the Beatles “Eleanor Rigby” and “Ticket To Ride,” Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready,” Sonny & Cher’s “Bang Bang” Rod Argent’s “She’s Not There” and, most famously, The Supremes’ Motown classic “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” to such hippie heights. With Mark Stein’s mysterioso wash of Grand Guignol keyboard theatrics, Tim Bogert’s amazing and trippy bass runs, and guitarist Vince Martell’s era-happy soloing, Appice boomed like no other drummer in rock history. Their debut album still stands today as a Hard Rock classic. Vanilla Fudge went on to tour with Jimi Hendrix, Cream, and even had Led Zeppelin as an opening act.
Post-Fudge, Bogert and Appice formed Cactus (seen as an influence on King’s X and Van Halen). Post-Cactus, the rhythm section found Grammy-winning Guitar Hero Jeff Beck to form the first supergroup: Beck, Bogert & Appice (BBA).
One of the premier showmen in rock, Appice became known worldwide for his astonishing live performances, in addition to becoming a highly sought-after session drummer, recording with countless artists throughout his career. In ’76, he joined Rod Stewart’s band, touring, recording and writing two of Stewart’s biggest hits, “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” and “Young Turks.” He left Stewart to record his first solo album, Rockers, and tour Japan and North America with an allstar band. . In the early ‘80s, he toured with OZZY Osborne ,Ted Nugent . In the mid ‘80s, he formed King Kobra for two Capitol albums and international touring And in the late 80s, Carmine played on a Pink Floyd record “Momentary Lapse of Reason and formed Blue Murder with Whitesnake’s John Sykes and The Firm’s Tony Franklin. In the early ‘90s, he pounded away soul-style for The Edgar Winter Group. Advertisement
As an educator, Carmine was the first to legitimize rock drumming with his landmark book, The Realistic Rock Drum Method, selling over 400,000 copies (now in video format). He was the first Rock Drummer and Rock Musician to conduct instructional clinics and symposiums around the world, a tradition he continues. In appreciation for his universal appeal, Los Angeles was one of four cities that have had “Carmine Appice Day.” In ’91, he was forever immortalized via his induction in cement to the Hollywood’s Rock Walk (next to his idols, Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich).
1991 inducted into the Guitar Center ROCK WALK OF FAME
1995 — Guitar Zeus album has Appice producing, writing and playing with guest artist Motley Crue’s Mick Mars, Queen’s Brian May, Ted Nugent, Slash and Jennifer Batten.
1997 — “Lifetime Achievement” honor from the Los Angeles Music Awards
1998 — Chasing Destiny movie—in which he appears with Denny Laine of Wings, Roger Daltrey of The Who and Christopher Lloyd—contains five of his co-written songs.
1999 — With bassist Bogert and legendary Japanese guitarist Char, he forms Char, Bogert & Appice (CBA) for nine sold-out Japanese shows including a historic Christmas Day Budokan concert.
2000 — Appice appeared on VH-1’s Rockshow along with Plant & Page, Def Leppard and Kid Rock.
2000 — Modern Drummer presents him with its “Editor’s Achievement Award.”
2001 — With bassist Bogert, he teams up with Rick Derringer for Derringer, Bogert, and Appice (DBA).
2002 — The Ultimate Realistic Rock Drum Method is published by Warner Bros.
2004 — Sabian Cymbals presents him with another “Lifetime Achievement Award.”
2004 — It Takes A Lot Of Balls album with Pat Travers is released.
2005 — Two albums, one live/one studio, are released: Travers & Appice Live Featuring TM Stevens At The House Of Blues (Escapi), and Bazooka (Cleopatra).
2005 –Vanilla Fudge reunite to rock the house during a taping of VH1-Classic’s Decades. . Summer tour with the Doors
2006 Vanilla Fudge a Carmine Produced record a cd redoing LED ZEP songs
2007 Carmine receives LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT award from KOSA drum festival
Carmine creates CARMINE APPICE’S SLAMM a new theatrical ROCK DRUM SPECTACULAR
2008 Carmine and Slamm record and new song and Video for ESPN NASCAR that was shown each week on ESPN2 Nascar races
2008 Pete Mitchell of BBC radio 2 broadcast THE CARMINE APPICE STORY to and audience of 6 million people across the UK
2008 Realistic rock book and Dvd receive awards for readers polls for both DRUM magazine and MODERN DRUMMER Magzine
2008 Carmine signs a new drum company DDRUM and becomes the Educational Adviser
2009 DDRUM Releases first of Carmine signature products including ES Set,Classic 70s kit,Shade cymbal and Brass signature snare
2009 release of Realistic Rock for kids DVD
2010 Micheal Schecker tours – Guitar Center legends Award
2011 Tours of South america , with MSG
2011 recording with spanish guitarist Javier Vargus and tour ,recording new KING KOBRA CD
2011- release of King Kobra Cd
2011 New Book Realistic Drum Fills-Replacements – released on Hudson Music
2011-Writing of the new auto-biography.
2011- Starting with Drum Wars with Brother Vinny. drawing big crowds
2011 -Vanilla Fudge farewell tour selling out all over the USA
2011- Vanilla Fudge on Jimmy fallen show
2011 Carmine on VH! Classics THAT METAL SHOW
2011 major switch to Istanbul Mehmet cymbals
2011 received a special award for charity work with the station fire victims-Providence RI
2011 received the DRUM ICON AWARD -Vegas Rock Awards
2011 touring with Spanish Guitar Hereo-Javiar Vargas
2011 Istanbul mehmet cymbals gets ready the Carmine Realistic Rock cymbal line
2011 Carmine vh-1 metal evolution
2011 Carmine Appice Classics is released on Fuel records
2011 Istanbul Mehmet cymbals first ever drum clinics in Izmir and Istanbul Turkey with Carmine
2012 Drum Wars euro tour 20 cities
2013 Carmine Appicers on ttwo episodes of VH-1 That Metal Show as a Playing guest
2013 Icon award for VEGAS ROCKS magazine in Vegas
2014 induction to the Modern Drummer Magazine Hall of Fame
2014 Rock n Blues t=summer tour with Vanilla Fudge
2015 New Vanilla Fudge CD and Vinyl release “Spirit of 67” with tours
2016 Release of carmine autobiagraphy “STICK IT” My life of SEX DRUM and ROCK N ROLL
2016 Release Pat travers -Carmine Appice the Balls CD
2016 Cactus new CD/Video release Black Dawn
2016 and beyond re releases of Guitar zeus ,Toured with The Rascals in 2018
2019 recorded ‘stop in the name of love’ original Vanilla fudge .
2020 Recorded Tim Bogert for Stop in th name of love
2020 Started online Podcast HANGIN and BANGIN
2021 Modern Drummer Releasing Educational Catalog of All Books
2021 Release of CACTUS TIGHTROPE album
2021 Due out New King Kobra,New box set of GUITAR ZEUS with new artist new tracks.Plus instrumental album called ENERGY OVERLOAD Appice -Perdomo Project
As a true artist, Carmine stretches the limits of his talents, always pursuing new experiences with a broad spectrum of musicians. His high standards have earned him the respect of the world’s most admired performers as well as captivating the loyalty of legions of fans. He has reshaped the path of music education, redesigned the very instrument he plays, and recreates excitement with every performance.
Carmine Appice is, truly, A Different Drummer.
www.carmineappice.com www.drumwars.com
