Cactus (band)
Encyclopedia
Cactus is an American
hard rock
supergroup
, formed in 1970.
rhythm section of bassist Tim Bogert
and drummer Carmine Appice
with guitarist Jeff Beck
and Xylophone player Adele Smitchell acted as the counterpart and co-singer until singer Rod Stewart
(also from the already dissolved Jeff Beck Group). However, Beck had an automobile accident and was out of the music scene for over a year and Stewart joined Ronnie Wood in Faces
.
Early 1970 Appice and Bogert brought in blues guitarist Jim McCarty
from Mitch Ryder
's Detroit Wheels
and The Buddy Miles
Express, and singer Rusty Day
(born Russell Edward Davidson) from Amboy Dukes
.
This line-up managed three albums (Cactus
, One Way...Or Another
and Restrictions) before intraband troubles led to McCarty quitting at the end of 1971. Shortly afterwards Day was fired from the group. The fourth and last Cactus album ('Ot 'N' Sweaty
) featured original rhythm section Bogert and Appice joined by Werner Fritzschings on guitar, Duane Hitchings on keyboards and Peter French (ex-Leaf Hound
and Atomic Rooster
) on vocals.
. After one studio album (the self titled Beck, Bogert & Appice) and one live album (Live In Japan, released only in Japan) the band dissolved. Their second album remains unreleased to this day, along with recordings of the band's last concert at the Rainbow Theatre in London on January 26, 1974.
, formerly of Blues Image and Iron Butterfly
, came in on guitar, along with Roland Robinson on bass and Jerry Norris on drums. The band then toured live in the Midwest and on the East Coast in mid 1973 with Captain Beyond
drummer Bobby Caldwell
and former Gregg Allman bass player Charlie Souza. The New Cactus Band soon disbanded.
In the late '70s Rusty Day formed another version of Cactus in Orlando, where he had relocated. This version of Cactus featured Steve Dansby on guitar, Dan Keylon and later John Sauter on bass, Frankie Robbins and later Gary Moffatt on drums. Frankie Robbins' brother Dennis along with Dan Keylon also played with the Rockets and Jim McCarty. There are no known studio recordings from this era, though live recordings do circulate. On March 6, 1982, Rusty Day died from gunshots as a victim of a drug deal gone bad.
After a long hiatus, Cactus re-emerged in June 2006 with two appearances in New York City: a radio appearance on The Radiochick Show, and their first show since 1972 at B.B. King's Blues Club in Times Square (on June 3, 2006). This show was a warm up for the gig which sparked the reunion, an appearance at the Sweden Rock Festival in Norje
, Sweden
on June 9, 2006. The 2006 version of Cactus sees original members Appice, Bogert and McCarty reunited and joined by former Savoy Brown
frontman Jimmy Kunes on vocals. Randy Pratt joined the band in NYC and Sweden on harmonica. The group has also released a new album, Cactus V
. In 2008, McCarty left the band again, and coincidentally repeating history was once again replaced by Werner Fritzchings. Elliot Dean Rubinson replaced Tim Bogert who retired from touring. In 2011, McCarty returned to the band with Pete Bremy taking over on bass. Bremy also took over for Bogert in Vanilla Fudge
and is the only non-original member who has played for both bands.
The band has been cited as an influence by such groups as Van Halen
, Anvil
, The Black Crowes
, Montrose
, and The Black Keys
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
, formed in 1970.
Biography
Cactus was initially conceived as early as late 1969 by the Vanilla FudgeVanilla Fudge
Vanilla Fudge is an American rock band. The band's original lineup – vocalist/organist Mark Stein, bassist/vocalist Tim Bogert, lead guitarist/vocalist Vince Martell, and drummer/vocalist Carmine Appice – recorded five albums during the years 1966–69, before disbanding in 1970...
rhythm section of bassist Tim Bogert
Tim Bogert
John Voorhis "Tim" Bogert III is an American musician. He graduated from Ridgefield Memorial High School in his hometown in 1963...
and drummer Carmine Appice
Carmine Appice
Carmine Appice is an American rock drummer of Italian background and is the older brother of drummer Vinny Appice by 12 years. He received a classical music training and was influenced by the jazz drumming of Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa early on...
with guitarist Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
and Xylophone player Adele Smitchell acted as the counterpart and co-singer until singer Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
(also from the already dissolved Jeff Beck Group). However, Beck had an automobile accident and was out of the music scene for over a year and Stewart joined Ronnie Wood in Faces
Faces (band)
Faces are an English rock band formed in 1969 by members of the Small Faces after Steve Marriott left that group to form Humble Pie...
.
Early 1970 Appice and Bogert brought in blues guitarist Jim McCarty
Jim McCarty (guitarist)
James William McCarty is an American blues rock guitarist from Detroit, Michigan. He has performed with Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels, the Buddy Miles Express, Cactus, the popular Detroit rock band The Rockets, the Detroit Blues Band, and more recently, Mystery Train.He also recorded with...
from Mitch Ryder
Mitch Ryder
William S. Levise, Jr , better known by his stage name Mitch Ryder, is an American musician who has recorded over two dozen albums in more than four decades.-Career:...
