In a brand new, exclusive, historic interview conducted by Rock N Roll
Universe(www.rocknrolluniverse.com) with the surviving three members of
the original lineup of legendary hard rock band Cactus, drummer Carmine
Appice, bassist Tim Bogert and guitarist Jim McCarty discuss the
recently released 'Cactus V' album, the band's first new studio
offering in 34 years. Also covered is the history of the band from
their beginnings in 1970 all the way to their triumphant reunion
performances at BB. King's and The Sweden Rock Festival in June of this
year. The band, sometimes referred to as "The American Led Zeppelin,"
have been an influence on numerous notable metal and hard rock
musicians thoughout the years from Van Halen, Ted Nugent, Billy
Sheehan, David Coverdale, King's X, Monster Magnet, Steve Morse and Kid
Rock among others, are currently in preparations for tour dates in
Europe and the U.S. in sup****t of the album. Topics also mentioned
include the possibilities of a Beck, Bogert & Appice reunion and the
upcoming Vanilla Fudge Led Zeppelin tribute album, due to be released
in February, 2007. An excerpt from the interview follows :
Rock N Roll Universe : We were talking a little bit about this before,
that Cactus has been an influence on many rockers throughout the years.
Ted Nugent, David Coverdale, Kid Rock, and also the members of Van
Halen, have readily admitted the band's influence during interviews.
Have you ever spoken with them about that, or had any of them come to
you and tell you personally how much an influence the band has been?
Carmine Appice : Yeah. I know from the Van Halen influence, Alex Van
Halen told me many times that Cactus influenced them. I never realized
how much until I listened to, well, first of all, they told me "Hot For
Teacher" was based on "Parchman Farm." If you listen to "Eruption,"
it's the same thing as the beginning of our song "Let Me Swim." I never
realized it, but if you listen to both, there's a chord, then there's a
guitar thing, then it goes "Bim, Bam, Bowmmm," it changes the key, then
there's more guitar. That's the same intro we had for "Let Me Swim."
Exactly. Then there was a part on a song they did with Sammy Hagar that
had the same exact solo as McCarty did in "Evil," the second part of
the solo. Those were just 3 incidents that I know of. I've got a tape
of Van Halen when they were young, before they made it, playing Cactus
songs in clubs. Playing Beck, Bogert & Appice also. King's X was
influenced by Cactus, they told me personally when I went on the bus
when they opened up for Blue Murder. I heard them playing Cactus on the
bus, I couldn't believe it. That was the first time I heard something.
I know Billy Sheehan was influenced by us as well. Coverdale told me he
was influenced by us. I asked Kid Rock to sing on the Cactus record,
because I heard he was influenced by us. He said yeah, he'd love to.
They all love McCarty. I know numerous times Nugent told me McCarty was
his favorite guitarist. They love the work that he did in Cactus.
Rock N Roll Universe : Have you seen or talked with Eddie Van Halen
lately? He seems to be a pretty lost soul these days...
Carmine Appice : I talked to him maybe a year ago. He seems to be out
of his tree right now. (Laughs) He went over the deep end. I don't know
what's going on with him. A friend of mine was really good friends with
him, and also a really close friend of mine. He's called him over the
past few months, and he told me he's just over the deep end. He bought
a **** company, he's doing ****o soundtracks for **** movies, he's with
a very different bunch of people now. That tour with Sammy... I talked
with Sammy when I was in Cabo a few months ago, and he said that Eddie
was just impossible. Totally impossible to get along with. It's a
shame, because he's such a great guitar player, and they're a cool
band. I understand, all right, they don't want to work with David Lee
Roth, because Dave's out there too, but Sammy Hagar was such a great
frontman for them. I tried to get Dave on the 'Cactus V' record. He was
in New York, he had the DJ job, talk show host. My girlfriend's on the
same station, so I used to hear all the odds and ends of what's going
on. Then everyday, I'd get a call from this guy, Ronnie Leejack. Ronnie
played on 'Restrictions.' He would constantly listen to my girl's
station, listen to David Lee Roth. Every day, Dave would play "Evil."
So, funnily enough, I ran into his assistant on the subway in New York.
Being that my girlfriend is in New York, I'm there quite a lot, doing
business, and hanging. I was on the way somewhere, and I ran into
Dave's assistant. I said, "Hey dude, what's up? I hear Dave's been
playing "Evil" every day." He said, "Yeah, he is." I said, "You know,
ask him if he'd want to sing on "Evil". We've recut it, with the
original band, and it would be killer if he'd want to sing on it. We
could put it on the album, and it'd be fun." He called up, and said,
"Well, Dave's interested. Who's playing guitar?" I said, "It's the
original guitar player." He said, "He's very interested in doing it,
let's see if we can set up a time." So I gave him some dates, then he
got fired off the radio, it turned into a big fiasco. Next thing I
know, he was leaving town, it was a mess. But he almost sang on that
song. That would've been really cool, because finally, that would've
sort of brought it full circle.
I was just watching that 'Story Of Metal' on VH1 Classics, when they
were talking about Van Halen making it widespread. Before them, metal
used to be a man's audience, but Van Halen spread it out. But really,
they start in the wrong place. They start in Birmingham, England, with
Black Sabbath. Metal started before that. They just renamed it. Black
Sabbath and Cactus did shows together, we were the same kind of band.
Blue Cheer's been doing that kind of music since the '60s
Rock N Roll Universe : Well, they have these so-called "experts" on
there, and you're like, "Who the **** are you and what makes you an
expert?" I know I've never even heard of most of them...
Carmine Appice : Exactly. They'll have somebody like Jani Lane from
****ing Warrant. They ought to have Quiet Riot's singer at least. Or
they'll have that other guy, Scott Ian, from Anthrax who's always on
everything. What gets me, is these guys were just fans in those days.
They weren't even around. They're talking about when Iron Maiden came
out, that THAT was it. Iron Maiden? I mean, c'mon dudes. (Laughs)
Rock N roll Universe : That's their point of reference though, they
don't know anything earlier because they weren't around before then,
musically speaking..
Carmine Appice : Exactly. To me VH1 Classics has become... they might
as well be called "We Are The 80's." (Laughs) Used to be you'd see The
Who on there quite a bit, The Kinks, and classic rock. Now, it seems
like the 80's is the new classic rock that's taken over everywhere.
It's not even 25 years old yet.
..
Rock N Roll Universe : There's a whole genre of bands that never get
mentioned, or played, it seems. When any artists before that era do get
mentioned, it's either The Doors, Zeppelin, Hendrix etc. You never hear
anything about Cactus, Grand Funk, The Jeff Beck Group, Alice Cooper,
or 100's of bands from that era. They just gloss over those bands it
seems...
Carmine Appice : Yeah, I mean, c'mon, Grand Funk sold out Shea Stadium
quicker than The Beatles. Gimme a break. That was early, in '71.They're
not even hardly mentioned, it's terrible. They're not in the Rock &
Roll Hall Of Fame. Vanilla Fudge or Cactus, we're not even on the top
100 list for induction. Our chances of being in there are zero, it's
all political bull****. The same as getting on VH1 Classics. Just like
you said, you've got these people who are "experts," you don't even
know who the **** they are. And some of these bands. I mean c'mon, Skid
Row? I don't know anybody who says they were influenced by Skid Row.
Who was influenced by them? You look at our history and influence. We
influenced Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Van Halen, King's X, and the line
goes on. George Harrison carried our albums around. I don't think he
carried Skid Row's albums. (Laughs) But we can't get arrested on these
shows, it's terrible.
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