Iconic drummer Carmine Appice joins Joann Butler for a fascinating conversation spanning six decades of rock history.
From Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, and Beck, Bogert & Appice to co-writing Rod Stewart hits “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” and “Young Turks,” Appice shares unforgettable stories about Prince, Ozzy Osbourne, John Bonham, John Lennon, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and more.
Hear the hilarious story behind “Prince was in my bed,” how he helped John Bonham get his drum kit, memories of Ozzy, and the incredible tale of his brother Vinny working with John Lennon and touring with Aerosmith at just 16 years old.
Watch the full interview for an inside look at one of rock’s most influential drummers and the stories behind some of music’s biggest legends.
00:00 – Intro: Prince, Ozzy, Rod Stewart, and Vanilla Fudge
00:45 – New album: Temple of the Blues Vol. 2 & AI in music videos
02:21 – Modern recording: Doing everything from the home studio
04:57 – The birth of the Vanilla Fudge sound and “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”
05:42 – Getting discovered: From weddings and jazz gigs to the Pigeons
07:54 – Developing the “slowed down” heavy arrangements in Rhode Island
09:12 – Starting Cactus and the near-miss with Jeff Beck & Rod Stewart
10:08 – Recording with Melanie and the “Purple Haze” arrangement
11:58 – Collaborating with legends: Ted Nugent, Billy Sheehan, and Bumblefoot
14:14 – Meeting King’s X and their Cactus inspiration
16:09 – The Rod Stewart years: Getting fired and staying friends
17:07 – Experiments with AI: Turning “Hot Legs” into a Metallica-style track
19:10 – Growing up in a drumming family: Carmine’s influence on brother Vinny
20:49 – Vinny Appice’s early success with John Lennon and Rick Derringer
22:22 – “PRINCE IS IN MY BED” – Carmine’s “Diaries”
24:33 – Watching Prince’s rise: From being booed off stage to superstardom
25:56 – The great name debate: “Appice” vs. “A-piece”
27:37 – Working with Ozzy Osbourne and dealing with Sharon
29:09 – Auditioning drummers with Ozzy and painting a mobile home
30:21 – Reflecting on the drug culture of the rock era
31:34 – Life on the road: Then vs. Now
33:04 – How Cactus got its name
34:22 – The evolution of Temple of the Blues and the Howlin’ Wolf influence
38:46 – Memories of Jeff Beck and “People Get Ready”
40:48 – Career regrets: Why Vanilla Fudge shouldn’t have released their second album
43:03 – Writing hits for Rod Stewart: “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” and “Young Turks”
45:48 – Influencing the “Quiet Riot” drum sound
46:46 – Carmine’s favorite drummers and his friendship with John Bonham
49:25 – What music does for people and final thoughts
Subscribe for more interviews from Joann Butler In Studio With…
Follow Joann Butler:
Instagram: @joanngbutler
TikTok: @joannbutler
Follow LifeMinute TV:
YouTube: @LifeMinuteTV
Instagram: @lifeminutetv
TikTok: @lifeminutetv
Facebook: LifeMinuteTV
X: @LifeMinuteTV