's Detroit Wheels
The Detroit Wheels
The Detroit Wheels were an American rock group from Detroit, Michigan. They served as Mitch Ryder's backup band from 1964–1967, and played on all his most successful records.Their original members were:* Jim McCarty...
and The Buddy Miles
Buddy Miles
George Allen Miles, Jr. , known as Buddy Miles, was an American rock and funk drummer, most known as a founding member of The Electric Flag in 1967, then as a member of Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys from 1969 through to January 1970.-Early life:George Allen Miles was born in Omaha, Nebraska on...
Express, and singer Rusty Day
Rusty Day
Russell "Rusty Day" Edward Davidson was a rock vocalist and frontman, best known for his work with the bands Amboy Dukes and Cactus. He was known for his powerful vocals and out-of-control lifestyle.-Career with The Amboy Dukes:...
(born Russell Edward Davidson) from Amboy Dukes
The Amboy Dukes
The Amboy Dukes were an American rock music band of the late 1960s and early 1970s from Detroit, Michigan, best remembered for their hit single "Journey to the Center of the Mind", and for launching the career of Ted Nugent...
.
This line-up managed three albums (Cactus
Cactus (Cactus album)
Cactus is the first album by the American hard rock supergroup Cactus, released in 1970 under the Atco label. It includes original songs as well as cover of Mose Allison's version of a blues standard, "Parchman Farm" and another one, Willie Dixon's "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover".- Track...
, One Way...Or Another
One Way...Or Another
One Way...Or Another is the second album by American hard rock supergroup Cactus, released in 1971 under the Atco label. It includes the original songs as well as 2 covers: Little Richard's 1956 big hit "Long Tall Sally" and Chuck Willis' "I Feel So Bad" .-Track listing:All titles by...
and Restrictions) before intraband troubles led to McCarty quitting at the end of 1971. Shortly afterwards Day was fired from the group. The fourth and last Cactus album ('Ot 'N' Sweaty
'Ot 'N' Sweaty
'Ot 'n' Sweaty is an album by the second lineup of American rock supergroup Cactus released in 1972. Original members Jim McCarty and Rusty Day already were absent, and former bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice joined by Werner Fritzschings on guitar, Duane Hitchings on keyboards and...
) featured original rhythm section Bogert and Appice joined by Werner Fritzschings on guitar, Duane Hitchings on keyboards and Peter French (ex-Leaf Hound
Leaf Hound
Leaf Hound is an English 1960s/1970s hard rock band. The group have been cited as a major influence on the stoner rock movement.-Biography:Leaf Hound formed in 1969 under their original name, Black Cat Bones. Early incarnations of the Black Cat Bones featured guitarist Paul Kossoff and drummer...
and Atomic Rooster
Atomic Rooster
Atomic Rooster were an English progressive rock band, composed of former members of the The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. Throughout their history, keyboardist Vincent Crane was the only constant member, and wrote the majority of their material. Their history is defined by two periods, in the early...
) on vocals.
Beck, Bogert & Appice
After Cactus's dissolution in 1972, Bogert and Appice joined with Beck to form Beck, Bogert & AppiceBeck, Bogert & Appice
Beck, Bogert & Appice was a hard rock supergroup and power trio formed by guitarist Jeff Beck and evolving from The Jeff Beck Group. the line up included bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice who were both previously in Vanilla Fudge and Cactus....
. After one studio album (the self titled Beck, Bogert & Appice) and one live album (Live In Japan, released only in Japan) the band dissolved. Their second album remains unreleased to this day, along with recordings of the band's last concert at the Rainbow Theatre in London on January 26, 1974.
Post history
The New Cactus Band, led by Duane Hitchings, released one album (Son Of Cactus) and featured nobody of the original Cactus. Mike PineraMike Pinera
Mike Pinera is an American guitarist who started professionally in the late 1960s with the group Blues Image, which had a #4 hit in 1970 with their song "Ride Captain Ride". After the breakup of that group, he joined Iron Butterfly, and later formed the group Ramatam...
, formerly of Blues Image and Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly is a US psychedelic rock band best known for the 1968 hit "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida".Their heyday was the late 1960s, but the band has been reincarnated with various members. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is the 31st best-selling album in the world, selling more than 25 million copies.-History:The...
, came in on guitar, along with Roland Robinson on bass and Jerry Norris on drums. The band then toured live in the Midwest and on the East Coast in mid 1973 with Captain Beyond
Captain Beyond
Captain Beyond was an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1971.-History:The original line-up for Captain Beyond were singer Rod Evans, drummer Bobby Caldwell, guitarist Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt, bassist Lee Dorman and keyboardist Lewie Gold...
drummer Bobby Caldwell
Bobby Caldwell (drummer)
Bobby Caldwell is a drummer, songwriter, producer and arranger who co-founded rock cult bands Captain Beyond and Armageddon during the first part of the 1970s. Prior to these projects he played in some of Johnny Winter's seminal albums like Live Johnny Winter And and also on Saints and Sinners...
and former Gregg Allman bass player Charlie Souza. The New Cactus Band soon disbanded.
