🥁 The Early Years: Before He Was a Legend

Growing up in Brooklyn shaped Carmine Appice’s musical destiny. His cousin Joey owned a drum set. Young Carmine would bang on those drums constantly. He also played on pots and pans at home. His parents noticed his passion immediately. They bought him his first real kit. It cost only fifty dollars back then.

Classical training came first for the young drummer. He studied jazz legends like Buddy Rich extensively. Gene Krupa became another major influence. The Gene Krupa Story movie changed everything. Carmine saw the screaming fans and dancing crowds. He wanted that life desperately. That film became his career blueprint.

His playing style developed early and powerfully. Appice destroyed drum sets regularly as a teenager. They weren’t built as strong back then. He played with incredible force and energy. His technique combined power with showmanship brilliantly. This approach would revolutionize rock drumming forever.

🎸 Vanilla Fudge: Inventing Heavy Rock

Vanilla Fudge formed when they were called the Pigeons. Mark Stein and Tim Bogert had revolutionary ideas. They slowed down popular songs dramatically. The Supreme’s hit became their signature sound. Nobody had stretched songs like that before. They created something entirely new and groundbreaking.

The band appeared on Ed Sullivan twice. Fifty million people watched those performances. Carmine felt butterflies in the elevator beforehand. This exposure launched them into rock stardom. They inadvertently invented stoner rock music. Critics praised their psychedelic interpretations widely.

Vanilla Fudge introduced the big drum kit concept. Carmine played a massive 26-inch bass drum. His toms measured 12×15 and 16×18 inches. British drummers were shocked by the size. Keith Moon and Mitch Mitchell asked about it. This setup influenced countless drummers afterward. John Bonham adopted similar configurations later on.

🔥 The Jimi Hendrix Connection

Who was Jimi Hendrix before he became famous? Carmine Appice knew him as Jimmy James. They played opposite clubs in New York together. Jimmy James looked completely different back then. The young guitarist hadn’t developed his iconic style yet.

Their friendship grew during those early days. They would take fifteen-minute breaks between sets. Both musicians headed uptown to Broadway and 77th. This was a rough neighborhood in 1960s Manhattan. They smoked joints and talked about making it. Their dreams of stardom fueled these conversations.

Later, Carmine recognized Hendrix’s unique playing style. He saw someone playing guitar with their teeth. That signature move gave him away immediately. When they reconnected in London at the Speakeasy, Jimi was amazed. He told Carmine he loved Vanilla Fudge. Their mutual respect lasted throughout Hendrix’s career.

Backstage at the Isle of Wight Festival was memorable. Cactus performed there with Jimi Hendrix watching. Jim McCarty and Jimi jammed on acoustic guitars. They sat around talking and playing music together. Tragically, Hendrix died just days later. That became Carmine’s last memory of the guitar legend.

💫 Seven Years with Rod Stewart

Carmine Appice joined Rod Stewart’s band in 1976. This partnership produced massive commercial success. They toured arenas across the world together. Stewart wanted hits like The Rolling Stones. Carmine helped deliver those chart-topping songs consistently.

Creating hit songs came naturally to their collaboration. Rod wanted something like Miss You by the Stones. Carmine went home and wrote chord progressions. He created the verses and bridge melody. Rod added the chorus and all the lyrics. Together they crafted a global phenomenon.

The result was history-making classic rock news. Their song dominated radio stations everywhere. It reached number one across the world. Rod Stewart always split songwriting credits fairly. He treated band members with respect and honesty. Young Turks became another massive hit together.

Stewart concerts featured Carmine’s legendary drum solos. Celebrities like Fred Astaire attended these shows. Gregory Peck told Carmine that Astaire loved his performance. The famous dancer even sent fan letters. These seven years represented commercial peak success. Appice played six nights at the LA Forum.

⚡ The Ozzy Osbourne Breakup

How did Carmine Appice join Ozzy Osbourne’s band? The call came while he was in France. Sharon Osbourne wanted to meet him in London. Tommy Aldridge’s recordings weren’t working out well. The timing and drum sounds had problems. They needed someone to fix the situation.

Appice helped finish the Bark at the Moon album. He re-recorded drum parts with better techniques. The production improved dramatically under his guidance. Ozzy struggled with vocals during those sessions. Carmine worked patiently with the singer word by word. They filmed the iconic music video together.

The European tour started brilliantly for everyone involved. Carmine performed his drum solo Journey to the Center. Press reviews praised his technical abilities extensively. The Dortmund festival featured every major metal band. His showcase impressed thousands of fans simultaneously. Everything seemed perfect at that moment.

But tensions began building behind the scenes quickly. Sharon Osbourne grew increasingly irritated with Carmine’s success. He conducted drum masterclasses in every city. These sessions earned him fifteen hundred dollars daily. He also sold his own merchandise independently. His contract allowed all these business activities. Sharon didn’t appreciate his entrepreneurial spirit though.

👿 Sharon’s Revenge: Behind the Firing

What happened when Carmine Appice was fired from Ozzy’s band? An article about his masterclasses appeared in Cincinnati. Someone copied it thirty or forty times. These copies were plastered all over the backstage area. His roadie discovered something even more disturbing.

