Incontro con Carmine Appice
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.
Anche se hai suonato con moltissimi artisti famosi, quale esperienza ti è rimasta nel cuore maggiormente?
Credo i Vanilla Fudge, perché è stata la prima esperienza di successo e mi ha dato il primo assaggio di grande band. Esattamente come la tua prima auto o la prima ragazza!
C’è mai stata invidia, gelosia o concorrenza tra Carmine e Vinny Appice?
Non proprio … c’è sempre stato abbastanza via vai lavorativo in entrambe le nostre carriere che davvero non c’è stato modo di pensare a questo aspetto, ci siamo sempre sostenuti a vicenda in tutti i progetti che abbiamo affrontato. Ho sostenuto Vinny sin dalle fasi iniziali della sua carriera. Attraverso le lacrime abbiamo imparato gli uni dagli altri.
Chi di voi ha spinto maggiormente l’altro a non mollare mai?
Credo io, visto che non mi arrendo mai! Ho fatto questo mestiere dal 1967 e non ho mai mollato, non ho mai fatto un giorno “lavorativo” ma sempre e solo MUSICA da allora. Vinny ha lavorato per lo più nella musica, ma per un breve periodo si è appassionato ed è entrato nel campo informatico per poi tornare forte, fiamme e fuoco, nella musica. Però ha fatto tutto ciò di sua spontanea volontà. Non ha avuto bisogno di stimoli da parte mia.
Come è nata l’idea della Drum Battle?
Nel 1988 abbiamo fatto un clinic tour insieme e li abbiamo fatto alcune drum battles. Poi, nel 1995, abbiamo fatto un DVD chiamato “DRUM WARS”. Nel video abbiamo lottato per il nome “A-Piece” o “Ap-a-cee”, per divertimento il video riportava che il vincitore della battaglia avrebbe preso il nome. Ovviamente non c’era un vincitore. Mio fratello maggiore disse che eravamo entrambi in errore e che la strada giusta era “A-Peach-A” the Italian way. Successivamente abbiamo fatto alcune promozioni del Drum Wars Video in cui abbiamo fatto alcune Drum battles. Abbiamo parlato spesso tra di noi e per diversi anni sulla possibilità di portare questa idea sui palchi. Infine, quando il Paradiso e l’Inferno non potevano più andare avanti senza Ronnie Dio (RIP)… abbiamo deciso di iniziare a fare le Drum Battles. Abbiamo fatto un paio di test nel 2011, uno a Los Angeles e uno in Albany NY. Giusto per vedere come sarebbe andata. È andata alla grande e, poco a poco, abbiamo fatto più shows nel 2011 e messo insieme diversi spettacoli nel 2012. Abbiamo suonato nei teatri, festival per batteristi, Rock Festivals, ecc., ed è andata sempre bene. Quindi mi misi in contatto con Stefano che ha ideato e messo su il tour Europeo. Ed eccoci qui!
Quale batterista ti ha influenzato maggiormente?
Per me Buddy Rich e Gene Krupa. Erano i miei preferiti di tutti i tempi. Il mio primo album è stato un Krupa e Rich drum battle album. Poi uscì il film THE GENE KRUPA STORY (La storia di Gene Krupa) che ho amato. Comprai la colonna sonora e imparai ogni nota suonata da Gene Krupa. Dopo di loro c’è stato Max Roach e Joe Morello. In seguito furono Billy Cobham, Stewart Copeland che catturarono la mia attenzione. Mi piacevano gli stili di entrambi.
Studi ancora o hai smesso?
Cerco sempre cose nuove da imparare così come fa Vinny. Quando vogliamo imparare qualcosa di nuovo scaviamo fino alla fine per impadronirci dell’argomento fino a farlo diventare parte del nostro stile, il tutto senza nemmeno pensare di starlo a fare. Per noi è molto naturale.
Che consigli hai per un giovane batterista?
Consiglio sempre di andare a prendere lezioni e imparare a leggere. Un insegnante può mostrare trucchi
e scorciatoie per ottenere l’obiettivo di suonare più velocemente. Una volta imparato a leggere si può imparare dai libri da soli e iniziare a prendere dei lavori dove c’è bisogno di saper leggere. Si può in futuro anche insegnare e farlo come mestiere. Questo offre ad un batterista una più ampia gamma di prospettive tra cui scegliere per suonare e fare della batteria il proprio mondo lavorativo.