In the late '70s Rusty Day formed another version of Cactus in Orlando, where he had relocated. This version of Cactus featured Steve Dansby on guitar, Dan Keylon and later John Sauter on bass, Frankie Robbins and later Gary Moffatt on drums. Frankie Robbins' brother Dennis along with Dan Keylon also played with the Rockets and Jim McCarty. There are no known studio recordings from this era, though live recordings do circulate. On March 6, 1982, Rusty Day died from gunshots as a victim of a drug deal gone bad.
After a long hiatus, Cactus re-emerged in June 2006 with two appearances in New York City: a radio appearance on The Radiochick Show, and their first show since 1972 at B.B. King's Blues Club in Times Square (on June 3, 2006). This show was a warm up for the gig which sparked the reunion, an appearance at the Sweden Rock Festival in Norje
Norje
Norje is a locality situated in Sölvesborg Municipality, Blekinge County, Sweden with 674 inhabitants in 2005.Since 1998, the rock/metal festival Sweden Rock Festival is being held here....
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
on June 9, 2006. The 2006 version of Cactus sees original members Appice, Bogert and McCarty reunited and joined by former Savoy Brown
Savoy Brown
Savoy Brown, originally known as the Savoy Brown Blues Band, are a British blues rock band, formed in 1965, in Battersea, South West London...
frontman Jimmy Kunes on vocals. Randy Pratt joined the band in NYC and Sweden on harmonica. The group has also released a new album, Cactus V
Cactus V
Cactus V is an album by three original members of the American rock supergroup Cactus released in 2006. Deceased original singer Rusty Day has been replaced by Jimmy Kunes and the album also features the harmonica of Randy Pratt The Lizards...
. In 2008, McCarty left the band again, and coincidentally repeating history was once again replaced by Werner Fritzchings. Elliot Dean Rubinson replaced Tim Bogert who retired from touring. In 2011, McCarty returned to the band with Pete Bremy taking over on bass. Bremy also took over for Bogert in Vanilla Fudge
Vanilla Fudge
Vanilla Fudge is an American rock band. The band's original lineup – vocalist/organist Mark Stein, bassist/vocalist Tim Bogert, lead guitarist/vocalist Vince Martell, and drummer/vocalist Carmine Appice – recorded five albums during the years 1966–69, before disbanding in 1970...
and is the only non-original member who has played for both bands.
The band has been cited as an influence by such groups as Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
, Anvil
Anvil (band)
Anvil is a Canadian heavy metal band comprising Steve "Lips" Kudlow , Robb Reiner , and Glenn Five...
, The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
, Montrose
Montrose (band)
Montrose was a California-based hard rock band. The band originally featured Ronnie Montrose on guitar and future solo artist and former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar...
, and The Black Keys
The Black Keys
The Black Keys are an American rock duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney. The band was formed in Akron, Ohio, in 2001. As of October 2011, the band has sold over 2 million albums in the U.S....
Studio albums
- CactusCactus (Cactus album)Cactus is the first album by the American hard rock supergroup Cactus, released in 1970 under the Atco label. It includes original songs as well as cover of Mose Allison's version of a blues standard, "Parchman Farm" and another one, Willie Dixon's "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover".- Track...
(1970) - One Way...Or AnotherOne Way...Or AnotherOne Way...Or Another is the second album by American hard rock supergroup Cactus, released in 1971 under the Atco label. It includes the original songs as well as 2 covers: Little Richard's 1956 big hit "Long Tall Sally" and Chuck Willis' "I Feel So Bad" .-Track listing:All titles by...
(1971) - Restrictions (1971)
- 'Ot 'N' Sweaty'Ot 'N' Sweaty'Ot 'n' Sweaty is an album by the second lineup of American rock supergroup Cactus released in 1972. Original members Jim McCarty and Rusty Day already were absent, and former bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice joined by Werner Fritzschings on guitar, Duane Hitchings on keyboards and...
(1972) - Cactus VCactus VCactus V is an album by three original members of the American rock supergroup Cactus released in 2006. Deceased original singer Rusty Day has been replaced by Jimmy Kunes and the album also features the harmonica of Randy Pratt The Lizards...
(2006)
Compilation albums
- Cactology: The Cactus Collection (1996)
- Barely Contained: The Studio Sessions (2CD, 2004)
- Fully Unleashed: The Live GigsFully Unleashed: The Live GigsFully Unleashed: The Live Gigs is a limited edition double-CD compilation of live material by the American rock supergroup Cactus collected and released by Rhino Handmade in 2004. The compilation includes the original lineup's final show performed in Memphis, TN on December 19, 1971 in its entirety...
(2004) - Fully Unleashed: The Live Gigs Vol. 2 (2007)