Cactus (American band)

Last updated

Cactus
Cactus (1970).png
Cactus in 1970. From left: Tim Bogert, Rusty Day, Jim McCarty, & Carmine Appice
Background information
Origin Long Island, New York, U.S.
Genres
Years active1969–1972 (original Cactus), 1976–1979 (Rusty Day's reformed Cactus), 2006–present (current Cactus)
Labels Atco, Atlantic
Members Carmine Appice
Paul Warren
Jimmy Kunes
Randy Pratt
Jimmy Caputo
Past members Jim McCarty
Rusty Day
Tim Bogert
Ron Leejack
Peter French
Werner Fritzsching
Duane Hitchings
Mike Pinera
Roland Robinson
Jerry Norris
Bobby Caldwell
Charlie Souza
Steve Dansby
John Sauter
Gary Moffatt
Elliot Dean Rubinson
Pete Bremy
Website cactusrocks.net

Cactus is an American rock band formed in 1969. It is currently comprising Jimmy Kunes as lead singer, guitarist Paul Warren, drummer Carmine Appice, bassist Jimmy Caputo and Randy Pratt on harmonica. [1] [2]

Contents

History

Original lineup and initial run (1969–1972)

Cactus was conceived in late 1969 by former Vanilla Fudge members bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice, [2] after plans to team up with guitarist Jeff Beck were canceled when Beck had an automobile accident and was out of the music scene for over a year. In early 1970, Bogert and Appice brought in blues guitarist Jim McCarty from Mitch Ryder's Detroit Wheels and the Buddy Miles Express, and singer Rusty Day (born Russell Edward Davidson) from the Amboy Dukes. [2]

This lineup released three albums on Atco Records, Cactus (1970), One Way... or Another (1971), and Restrictions (1971), before intraband troubles led to McCarty quitting at the end of 1971. [2] Day was fired from the group shortly afterwards. [2] The fourth and last original Cactus album, 'Ot 'n' Sweaty (1972), featured rhythm section Bogert and Appice joined by Werner Fritzschings on guitar, Duane Hitchings on keyboards and Peter French (ex-Leaf Hound and Atomic Rooster) on vocals. Shortly before the final breakup, guitarist Ricky Ramirez replaced Fritzschings.

Disbanding (1972)

After Cactus's dissolution in 1972, Bogert and Appice finally joined with Jeff Beck to form Beck, Bogert & Appice. [2] After one studio album, the self-titled Beck, Bogert & Appice (1973) and one live album, Beck, Bogert & Appice Live (in Japan) (1973, released only in Japan), the band dissolved. Their second album remains unreleased to this day, along with recordings of the band's last concert at the Rainbow Theatre in London on January 26, 1974.

Rusty Day, having made a name for himself as a force to be reckoned with in Detroit's rock scene, worked to restore one of Detroit's most legendary bands, the Band Detroit, to the national stage. The Band Detroit was formed as an offshoot of the Detroit Wheels by members Steve Gaines, Ted "T-Mel" Smith, Nathaniel Peterson, Terry Emery, Bill Hodgeson, and others. The band's initial flame burned out quickly due to many different issues going on at once. A recording exists of Rusty Day, Steve Gaines, and the rest of the band performing in 1973 called The Band Detroit – The Driftwood Tapes.

The New Cactus Band, formed by Duane Hitchings, released one album, Son of Cactus (1973), which featured none of the original Cactus members. [2] Mike Pinera, formerly of Blues Image and Iron Butterfly, came in on guitar, along with Roland Robinson on bass and Jerry Norris on drums. [2] The band then toured live in the Midwest and on the East Coast in mid 1973 with Captain Beyond drummer Bobby Caldwell and former Gregg Allman bass player Charlie Souza. The New Cactus Band soon disbanded. [2] Their sole album peaked at No. 183 on the US Billboard Top 200 Albums chart.

Rusty Day's reformed Cactus (1976–1979)

In 1976, Rusty Day formed another version of Cactus in Longwood, Florida, where he had relocated. This version of Cactus featured Steve "Kahoutek" Dansby on guitar, John "Soybean Slim" Sauter (who later played on Ted Nugent's Weekend Warriors ) on bass guitar and Gary "Madman" Moffatt (who currently plays in .38 Special) on drums. This was the longest lasting 1970s lineup of the band, which ended around 1979. Although this lineup was rumored to have recorded some demos and possibly attempted to record an album, no studio recordings of Rusty Day's Cactus lineup from Florida have ever surfaced. A few live recordings, however, have circulated online.

On June 3, 1982, Rusty Day was murdered at his own house in Longwood, Florida. He and his son were shot to death by one or more unknown drug dealers. The case has never been solved and remains open. [3]

Re-formation (2006–present)

Cactus re-emerged in June 2006, in New York City: a radio broadcast on The Radiochick Show and their first show since 1972 at B.B. King's Blues Club in Times Square on June 3. This show was a warm up for the gig which sparked the reunion, an appearance at the Sweden Rock Festival in Norje, Sweden on June 9. The 2006 version of Cactus saw original members Appice, Bogert and McCarty reunited and joined by former Savoy Brown frontman Jimmy Kunes on vocals. Randy Pratt joined the band in New York and Sweden on harmonica. The group also released a new album, Cactus V (2006).

