In the late '60s, American rockers Vanilla Fudge were labeled as psych-rock, but their influence extends far beyond that. The New York-based band, with Tim Bogert on bass and vocals, Mark Stein on keys and vocals, Vince Martell on guitar, and Carmine Appice on drums, has impacted everything from prog rock to heavy metal. Their signature hit was a cover of a Motown classic, The Supremes' 'You Keep Me Hangin' On'. But as Appice tells MusicRadar, Vanilla Fudge had more to offer than just that one song.
'All over the internet, they talk about the influence of Vanilla Fudge,' Appice says. 'If Vanilla Fudge had stuck together, we could have been as big as Led Zeppelin or at least Deep Purple. We didn't, but we had the stuff!' Vanilla Fudge were indeed at the forefront of heavy rock in the late '60s. Their self-titled debut album, featuring 'You Keep Me Hangin' On', was released in 1967, alongside other landmark albums such as Cream's 'Disraeli Gears', self-titled albums by The Doors and The Velvet Underground & Nico, The Jimi Hendrix Experience's 'Are You Experienced?' and 'Axis: Bold As Love', Pink Floyd's 'The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn', and, of course, The Beatles' 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'.
Appice emphasizes that Vanilla Fudge had an album out before either Led Zeppelin or Deep Purple. He continues, 'We influenced Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, I mean... the list goes on and on. The sound of that organ with a heavy rhythm section, along with our tremendous arrangements, dynamics, and harmonies, I mean, that's what it was all about.' The band's unique sound and style influenced progressive rock, and Appice notes that even today, nobody can truly replicate Vanilla Fudge's sound except the band itself.
The chemistry between the band members was complex, with Appice describing it as volatile. 'There was always friction between Tim and Mark,' he says. 'It was always a little bit out there, and we'd come up with all these crazy things, but it all worked for the creation of what we had, I guess.' Appice's drumming style also evolved, starting with a softer approach and eventually becoming more aggressive due to the limitations of the sound equipment available at the time.
'I wasn't hard-hitting at first,' he explains. 'I was forced to do that because there were hardly any PAs back then, and I needed to be heard. Tim Bogert always had two [Fender] Dual Showman amps, Mark had two Leslies powered by 300-watt amplifiers, and I had nothing. I was forced to hit the drums hard to get a sound out!' This led him to choose large Ludwig drums and heavy cymbals, creating a unique and memorable sound.
Between 1967 and 1970, Vanilla Fudge's best years, they released five albums, four of which reached the US Top 20. Carmine Appice is proud of their legacy, especially their explosive version of 'You Keep Me Hangin' On'. 'It was emotional and dynamic,' he says. 'Because of that, it'll never die. It's been in movies and even shows like The Sopranos. It's even been in commercials for airlines, for Coke...'
Appice still performs 'You Keep Me Hangin' On' in a live show celebrating the legacy of Rod Stewart, where it remains the highlight. Despite the band's dissolution, their impact on rock music endures, and their influence continues to resonate in the music industry.
