Three of them had vocals, and the rest didn't. So, between the period of 2001-2004, we had 14 songs down. Other times when we went to New York, for the next couple of years, we'd take an extra couple of days, Jimmy would fly in, and we'd put down some more songs. We screwed around a bit, we had Jimmy singing with us, just so we had a singer. We went in and played on Jimmy Kunes' demo.Īfter we did that, Randy said, "You guys have an extra day or so, why don't you use the studio and play some Cactus stuff, or try some new things?" So we did. He put a lot of money into Vanilla Fudge, and one day he called Tim and I and said, "Look, you guys are coming to New York, would you mind playing on a demo for this singer I have by the name of Jimmy Kunes? I'm going to fly Jim McCarty in to do it too." We told him, "That sounds interesting, definitely yeah, no problem." So when we were in town, doing some Vanilla Fudge stuff, we went to his studio. He also was a big fan of Cactus and Vanilla Fudge. Over three years, from 2001-2004, whenever we went to New York with Vanilla Fudge, there's a guy named Randy Pratt, who actually played harmonica, had a studio in New York. What prompted you to reform the band after over three decades since the last album?Ĭarmine Appice : Actually, we weren't really prompted to do it. It's been 34 years since the last Cactus album. Nightwatcher's House Of Rock : Cactus has a new album, 'Cactus V,' out on Escapi Records. Interview and text by Keith Langerman for Nightwatcher's House Of Rock Special thanks to Carol and Carmine Appice for coordinating, and a big thanks to Carmine Appice, Tim Bogert and Jim McCarty for doing this interview.
Come with us as we explore not only the new album, but the history of the band Cactus and beyond with this exclusive, historic interview with the three surviving members of the original kings of sonic boogie, Appice, Bogert and McCarty. One that must be ranked as one of the finest comeback efforts in the recent history of hard rock. Featuring 14 rocking originals in the same style as when first together, this is a glorious return to form for these legendary performers. Hell, Hendrix was a fan of the original band, so say no more there!Īmazingly, over 34 years after the last Cactus album, like the mythical Phoenix, the band, with ex Savoy Brown singer Jimmy Kunes replacing the late Rusty Day, have risen once again to lay upon us 'Cactus V', an album (with assistance from The Lizards' Randy Pratt on smokin' blues harp) sounding like they picked up playing after perhaps a month's break rather than over three decades. During Van Halen's club days it wasn't uncommon for them to fill a generous portion of their sets with Cactus songs even as recently as this year David Lee Roth would play "Evil" on his now defunct radio show on a daily basis. The riff at the opening of "Eruption" is almost a direct lift from "Let Me Swim" from the band's self titled debut. Take a listen to Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher," compare it to Cactus's frantic version of "Parchman Farm" and you'll see exactly where Eddie and Alex got the inspiration for the music for that Van Halen classic.
Van Halen, Ted Nugent, King's X, David Coverdale, Steve Morse, Billy Sheehan, Kid Rock, even present day riff-meisters such as The Muggs have all praised the band, citing them as a major influence and inspiration during interviews. However, the bands Cactus influenced, and continue to these days, is a list much more impressive. It's been said that The Velvet Underground never sold that many albums, but every person who bought one started a band, thus in many critic's minds making them a bigger influence, but the bands they influenced sucked in this writer's opinion. Cactus never made a huge impression in the charts at the time, the debut 'Cactus' album being the highest charter at #54 on Billboard, but their influence reached far beyond their sales figures. Formed from the ashes of Vanilla Fudge when that band wound down for the first time in early 1970, hard rockin' blues-boogie purveyors Cactus were, in the words of Hendrix producer Eddie Kramer, "The epitome of the American blues-rock band that kicked serious butt."Īt times called, "The American Led Zeppelin," this talented quartet, Carmine Appice, Tim Bogert, Jim McCarty and Rusty Day released three albums, 'Cactus,' 'One Way.Or Another' and 'Restrictions' that have subsequently become classics of the genre.
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