Inducted October 26, 2017
Brooklyn’s favorite son, Carmine Appice took the drummer out of the shadows and pushed him
headfirst into the spotlight. Known for his legendary live performances, Appice was at the
rhythmic foundation for a score of influential classic rock bands including Vanilla Fudge, Beck,
Bogert & Appice, and Cactus. He revolutionized the way a rock drummer played and brought his
knowledge to fans all over the world beginning with his now iconic how-to book Realistic Rock.
He would later go onto play with Rod Stewart, Ozzy, Ted Nugent and form his own King Cobra
and Blue Murder bands.
Carmine first came into the spotlight with the legendary band Vanilla Fudge in the late 1960s.
One of the premier showmen in rock, he became known worldwide for his astonishing live
performances and also became a highly sought-after session drummer, performing and recording
with an astounding array of rock bands and stars, including Jeff Beck, Ozzy Osbourne, Ted
Nugent, Pink Floyd, Paul Stanley, Stanley Clarke, and many others. Carmine is a founding
member of Beck, Bogert, and Appice; Cactus; King Kobra; Blue Murder; and has released
several solo albums including Guitar Zeus (1995) and V8 (1999). Also a hit songwriter, Carmine
wrote “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?” and “Young Turks” while a member of the Rod Stewart Band
in the late 1970s. He recently wrote the memoir of his life in a book titled Stick It!: My Life of
Sex, Drums, and Rock ’N’ Roll.