Tag Archives: cactus

Features, In Memoriam

Legendary Bassist Tim Bogert Has Passed Away (1944-2021)

Leave a comment

vanilla fudge logo

Though I hate sharing bad news with the readership, I am afraid that I am tasked with bringing up the sad truth that the legendary bassist Tim Bogert has passed away. I saw the news circulating across the Facebook Pages of his former bandmates and a statement from Carmine Appice follows the image.

tim bogert

From Carmine Appice: My true friend Tim Bogert died today. He was like a brother to me. He was my friend for over 50 years. Tim was a one of a kind bass player. He inspired many, many bass players worldwide. He was as masterful at shredding as he was holding down a groove, and Tim introduced a new level of virtuosity into rock bass playing. No one played like Tim. He created bass solos that drove audiences to a frenzy every time he played one. And he played a different solo every night. He was the last of the legendary 60’s bass players. Tim was a very intelligent person. So intelligent that we would call him “Spock”. You could ask him anything and he would know something about it. I loved Tim like a brother. He will be missed very much in my life. I will miss calling him, cracking jokes together, talking music and remembering the great times we had together, and how we created kick-ass music together. Perhaps the only good thing about knowing someone close to you is suffering a serious illness, is you have an opportunity to tell them that you love them, and why you love them. I did that, a lot. I was touched to hear it said back to me. Nothing was left unsaid between us and I’m grateful for that. I highly recommend it. Rest in peace, my partner. I love you. See you on the other side.

Bogert stepped back from the live music scene about a decade or so ago and find his music delivered going forward by Pete Bremy in both Vanilla Fudge and in Cactus for a time. Tim was battling cancer for a number of years and was 76 years old at the time of his passing. On behalf of the Media Command HQ we wish Tim’s family the deepest of condolences on his passing. Thank you Tim for such powerful notes. I wish I had been able to see you live in concert more than I had gotten to. Your melodies will live on forever on numerous records and you will forever remain an inspiration to anyone who decides to make the bass their instrument. May you Rest In Peace.

Official Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Bogert

POSTPONED: Cactus @ The Iridium

This show has been cancelled due to the growing concerns over the Coronavirus Pandemic. No rescheduled date is available at the time of this update.

Cactus celebrates their 50th Anniversary as a band with two shows at The Iridium. This is the later performance. Each requires a ticket to attend.

the iridium nyc logo

POSTPONED: Cactus @ The Iridium

This show has been cancelled due to the growing concerns over the Coronavirus Pandemic. No rescheduled date is available at the time of this update.

Cactus celebrates their 50th Anniversary as a band with two shows at The Iridium. This is the early performance. Each requires a ticket to attend.

the iridium nyc logo

Features, PiercingMetal Says

Happy Halloween 2017: Rockers Divulge Their Favorite Horror Films

4 Comments

It’s Halloween and with this post I am giving you a treat that will not promote tooth decay nor lead you to issues with your waistline. In the spirit of my inquiries that featured “Music Resolutions”; I’ve polled a number of Metal and Rock musicians in my world and asked them “What is your favorite Horror movie and why”. So get some popcorn, dim the lights and sit under a cozy blanket as we learn of some awesome talents favorite creepy film. It’s a lengthy list but splitting this one into parts didn’t make sense. Let’s go.

Chris Caffery (Savatage/Trans-Siberian Orchestra): “Halloween”. Because it was the only movie that not only scared me in the theaters it scared me afterwards in real life. In my opinion it’s the best horror film ever made. In the sense of true horror. A real killer. There was no superhuman bs in the first one. Just pure evil.

Gogo Melone (Aeonian Sorrow): From old films was “Dracula”… I really like the atmosphere and as a kid I was a big fan of vampires. The movie that scared my ass off the most and had nightmares for days with, were “The Ring” and “The Exorcism of Emily Rose”…I don’t think I’ll ever see them twice again ??

Jimmy Kunes (Cactus): God there’s so many. “Fearless Vampire Killers”, I know it’s a spoof. But what a film!!!

Elise Ryd (Amaranthe): “The Shining”. Those two kids are the most scary thing I’ve seen. And I don’t like that dude Johnny towards the end. “Here’s Johnny” ? And this is true.. Every time I’m in a hotel with long corridors I expect those kids to show up in the end of the hallway. Haha, that image is haunting me, STILL! It’s Enshrined in my memory.

Archie Kuosmanen (Santa Cruz): Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining because it’s the undisputed heavyweight champion of horror flicks!
Continue reading Happy Halloween 2017: Rockers Divulge Their Favorite Horror Films →

Events, Reviews

Cactus @ Musikkafee Rex (Bensheim, Germany) – (5/16/2017)

Leave a comment

Over the summer months our own stalwart adventurer Kat Electric was visiting Deutschland for studies, family time and some glorious Rock & Roll. One of the concerts that she attended was the always awesome Cactus and her report on the gig at the Musikkafee Rex in Bensheim follows below the logo.

Artist: Cactus
Venue: Musikkafee Rex (Bensheim, Germany)
Opener: n/a
Date: 5/16/2017
Label: Sunset Blvd. Records

So I get off the plane in Frankfurt, the heart of Germany’s banking center, and what interesting sites there are to greet me! An unshaven, bloated and greasy haired driver who speaks in strange post Brooklyn via Croatia “engrish” and who doesn’t seem to understand a word of German gives me a three tooth grin from under his hand scrawled sign : Katerina Vilson of Spinal Pap : Deutchlund velcomes yoo! “Welcome in Germany! We love Bush!” My driver says. I purposely fail to mention that we are eight years into the Obama administration – what would be the point, and ask to be pointed to the car. He goes on to discuss his auto repair abilities and shows evidence of such every time we hit a bump. “Wheel not perfectly square but Drago make it work just good. . .” He dropped me off a block away from my less than 5-Star where I reserved a single, but am informed it won’t be ready so early in the day – it is 4PM – so, I wait. Shortly after I arrive my parents and younger brother stroll in from their day at the market and we all sit down to some wonderful schnitzel and kraut. Interesting first day to say the least but it will all be worth it if only this summer of concerts that I have planned comes off.

First day in the country, and first up was the legendary Cactus. My dad and I had this show on our calendars since its announcement. Pop had never seen them and I knew they put on a show well worth ignoring the jetlag. We arrived at 7PM to find a sizable crowd ready and geared up for the show well in advance of the 10PM set time. These normally reserved Germans are very serious about their rock ‘n roll. Stoic faces and with arms crossed as they stand and stare at the stage, but when the lights come up – it is all arms flailing and voices at node breaking level for the rest of the evening.
Continue reading Cactus @ Musikkafee Rex (Bensheim, Germany) – (5/16/2017) →