The formation of Vanilla Fudge with Carmine Appice, Tim Bogert, and Vince Martell, allowed Mark Stein to first come into prominence. In addition to his many years within Vanilla Fudge, Stein has also worked extensively with such rock legends as Alice Cooper, Dave Mason, and the late guitarist Tommy Bolin. He has also made guest appearances with Deep Purple, Carl Palmer, and Steve Miller. He once sang and recorded with Michael Jackson. Stein has recently released a new collection of songs through Deko Entertainment about hope, unity, concern, and redemption titled There’s a Light.
Now Stein and Deko Entertainment are releasing a new single and video for “Let’s Pray for Peace” with all the proceeds going to benefit Ukrainian refugees through UNICEF. Stein had this to say, “I wrote ‘Let’s Pray for Peace’ during the time the world was being ravaged by terrorist attacks…today, it’s my dedication to Ukraine.” Deko president, Bruce Pucciarello, continues, “This Ukrainian news footage is personal to me. Genocides become reality when we let bad people distract us from our commonality to justify aggression. This video is Mark’s love letter to us all, reminding us how the healing starts. Let’s pray for peace. Tonight.”
“Let’s Pray for Peace” audio can be downloaded directly from the Deko Entertainment website, and additional contributions can be made direct to UNICEF from this page.
There’s a Light, Mark’s first ever solo album is a thematic collection of ten songs which weave a remarkable story of what America was, has become, and may or may not face in its future. Critics are taking notice.
“Stein sounds as inspired as ever, and the message he shares is underscored by the clarity of both his passion and purpose.” American Songwriter
You can order a Goldmine Magazine exclusive Mark Stein bundle here (while supplies last): https://bit.ly/3jS49FO
Bundle includes: – One (1) Mark Stein – There’s a Light CD – One (1) Mark Stein – There’s a Light Bandana – One (1) Mark Stein – Exclusive “We Are One” Bracelet
There’s a Light trackless: 01. “We Are One” 02. “Ball of Confusion” 03. “We Are Survivors” 04. “Lyin’” 05. “Racism” 06. “All Lives Matter” 07. “Let’s Pray for Peace” 08. “People Got to Be Free” 09. “Break It Down” 10. “America the Beautiful”
The Guitar Zeus 25th Anniversary Box Set is a massive collection of 4 LP’s, 3 CD’s and Full Color Booklet with never before seen photos and interviews conducted by Martin Popoff. 35 tracks in all featuring Slash, Brian May, Ted Nugent, Yngwie Malmsteem, Neal Schon, Richie Sambora, Zakk Wylde and many, many more. With 2 never released tracks featuring Tommy Thayer of KISS and the first non guitar solo driven track with keyboardist Derek Sherinian (ex Dream Theater). This is the ultimate collection for any guitar enthusiast, there is nowhere else you can find this many guitar greats on one release!
“Not only do I urge everyone to go out and get yourself a copy of the 25th anniversary of Carmine Appice‘s Guitar Zeus album and when you do, I also urge you to do your homework and do some research on the history of Guitar Zeus….all 35 tracks on this release are really something special, you don’t want to skip through a single track because then you’ll really be missing out. KNAC 5.0 out 5.0
“What really makes the record come alive is the massive lineup of guest guitarists that join Appice on it. Each of these players really fit the moniker of “Guitar Zeus” in their own way, making this line up of guests a genius assortment. The tracks hit the listener like a bolt of Zeus’s lightning, with distinct grooves that only Appice and each of his guests could deliver.” MusicPlayers.com
Carmine states, “I consider Guitar Zeus one of the best projects, if not the BEST project I’ve done both as far as songs, with some of the best production and playing of my career. I love the new tunes. I hope you enjoy this 25th year celebration of some of the greatest rock guitarist ever put together. KEEP ROCKIN”.
Carmine has just released a brand new lyric video for the track “Mystified” featuring Tommy Thayer of KISS.
Deko Entertainment has teamed up with Goldmine Magazine to create a one of a kind Guitar Zeus 25th Anniversary Limited Edition bundle that includes not only the Box Set but a special Guitar Zeus necklace, Autographed picture from Carmine and a pair of his signature drum sticks. This is limited to only 100 so head over to the Goldmine Magazine store and check it out.