In 2008, McCarty left the band and was once again replaced by Werner Fritzchings. Elliot Dean Rubinson replaced Tim Bogert, who retired from touring due to health issues.

In 2011, McCarty returned to the band with Pete Bremy taking over on bass. Bremy also took over for Bogert in Vanilla Fudge and is the only non-original member who has played for both bands. The 2012 lineup was Jim McCarty, Carmine Appice, Jimmy Kunes, Pete Bremy and Randy Pratt.

In early 2016, Carmine Appice announced on his Twitter and Facebook pages that Cactus was coming out with a new album at the end of May that year, "Black Dawn". [4] In early June, Jim McCarty was interviewed on a podcast show, and he said that due to some complications, the release date of Black Dawn had been held up and that it would definitely be out by September (which it was), when the band would be touring for the album, the first show of which would be called the Cactus CD Release Party. McCarty also revealed that the album contained eight brand new songs as well as two never before heard songs by the original band that had recently been unearthed by Carmine Appice. [5]

In 2017, Jimmy Caputo was announced as the band's new bassist and Paul Warren (formerly with Rare Earth, Richard Marx and Rod Stewart) was brought in on guitar, after Jim McCarty was forced to step away from touring due to health issues. [6]

On January 13, 2021, Tim Bogert died at the age of 76 after a long battle with cancer. [7]

Band members

Cactus (American band)

Discography

Studio albums

Year of releaseTitle US Top 200 Label
1970 Cactus #54 Atco
1971 One Way... or Another #88
Restrictions #155
1972 'Ot 'N' Sweaty #162
2006 Cactus V —Escapi
2016Black Dawn—Sunset Blvd Records
2021Tightrope—Cleopatra Records
2024Temple Of The Blues: Influences And Friends—Cleopatra Records

Live albums

DVD

Compilation albums

Year of releaseTitleLabel
1996Cactology: The Cactus CollectionRhino
2004Barely Contained: The Studio SessionsRhino Handmade
Fully Unleashed: The Live Gigs
2007Fully Unleashed: The Live Gigs Vol. 2
2010Ultra Sonic Boogie: Live 1971Purple Pyramid
2013Cactus/One Way... or AnotherHear No Evil
Restrictions/'Ot 'N' Sweaty

Singles

Year of releaseTitleLabel
1970"You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover"Atco
1971"Long Tall Sally"
"Token Chokin'"
1972"Evil"
Bringing Me Down

None of the above listed singles charted in Billboard.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanilla Fudge</span> American rock band

Vanilla Fudge is an American rock band known predominantly for their slow extended heavy rock arrangements of contemporary hit songs, such as their hit cover of the Supremes' "You Keep Me Hangin' On".

<i>Blow by Blow</i> 1975 studio album by Jeff Beck

Blow by Blow is Jeff Beck's second album credited to him as a solo artist. It was recorded in October 1974 and released via Epic Records in 1975. An instrumental album, it peaked at No. 4 on the American Billboard 200 and was certified platinum by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carmine Appice</span> American drummer (born 1946)

Carmine Appice is an American rock drummer. He is best known for his associations with Vanilla Fudge; Cactus; the power trio Beck, Bogert & Appice; Rod Stewart; King Kobra; and Blue Murder. He is also Vinny Appice's older brother. Appice was inducted into the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame in 2013 and the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 2014. He is also a more than capable (fretless-) bass player, as can be heard on the "Guitar Zeus" albums, for example.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Bogert</span> American musician (1944–2021)

John Voorhis "Tim" Bogert III was an American musician. As a bass guitarist and vocalist he was best known for his powerful vocal ability and his fast runs, fluid agility and ground-breaking sound on his Fender Precision Bass. He was one of the pioneers of using distortion with his bass to help it cut through the mix with the low-powered amps of his time which also imparted a very sharp-edged sound to it. He was a frequent collaborator with drummer Carmine Appice; the duo performed in such bands as Vanilla Fudge, Cactus and the power trio Beck, Bogert & Appice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vince Martell</span> Musical artist

Vince Martell is an American guitarist best known as the lead guitarist for Vanilla Fudge. Martell was born in the Bronx to parents who played the guitar and encouraged him to play as well. While in his teens, Martell joined the Navy, where he discovered his skills as a guitarist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim McCarty (guitarist)</span> American guitarist

James William McCarty is an American blues rock guitarist from Detroit, Michigan. He has performed with Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels, the Buddy Miles Express, Cactus, The Rockets, the Detroit Blues Band, and more recently, Mystery Train. Since about 2014 Jim McCarty has joined forces with Detroit blues guitarist/songwriter Kenny Parker in The Kenny Parker Band along with several other veteran Detroit blues/rock musicians. He also makes guest appearances with other Detroit bands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beck, Bogert & Appice</span> Hard rock supergroup

Beck, Bogert & Appice was a rock supergroup and power trio formed by English guitarist Jeff Beck, evolving from the Jeff Beck Group. It included bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice, Americans who had played together in Vanilla Fudge and Cactus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Detroit Wheels</span> Mitch Ryders backup band

The Detroit Wheels were an American rock band, formed in Detroit in 1964. They served as Mitch Ryder's backup band from 1964 to 1967.