Anche il fatto di suonare diversi generi musicali, non solo rock o jazz, può aiutare. Bisogna provare tutto. Rock, jazz, latin, jazz rock… in questo modo si allarga lo spettro del batterista.
Che tipo di progetti dobbiamo aspettarci per il futuro?
Per quanto mi riguarda ho un libro sulla mia vita che uscirà l’anno prossimo. Altre drum wars, un nuovo cd king kobra nel 2013, cactus tours, dvd e cd nuovi. Praticamente tanta batteria e un sacco di divertimento. C’è anche un progetto in cantiere tra me e Joe Lynn Turner… un nuovo libro da Alfred Music “REALIST DRUM METHODS” un aggiornamento del mio classico REALISTIC DOUBLE FEET e REALISTIC REGGAE, un libro reggae con dei play along reggae per suonarci sopra. Si tratta di un pacchetto davvero fico e molto educativo.
Grazie.
Carmine
…metting with Carmine Appice
Even if you played with a lot of top artists, which experience remained in your heart most of all?
I guess vanilla fudge because it was the first one that was successful and gave me the first taste as a big group. Like your first car,or first girlfriend !!
Has there ever been envy, jealousy or competition between you two?
Not really…there was always enough going on in both our careers that we really didn’t get into that we both supported each other in all projects that we did. I supported Vinny from the beginning stages of his playing. Through the tears we learned from each other.
Which of you has spurred the other to never give up?
I guess me as I never give up ..I’ve been doing this since 1967 and never gave up,never did a day job always MUSIC since then. Vinny mostly did music but went into the computer field for a minute then came back strong with heaven and Hell. But he came back on his own.He didn’t need any spurring from me.
How did you get the idea of the drum battle?
In 1988 we did a clinic tour together and did some drum battles in that. Then in 1995,we did a DVD called DRUM WARS . In the VIDEO we were fighting for the name “A-Piece” or “Ap -a- cee “ for fun the video said whoever won the battle gets the name> Of course there was no winning. My older brother said we were both wrong.the correct way was
“A-Peach-A” the italian way. We then did some Drum Wars Video promotions in which we did some Drum Battles . We’ve been talking about doing this for many years. Finally when Heaven and Hell could no longer go on with out Ronnie Dio(RIP) …We decided to start doing Drum Wars. We did a couple of Test shows I 2011, one in LA and one in Albany N.Y. To see how it would go . It went great and little by little we did more showsi n 2011and put more shows together in 2012. We played theaters,RockFestivals , drum Festivals etc. and it went well. I got in touch with Stefano and he put the euro tour together. So here we are !!
Which drummers influenced you most of all?
For me Buddy Rich and Gene krupa.. they were my all time favorites. My fiirst album was a Krupa and Rich drum battle album. Then the movie THE GENE KRUPA STORY..came out I loved that movie bought the sound track album and learned every note Gene Krupa played…after them it was Max Roach Joe Morello…Later it was Billy cobham ,Stewart Copeland that caught my attention.I liked both og their styles..
Do you still want to study or did you give it up?
I always look at new things to learn as does Vinny. When we want to learn something new we both dig into it until it becomes part of our playing without any thinking about doing it. It becomes natural to us.
What do you recommend to do for a young drummer?
I always recommend to have a young drummer go for lessons with a teacher and learn how to read. A teacher can show the student many short cuts and can get them to their playing goal quicker. Once they learn how to read, then they can learn from books themselves and play gigs that need a reader. They can teach and make a living at drumming. It gives a young drummer a wider spectrum to choose from in order to play for a living. Also try and play different kinds of music not only rock or jazz..try it all . Rock,jazz,latin,jazz rock etc.. it widens you spectrum as a player..
What kind of project do we have to expect for the future?
From me I have a book of my life coming out next year. More drum wars,a new king kobra cd in 2013, cactus tours ,dvd and new cds. Just lots of playing and fun. There is a project in the works with me and joe lynn turner..
a new book from alfred music REALIST DRUM METHODS whis is re releases and updates of myclassic books- REALISTIC DOUBLE FEET and REALISTIC REGGAE. The reggae book as reggea play alongs to play the patterns to. It’s is a really cool package and very educational.
thx Carmine
BIO:
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.
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
2008 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
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.
