The Press Release:
Golden Robot Records are extremely proud to announce the signing of the legendary Vanilla Fudge. To celebrate this announcement, Vanilla Fudge will drop a remastered version of their cover of Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song on 22 September.
“Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin is one of the monster tracks of all time. How do you top that? Well, you can’t but we decided to just have fun with it. I came up with this On Green Dolphin Street kinda chord progression as the intro on the synth with a heavy-duty brass sound that worked pretty well. The guys fell into it right quick and it rocks the house. Carmine did a great job with the drum track and Tim and Vince killed it. I did the vocals in Florida and sent it back to Carmine in Los Angeles and he mixed it. Hope you dig it.”
The geography of music is changing a little bit as it was recently announced that Carmine Appice was reinventing the band Cactus after the departure of bassist Pete Bremy and retirement from touring duties by founding guitarist Jim McCarty. Read the full statement and inside scoop below. I’ll return at the close with some thoughts.
The Press Release:
Coming off a very successful US tour and the release of its first studio album in 10 years, Black Dawn, the time has come for founding member and world renown drummer Carmine Appice to re-energize and rebuild Cactus. The band was once heralded by critics as America’s answer to Led Zeppelin.
Appice announced today two new members to the legendary band’s line-up: bassist Jimmy Caputo and guitarist Paul Warren. Caputo replaces bassist Pete Bremy, who has left Cactus to pursue other projects. Warren, best known as lead guitarist for Rod Stewart, Tina Turner and Joe Cocker, will be the band’s new guitarist for touring, taking over for founding member Jim McCarty. McCarty remains a writing and recording member of Cactus but unfortunately is unable to tour with the band due to health reasons. Lead vocalist extraordinare Jimmy Kunes and harmonica wizard Randy Pratt, both of whom joined when the band re-grouped in 2006 remain in the line-up.
“Nearly five decades after I formed this band, the time has come to re-invent Cactus once again,” says Appice, who also still drums for Vanilla Fudge, The Appice Brothers, and The Platinum Rock All Stars. Adds Appice: “The music remains the same and Cactus is still a ‘hot and sweaty’ band. The level, quality and consistence of the band’s musicianship is as strong as ever.”
The Band Cactus (2017)
“I saw the original Cactus live a few times, and they absolutely killed it,” says guitarist Paul Warren. “That was one of the great bands of the era, and they are still a great band, today. I am excited, and honored, to play with such an historic band!” Warren, who has his own successful solo band, is a native of Detroit and who considers Jim McCarty as one of his biggest musical influences. “”Filling in for Jim McCarty will be a challenge. Not only is he a founding member of the band, he is a brilliant guitarist and one of the best to ever come out of Detroit. Jimmy could never be replaced. I plan to honor and pay homage to his work with Cactus while still bringing some of my own ‘Detroit attitude’ to the legendary music of this band.” Continue reading Carmine Appice Presents: Cactus “Redux” w New Band Members→
The Details: There are many who referred to Cactus as “The American Led Zeppelin” and those are some seriously big words to stand with if you are a band but when you consider the fact that this powerhouse quartet that came to be with members of The Vanilla Fudge, Mitch Ryder’s Detroit Wheels and The Amboy Dukes. The original lineups presence upon the music scene was not that long but their power and sound would resonate for decades to follow and find them influencing the likes of Van Halen, The Black Crowes, Montrose and even the mighty Anvil. In 2013 we find the band featuring two original members with Carmine Appice and Jim McCarty who are joined by the talented Jimmy Kunes (vocals), Pete Bremy (bass) and Randy Pratt (harmonica) and thanks to the fine folks at B.B. King’s, we are going to put some lucky PiercingMetal fans into the show for free. Read below on how to participate.
When and Where: Wednesday, September 14th at B.B. King Blues Club 7:30pm (237 West 42nd Street NYC)
To Participate: In one of my reviews of the bands concerts I am pretty sure that it was mentioned how we were latecomers to the Cactus sound ourselves but really what we were seeing. I’ve caught them numerous times right here at the B.B. King’s venue and I want you all to take a chance in this contest so you can also get with the program. Of course if you are a lifer to their stuff this one will be easier for you. Tell me three reasons you enjoy what this band is all about if you are aware of them or three reasons that you need to be at this show if you are still in need of a schooling. If you need to merely discuss the various members (hint hint Carmine Appice should be a whole lot of stuff to say) you can do that. You can name your three favorite albums and tell me a little about why each is a favorite or perhaps a few past concert recollections. You can add what we are all in store for if we attend here in NYC. Just make it a little interesting. Make them solid to read more than just a plain old “because he rules man” because that is just too un-original and boring and this stuff remains as good site reading going forward. I’ll be responding to the comments that I like most right below their answer. Please note this is for a single ticket only and no plus one requests will be honored. Sorry. Hey if you win you can always help your friend pay for a ticket or buy them something to drink inside the venue. Continue reading Win A Ticket To See Cactus @ B.B. King Blues Club on 9/14/2016→
The Details: Vanilla Fudge is one of the legendary names in Rock and Roll history and were truly innovators of sound from the very beginning. They were most commonly known as being the band that took songs that were already popular and known and morphing them into wild Psychedelic renditions that twisted and took you to a different space in your music appreciating mind. Formed in 1966 by Mark Stein, Vince Martell, Tim Bogert and Carmine Appice, the band released five albums in full before disbanding. They’ve been back to a full scale reunion charge for the past few years and I am happy to report that in the 2015 ever changing music geography of the world that the band still performs with three of its original four members. Bassist Pete Bremy has been handling their music with skill for the last few years. Their latest album was released back in March and it was their first in several years; entitled “The Spirit Of 67” its classics you might know but have never heard done in the fashion that The Fudge offers up. and they will surely be playing tunes from this album at the show. That said I am psyched to be offering my PiercingMetal readers the chance to see this incredible band for free thanks to the fine folks at B.B. King Blues Club where they will be performing once again. Read more on how to participate below.
