CACTUS – The American Led Zeppelin.”
– Creem Magazine
Those are tall words, but that is in fact what people were saying about Cactus when this first “Super Group” hit the scene in 1970. Cactus flamed out brightly after only four albums at the end of 1972. With rockers such as Van Halen, Monster Magnet, Kings X, Billy Sheehan, David Coverdale, Kid Rock and Ted Nugent having been documented in interviews as fans of the loud and proud ‘70s sensation, Cactus’s mark in Rock and Roll history is undisputed.
Cactus is back and “The American Led Zeppelin” is coming at you with tour dates in both America and Europe. All told, those of us who were too young to have seen Cactus in the 70’s are in for a treat.
Legendary Drummer- Carmine Appice Bio,
Appice first came to prominence as the drummer with the late 1960s psychedelic band Vanilla Fudge. Appice contributed distinctive background harmonies with bassist Tim Bogert. After five albums, the pair left Vanilla Fudge to form the blues rock quartet Cactus, with vocalist Rusty Day and guitarist Jim McCarty. Appice and Bogert then left Cactus to join Jeff Beck in the power trio Beck, Bogert & Appice. Appice joined Rod Stewart’s backing band in 1977, co-writing songs such as “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” and “Young Turks”. He also played drums on a track on Paul Stanley’s eponymous solo album (1978).
He was a member of KGB which featured Ray Kennedy, Ric Grech, Mike Bloomfield, and Barry Goldberg. Appice has recorded with artists such as Stanley Clarke, Ted Nugent, and Pink Floyd. He has also played with King Kobra and Blue Murder with John Sykes. On May 23, 1981, Mayor Tom Bradley of Los Angeles proclaimed that day as Carmine Appice Day in LA in recognition of Appice’s charitable and educational work.[9] Later in 1983 he toured with Ozzy Osbourne to promote Bark at the Moon (1983)
Legendary Guitarist- Jim McCarty Bio,
an American blues rock guitarist from Detroit, Michigan. He has performed with Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels, the Buddy Miles Express, Cactus, the popular Detroit rock band The Rockets, the Detroit Blues Band, and more recently, Mystery Train.
He also recorded with Jimi Hendrix and Bob Seger. He plays in a heavy blues-rock style that has inspired fledgling guitar players for more than 40 years.
In 2006, he participated in a Cactus reunion, performing in New York City, Sweden, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. It coincided with the release of a new Cactus album, Cactus V. In 2007, Cactus played a Detroit date, a McCarty homecoming, to a sold-out, standing-room-only house.
In an August 2006 interview on VH1 Classic, Ted Nugent remarked “I’m the only guy in rock’n’roll that plays that hollow body jazz guitar and it’s because in 1960 I saw Jimmy McCarty creating those big fat full chords like I do on “Stranglehold”; I learned that from Jimmy McCarty. Remember the name Jimmy McCarty. He is as important as Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry and Les Paul…a god on guitar.”
In 2005, Les Paul recorded Les Paul and Friends: American Made, World Played, with an all-star band. He covered 69 Freedom Special, an instrumental tune co-written by McCarty and recorded while in the Buddy Miles Express. In February 2006, Les Paul won a Grammy for his cover of the song, thus propelling McCarty into another award-winning arena as songwriter.
In 2009, a new band, the Hell Drivers, was created. The members are Jim McCarty, Johnny “Bee” Badanjek, Marvin Conrad (bass), and Jim Edwards (vocals). A high-energy band, they play a variety of Detroit rock’n’roll from Iggy, The Rockets, Mitch Ryder, Alice Cooper, Bob Seger and more to great critical acclaim.
The current Cactus lineup includes original members Carmie Appice, Jim McCarty along with Jimmy Kunes (vocals), Randy Pratt (harmonica) and Pete Bremy (bass)
One Night Only !!!! Special Event @ Brian’s Backyard BBQ
WITH SPECIAL GUEST- DEAD MAN’S HAND
LOCATION; 1665 Rte 211 East Middletown, New Yoek 10941
$30.00 – TICKET PRICE
CALL -BRIAN’S BACKYARD BBQ -FOR RESERVATIONS
(845)692-3227