As drummer for Vanilla Fudge, Carmine Appice set the grooves for the groundbreaking band‘s 1967 psychedelic debut. Post-Fudge, Bogert and Appice formed Cactus (seen as an influence on King‘s X and Van Halen). Post-Cactus, the rhythm section found Grammy-winning Guitar Hero Jeff Beck to form the first supergroup: Beck, Bogert & Appice (BBA). One of the premier showmen in rock, Appice became known worldwide for his astonishing live performances, in addition to becoming a highly sought-after session drummer, recording with countless artists throughout his career. In ‘76, he joined the Rod Stewart Band, touring, recording and writing two of Stewart‘s biggest hits, “Do Ya Think I‘m Sexy” and “Young Turks”. He would go on to form King Kobra, tour with Ozzy Osbourne and Blue Murder with John Sykes (Whitesnake) and Tony Franklin (The Firm).
Canada’s The Metal Voice on New Year’s Eve Dec 31 2020 spoke to guitarist Michael Gilbert of Flotsam and Jetsam, legendary drummer Carmine Appice, Aldo Nova and singer of Sword’s Rick Hughes in special New Years Special
Flotsam and Jetsam’s Michael GilbertTell us about the upcoming new studio album by Flotsam and Jetsam “The new Flotsam and Jetsam album was supposed to come out in January 2021 that was what the plan was, so the album is pretty much done. Everything is done, completed, except for the artwork as and it is now pushed to June 2021. So we stopped doing the white knuckle recording and started taking our time with the mixes. I think we are going to be releasing a lyric video pretty soon for the first single, maybe February March 2021. ”
Tell us about the musical direction “This is the perfect follow-up to The End of Chaos (last album). We could not have planned it any better. It ended up coming out like The End of Chaos on steroids basically you are going to love it. The musical direction is going to be brutal for a Flotsam record, it’s a step above Chaos for sure. ”
Carmine AppiceTell us what projects are you working on in 2021 “I got a new Cactus album coming out, I’m working on a new instrumental album, then all my drum instructional books (eight of them) are being re-released in 2021 coming out on Modern Drummer publications. Also my brother Vinny and I have been talking about a new album and we got some half done demos and Jim Crean is singing on it but it’s hard to get Vinny motivated.”
Tell us about the passing of your friend Leslie West “I knew him the longest of anyone in the business. Leslie was an amazing player, funny guy and had a real dark crazy sense of humour. I have known his since 1963, I was in an R and B funk band, with horns everything and we played the same club opposite from each other, half on half off. Then I played with Leslie in 1975, it was me Mick Jones who ended up being in Foreigner, Kenny Arniston and Lesie what a great band it was. We did Mississippi Queen and there is a video on Youtube if you want to see.”
Aldo NovaTell us about your new studio release The life and times of Eddie Gage “Eddie Gage is a Rock Opera with 27 songs and is on hold. I was going to put it out but I am now putting out an E.P. (from the album) probably March or April 2021. I am in the process of doing a mini Documentary on how the new studio album was done and put together. Also I am uploading New Youtube video performances on Aldo Nova channel of my classic songs check them out they are smokin.”
Sword’s Rick HughesTell us about the Musical direction of the New Sword album on Combat Records “The reaction to the new single In Kommad has been amazing. What I like the most about Sword’s latest project is that every song is so totally different from one track to another. The song In Kommad is the thrasher song of the album. Then you will get a song which will remind you of the early days of Black Sabbath, with a bit of Dio and a bit of Ozzy and some Motorhead. The first song is just the tip of the Iceberg and I really mean it. I know everyone is anxious to hear the album but the Pandemic has all our plans struck down, everything was ready to go and tour with the big boys in the USA so we have to wait.”
Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voicespoke to legendary drummer Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Ozzy Osbourne, Cactus, King Kobra) as well as the young band under his wing Kodiak at The Metal Hall of Fame on January 15 2020 at the Marriot Delta in Anaheim California.
Watch the interview here:
Carmine Appice was asked about the recent passing of Neil Peart of Rush, ”Neil was an inspirational part of the drumming community. He came after I did by maybe 10 years. I watched him grow and he became a huge influence on young drummers. For me I loved that track Tom Sawyer, he does a tremendous job on that doing a 7/8 timing.“ Appice continued, ”Neil was the nicest guy, I met him a few times, we hung out a few times, he was always really nice.”
Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice recently spoke to legendary drummer Carmine Appice about his re-release of Guitar Zeus, Assisting with the production of Ozzy Osbourne‘s Bark at the Moon album, his monster hit ‘Do ya think I’m Sexy’ with Rod Stewart, Blue Murder, King Kobra and Unreleased Vinnie Vincent songs that he is thinking of releasing.