<i>Beck, Bogert & Appice</i> (album) 1973 studio album by Beck, Bogert & Appice

Beck, Bogert & Appice is the only studio album by the rock band Beck, Bogert & Appice, released on March 26, 1973. The group was a power trio featuring guitarist Jeff Beck, bassist Tim Bogert, and drummer Carmine Appice.

<i>The Beat Goes On</i> (Vanilla Fudge album) 1968 studio album by Vanilla Fudge

The Beat Goes On is the second album by the American psychedelic rock band Vanilla Fudge, released in early 1968. The album doesn't contain any actual "songs", but rather a sound collage featuring many different elements: the voices of world leaders past and present, the band reciting pre-written mantras and reflections, and excerpts of songs by The Beatles and Sonny Bono.

<i>Out Through the In Door</i> 2007 studio album by Vanilla Fudge

Out Through the In Door is the eighth album by Vanilla Fudge, released in June 2007, with the US finally following in August 2009. According to the band's official webpage, it originally was to be released in February 2007. The album title is a play on words of the 1979 Led Zeppelin album In Through the Out Door.

<i>Retraced</i> 2005 studio album by Jake E. Lee

Retraced is the second studio album released by American rock guitarist Jake E. Lee. The album features no original material, instead consisting of covers of various bands from Lee's youth.

<i>Ot n Sweaty</i> 1972 studio album (some live tracks) by Cactus

'Ot 'n' Sweaty is the fourth album by the American rock band Cactus. It was released in 1972. Original members Jim McCarty and Rusty Day had left the group, so bass guitarist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice were joined by Werner Fritzschings on guitar, Duane Hitchings on keyboards and Peter French on vocals. This was the band's final album before their long hiatus that lasted until 2006. The first three songs were recorded live on April 3, 1972, in Puerto Rico at the Mar y Sol Pop Festival, and the rest were recorded in studio. The pinnacle tracks for this album are "Bad Stuff", "Bringing Me Down", "Bedroom Mazurka", "Telling You" and a live recording of "Let Me Swim", which was a song by the original Cactus on their 1970 debut album.

<i>Cactus</i> (Cactus album) 1970 studio album by Cactus

Cactus is the debut studio album by American rock band Cactus, released on July 1, 1970, by Atco Records. The eight tracks consist of six original songs written by the band, plus covers of Mose Allison's version of blues standard "Parchman Farm", and Willie Dixon's "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover". The track "Let Me Swim" loosely inspired the 1978 guitar solo "Eruption" composed by Eddie Van Halen.

<i>One Way... or Another</i> 1971 studio album by Cactus

One Way... or Another is the second studio album by American rock band Cactus, released in 1971 by Atco Records. It includes several original songs as well as two cover versions: Little Richard's 1956 hit "Long Tall Sally" and Chuck Willis' "I Feel So Bad" as "Feel So Bad".

<i>Restrictions</i> (album) 1971 studio album by Cactus

Restrictions is the third studio album by American rock band Cactus, released in 1971 by Atco Records. The tracks "Token Chokin'", "Evil", "Alaska" and "Sweet 16" were released as singles.

<i>Fully Unleashed: The Live Gigs</i> 2004 live album by Cactus

Fully Unleashed: The Live Gigs is a limited edition double-CD compilation of live material by the American rock supergroup Cactus collected and released by Rhino Handmade in 2004. The compilation includes the original lineup's final show performed in Memphis, Tennessee on December 19, 1971, in its entirety. It also includes tracks performed at the August 28, 1970 Isle of Wight Festival, a June 26, 1971 show at the Gilligan's club in Buffalo, New York, and four tracks from the later 1972 lineup performing at Mar y Sol Pop Festival in Puerto Rico on April 3, 1972. Only 5000 copies of the compilation were made.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rusty Day</span> American singer (1945–1982)

Rusty Day was an American rock singer, best known for his work with Cactus, the Amboy Dukes, and Steve Gaines.

<i>Cactus V</i> 2006 studio album by Cactus

Cactus V is the fifth album by American rock supergroup Cactus released in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pete Bremy</span> American rock bass player

Pete Bremy is an American rock bass player. He is best known for his associations with Vanilla Fudge and Cactus.

References

  1. ↑ "Interview – Randy Pratt – For Bass Players Only". For Bass Players Only. August 23, 2010. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 388/9. ISBN   0-85112-939-0.
  3. ↑ "Seminole County Sheriff's Office – Donald F. Eslinger, Sheriff". Seminolesheriff.org. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  4. ↑ "CACTUS ROCKS". Cactusrocks.net. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  5. ↑ Barone, Paolo. "Jim McCarty's resurrected '70s band Cactus plays the Magic Bag". Detroit Metro Times . Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  6. ↑ "CACTUS ROCKS". Cactusrocks.net. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  7. ↑ Kreps, Daniel (January 14, 2021). "Vanilla Fudge Bassist Tim Bogert Dead at 76". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved August 18, 2021.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.