Every single merchandise t-shirt was destroyed deliberately. Someone had cut Carmine’s head off each one. Fifty to eighty shirts were systematically vandalized. This wasn’t random backstage pranking at all. The sabotage required significant time and effort.

Technical difficulties plagued his drum solo performances suddenly. Equipment that worked perfectly began malfunctioning mysteriously. Bob Daisley confirmed Sharon was sabotaging the shows. She prioritized her vendetta over the performance quality. The situation became increasingly hostile and uncomfortable.

Tommy Aldridge appeared hanging around in Dallas unexpectedly. The next day in Houston delivered the final blow. Sharon summoned Carmine to the production office coldly. She told him Tommy was starting Monday. Your name is too big, she declared bluntly. You need your own band immediately.

Carmine protested that he had a valid contract. Sharon’s response was chilling and dismissive: see you in court. She refused to pay for shipping his drums. Carmine had been helping Ozzy write new songs. The creative relationship was producing excellent material. But Sharon’s decision was absolutely final regardless.

Years later, Ozzy approached Carmine at a rehearsal studio. King Kobra was practicing for their upcoming shows. Ozzy hugged him and acknowledged the situation honestly. He hoped they could still remain friends. Carmine understood it wasn’t Ozzy’s decision personally. Sharon had orchestrated the entire firing herself. Their friendship survived despite the legal battles.

🎵 Musical Impact and Innovation

Carmine Appice revolutionized rock drumming in multiple ways. He introduced the oversized drum kit concept. Double bass drums became mainstream through his playing. His stick-twirling showmanship influenced an entire generation. Tommy Lee credits Carmine for his famous techniques.

The Realistic Rock Drum Method changed music education forever. Published in 1972, it sold over 400,000 copies. This became the first legitimate rock drumming instruction book. Carmine pioneered educational clinics worldwide for drummers. He legitimized rock percussion as serious musicianship.

His influence extends to legendary classic rock artists everywhere. John Bonham studied Carmine’s bass drum triplet techniques. Roger Taylor of Queen cites him as inspiration. Neil Peart, Tommy Lee, and Eric Singer acknowledge his impact. Ian Paice credits Appice with shaping his style. The list continues growing through today’s drummers.

Beyond drumming, Carmine excelled at songwriting consistently. He co-wrote over 130 songs throughout his career. Working with Beck, Bogert and Appice produced classics. Cactus material featured his compositional skills heavily. His ASCAP catalog demonstrates impressive versatility and talent.

🌟 Modern Day Legacy

Carmine Appice continues performing and recording actively today. Cactus released Temple of Blues in 2024. The album features incredible guest guitarists extensively. Joe Bonamassa, Ted Nugent, and Warren Haynes appear. Steve Stevens and Billy Sheehan contributed their talents. The project showcases blues standards and classic tracks.

He created The Rod Experience tribute show recently. A Rod Stewart impersonator performs with Carmine live. They recreate classic hits from his Stewart years. Audiences hear Passion and other deep cuts. These songs rarely get performed otherwise today. The show tours regularly with orchestra accompaniment.

His memoir Stick It! tells wild rock and roll stories. Published in 2016, it reveals incredible behind-the-scenes tales. Readers discover his encounters with mobsters and legends. The book discusses relationships, groupies, and near-death experiences. It provides unprecedented access to rock history.

Recognition came through multiple hall of fame inductions. The Classic Drummer Hall of Fame honored him in 2013. Modern Drummer Hall of Fame followed in 2014. Hollywood’s Rock Walk features his cement handprints. Los Angeles declared Carmine Appice Day in 1981. These honors acknowledge his monumental contributions permanently. His brother Vinny Appice joined Black Sabbath and continued the family legacy.

🎸 ESSENTIAL CARMINE APPICE PRODUCTS 🥁

Discover the music and tools that defined a legend

The Enduring Legacy of a Drum Legend

Carmine Appice’s story represents rock and roll at its finest. His influence shaped generations of drummers worldwide. From smoking joints with Hendrix to battling Sharon Osbourne, his journey captivates. The drum legend Carmine Appice created techniques still used today. His big drum kits inspired countless musicians. Double bass drums became standard because of him.

His career spans six incredible decades of music. Vanilla Fudge invented heavy psychedelic rock together. Rod Stewart partnerships produced timeless hits globally. The Ozzy split taught lessons about music business politics. Through it all, Carmine maintained his artistic integrity. He continues performing, recording, and inspiring new generations. Classic rock would sound completely different without his contributions. This legendary drummer’s impact will resonate for eternity.

Affiliate Disclosure: This site contains affiliate links to products. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. This helps support the site and allows me to continue creating content about classic rock history. All opinions and recommendations are my own and based on genuine appreciation for these artists and their work.

📚 Sources

• • Louder Sound – Carmine Appice on Jimi Hendrix and Ozzy Osbourne
• • 107.7 The Bone – Sharon’s Revenge: Carmine Appice’s Firing Story
• • Metal Castle – Carmine Appice Reveals Firing from Ozzy’s Band
• • Wikipedia – Carmine Appice
• • Modern Drummer Magazine – Carmine Appice Profile
• • Vintage Rock – The Carmine Appice Interview (2024)
• • Carmine Appice Official Website