Watch the interview here:
When asked about the re-release of his two Guitar Zeus albums
“That’s my main thing right now, this is something that was originally done originally done in 1995-1997 and what happened was I released it everywhere in the world except in America. In 005 I tried to release it in America and soon as I got the deal the company went out of business. So I tried again with another company called Fuel, Fuel released it as a double record and they didn’t really do much so I let it go. Then I got the rights back from Fuel and I said you know what I’m gonna try and release it again and add some bonus tracks. I have 32 tracks and I found one track that I fixed and was never released ever, so I finished this track called ‘Mother Space’ and it was released as my first video. I got Bumblefoot on guitar for that and mixed it to sound like the rest of the record. Then I put some other songs that were never released like a song called ‘Nothing’ with John Norum from Europe which he plays his ass off. Then I put this whole package together and released it as Carmine Appice Guitar Zeus in America. The album was finally released on a little label of my own, so now we have 32 tracks on the digital downloads and we have 12 tracks on the CD and eight tracks on a vinyl. I’m getting to release it the way I really wanted to release it and I’ve been doing a lot of PR for it. The album sounds like Soundgarden, meets Blue Murder, meets the Beatles. It has all these great guitar players playing solos like Brian May from Queen, Yngwie Malmsteen, Mick Mars, Slash Bumblefoot, Ted Nugent, Dweezil Zappa, Zakk Wylde and the list goes on.
When asked about how the co-writing the song with Rod Stewart ‘Do ya think I’m Sexy’ and how it changed his life
“Rod Stewart used to listen to a lot of stuff on the radio and he said I want a song like ‘Miss You’ by the Rolling Stone and we gave him like a good demo and we tried different arrangements as there was a lot more of a Hard Rock arrangement on the song at the time but then Tom Dowd the producer kept having us change it. Even the first version that was done we had three guitars, bass, drums and keyboard and it sounded really massive and hard rocking, it didn’t sound like a disco song, it sounded more like with the Rolling Stones. So then they put an orchestra and before you know it ended up in 48 tracks and when you mix that down it became smaller. The released it and then it went number one everywhere. Over two million in USA and so probably the album sold over ten million worldwide. It changed my life because it made me a more of a songwriter financially.”
When asked about joining Ozzy during the Bark at the Moon Era
“I didn’t even ask to join Ozzy they called me. I was in France and my manager said Sharon Osbourne’s looking for you. So I called them and they asked me to join the band and I said well I might be interested. I have known Ozzy for a long time. And I said what happened with Tommy Aldridge they said they fired him, they recorded a new album and they wanted me to go into the studio and fix the drum sound and help finish the album with Ozzy vocals plus I would also get an associate producer credit, So I said I’ll okay this all sounds good. So we put a contract together and in my contract it said that I can have my own merchandise on the tour and it goes on to say that I have my own PR person with me doing press promoting my drum master classes that I would do on the road which they agreed to it, as it was in the contract. ”
“I went into studio to finish the Bark at the Moon album the did with Tommy Aldridge and help the poorly recorded drum sound using some of my techniques. Me and the producer probably re-mic’ed the drum sound but we could not help the timing, Tommy Aldridge drum timing was bad. Also I helped Ozzy lay down his vocals. Sharon actually left Ozzy in my care in New York City to do lay down the vocals. Then me and Ozzy flew to England and shot the Bark at the Moon video that I was in miming to We went on tour and all my master classes were sold out (I was giving money to UNICEF also for the master classes). I was making about fifteen hundred dollars a day extra on the tour with these master classes. Sharon didn’t like that, long story short she started harassing me on the tour so eventually she came said Tommy Aldridge is taking over. I said we got a contract, then she said I guess I’ll see you on court, with a real snotty face. So I took them to court and I I got what I would have got on the tour but I wasn’t in the band, that’s not what I wanted you know. I mean I sang the background harmonies on the tour and I had a good name and I did a drum solo and I always tore the audience up. But Sharon threw me off the tour. The timing on Bark at the moon was bad that’s why they called me but they took Tommy back. ”
When asked about the Vinnie Vincent Speedball cancellations and releasing unreleased songs they recorded together
“Vinnie Vincent gig was cancelled, yeah we knew it would happen. Vinnie kept saying that it’s the promoter fault but the promoter has been so sick, he’s still sick and he hasn’t had a chance to go and work the deal. I think now Vinnie Vincent has totally ruined his career, if there was any last chance, it’s gone now. I think he’s done. I mean there’s nothing on his website. I think people are afraid to book him, that’s what happens when you do stuff like this. I knew Vinnie back in 1979-80 when he played with me he yeah he had some ego problems you know and never lived up to his word in business. I don’t know what his problem is but all I know is back when I played with him and he played with Kiss he was a fantastic guitar player, really fantastic talent, good songwriter, good singer and he sang on some of the songs that we did. I think I’m gonna put some of those songs we recorded together out that no one has heard up on YouTube just for the hell of it just so people can hear some of it because they’re really good stuff, even though he didn’t want it ever released. I’m not putting it up for sale I’m just putting it up for creativity. I own the tapes. There is this one song called ‘Tears’ which was the original version of the song that he gave to to John Waite it was a little different arrangement. We have eight or nine songs we wanted to release like 50 vinyls records with these songs and sell them, and autograph them at a gig. Vinnie didn’t like them so yeah so he stopped it, so we didn’t do it, The style of the songs were not metal it was 1979 they were just hard rock. They are sort of like a Heavy Cheap Trick and kind of kind of like Cactus. ”
Jimmy Kay from The Metal Voice talks to legendary drummer Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, Blue Murder) and singer Jim Crean (Hair Nation, Appice Brothers) about Vinnie Vincent‘s Nashville’s show cancellations claims on February 8-9 2019. Carmine and Crean correct Vincent’s claims on why the show were cancelled and who cancelled them.
