Carmine Appice

Carmine Appice (b. December 15, 1946, Brooklyn, New York) is a widely respected, versatile and well-traveled rock drummer, and is brother to Vinny Appice, who also plays drums professionally. He first came to prominence as the flamboyant percussionist with the late 1960s psychedelic foursome Vanilla Fudge. Appice and bassist Tim Bogert contributed distinctive background harmonies to the group's high-decibel sonic assault. After five albums, Appice and Bogert left Vanilla Fudge to form the blues-rock quartet Cactus, with vocalist Rusty Day and guitarist Jim McCarty (formerly with Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels). Appice and Bogert then left Cactus to join Jeff Beck in the power trio Beck, Bogert and Appice.

Appice later joined Rod Stewart's backing band, and played drums on (and co-wrote) such Stewart hits as "D'Ya Think I'm Sexy?" and "Young Turks." He was a member of the supergroup KGB, featuring Ray Kennedy, Rick Grech, Mike Bloomfield, and Barry Goldberg, and has recorded with Stanley Clarke, Ozzy Osbourne, Ted Nugent, and Pink Floyd. He has also played in the bands King Kobra and Blue Murder.

As an educator, Appice was the first to legitimize rock drumming with his landmark book "Realistic Rock". This revolutionary drum method book, which has sold more than 300,000 copies is still among the best selling drum books today. Realistic Rock is also available in a DVD. Appice was also the first rock drummer to conduct instructional clinics held at college campuses, theaters and drum stores around the world, breaking attendance records in many countries.

Appice counts among his influences the jazz drumming of Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa, combined with an extensive classical training. Besides his meticulous timekeeping skills, Appice is known for his showmanship, which includes stick tosses and twirls, power fills, and double-bass drum bombs.

He is the boyfriend of, and lives with popular New York City radio personality Leslie Gold, better known as The Radio Chick.

Philanthropy

In 2005, Appice signed on as an official supporter of Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit organization that provides free musical instruments and free lessons to children in public schools throughout the U.S.A. He has personally delivered instruments to children in the program, performed at benefit concerts for the organization and sits on its board of directors as an honorary member.

Realistic Rock Drum Method

Appice's drum instruction book "The Realistic Rock Drum Method" was first published in the 1970's. The book covers the classic information of basic rock rhythms and polyrhythms, linear rudiments and groupings, hi-hat and double bass drum exercises, and shuffle rhythms. It's one of the best selling drum instruction books in history, and is still one of the best selling books today.

Quotes

(He) "set the foundation for heavy drumming ... before Bonham, before Ian Paice... before anyone else." - Rick Van Horn, 1999 Modern Drummer magazine.

Touring

Appice constantly tours the Unites States, for signings and solo shows. His most recent visit was on April 25, 2007, where he visited the Paul Green School of Rock, for a clinic.