Watch the show here:
When asked about the recent claims by Vinnie Vincent that his promoter was to blame for the recent cancellations of the show in Nashville and Vincent’s disapproval of the choice in singer
“The promoter did nothing but try his best to make these gigs happen. The promoter Derek Christopher hired me because I knew Vinnie and I talked to Vinnie and we said maybe it would be cool if I did the gigs with him and Vinnie Vincent agreed. Derek hired me and put the deal together, then I brought bassist Tony Franklin in whom Vinnie never heard of before. Then they were going through tons of singers and I said I have this guy names Jim Crean that can sing high just like the original Vinnie Vincent invasion singer Robert Fleischman. I told Jim Crean about it and he was up for it. Then Derek said why don’t you put Jim Crean’s voice on a couple of Vinnie’s tracks and he would send it to Vinnie and see what he thinks and that’s what we did. And from what I remember Vinnie said to the promoter Derek that he thought Jim Crean was great. So we were moving ahead and waiting for a set list and then when we never got any set list from Vinnie so the promoter sent me, Jim and Tony some lists of songs, which included Vinnie’s songs and Kiss Songs and I thought that was what we were going to do and then Vinnie started to steer away. And I said to Vinnie, I saw that clip of you playing that Pre-Kiss cruise clip you did not look comfortable on stage, you looked scared and I blatantly said can you still play? You didn’t do any solos? Vinnie said to me yeah I can still play. Then later on Vinnie said I don’t want to do any Kiss songs or my songs I just want to jam for an hour and a half after he just put out a press release with the promoter saying I’m gonna do Kiss songs, Vinnie Vincent songs, this is him verbally saying that on the ad. Then he changed his mind on that and said he just wanted to jam. Quite honestly I don’t want to jam, I don’t want to go on the stage and jam. I want to play songs people want to come and hear. As for choosing Jim Crean as the singer, I was working behind the scenes getting Jim Crean to sing demo songs for Vinnie so he can hear what he sounds like. Derek the promoter said Vinnie was fine with him, Derek had no reason to lie about it so we were going to move ahead.” Carmine Appice
“Derek called me and wanted me to sing some of Vinnie’s songs so I did that, they got back to Vinnie and they said he was very impressed with it. Derek called me the day after he talked to Vinnie and said that Vinnie was very happy with the vocals and he loves it and we are going to make a press announcement and put a poster up as well. Then Derek called me up and said to me to please start sharing the information to get a buzz going so then we started promoting it and then Vinnie started changing his mind.” Jim Crean
When asked about Vinnie Vincent’s statement “There’s only one uncontroverted fact that actually did happen, and that is that I, Vinnie Vincent, did not cancel that show”
“The cancellations came from Vinnie he did not want to do the gig. I gave Vinnie three other singers to pick from but Vinnie did not like them and Vinnie said Jim Crean was good. Then Vinnie to blame it all on Derek the promoter who is the nicest guy and is now really ill since all of this happened is bad. Derek has not been able to stand up for himself because he has been really ill, in and out of the hospital. The last thing on his mind is Vinnie Vincent right now, he is trying to get healthy. And to see Vinnie saying it’s Derek’s fault, it wasn’t his fault. Derek the promoter did everything he can to make these gig happen. Vinnie is saying it’s Derek’s fault I’m saying it’s not his fault, Derek did everything and beyond to make things happen, to keep it on track. Derek brought Vinnie out of hiding, he put together that Kiss expo that Vinnie came out on, that made Vinnie money, Vinnie didn’t do that Derek did that.” Carmine Appice
When asked why Jim Crean was one of the scapegoats
“I don’t think Vinnie Vincent should be blaming me, I was there just trying to help him out. I came into the band late and Carmine is a very high profile artist and so is Tony Franklin so I guess that leaves me and the promoter to blame. “ Jim Crean
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