"Vanilla Fudge" American psychedelic rock group from New York originally called "The Electric Pigeons"(later changed to just "The Pigeons").Vanilla Fudge recorded 5 studio albums from '67-'69 and disbanding sometime in '70."The Pigeons" originally consisted of Mark Stein, Tim Bogert, Vince Martell, and drummer Mark Dolfen(later replaced to Joey Brennan).Also referred to as Rick Martin & The Showmen before meeting Carmine Appice to complete the official line up as we all know as "Vanilla Fudge".Carmine Appice originally played in a cover band called "Thursday's Children” before being discovered by Tim Bogert."The Pigeons" got a record label by Atlantic records(same label as "Led Zeppelin").According to my research Atlantic records forced the band to change their band name.The story goes that the band got the band name "Vanilla Fudge" from a girl named Dee Dee(nick named "Vanilla Fudge" by her grandfather)who worked in a club where the band would gig at.In '69 Led Zeppelin would open for Vanilla Fudge in the US.Vanilla Fudge known for their psychedelic cover arrangements of hit songs such as "You Keep Me Hanging on" originally recorded by Motown female group "The Supremes".Vanilla Fudge released their debut in Aug '67(my CD, LP, and '99 CD/album "Psychedelic Sundae" signed by guitarist Vince Martell)with half speed covers and 3 short instrumental original compositions.The album opens up and ends with Beatles covers such as "Ticket to Ride"(The Beatles 5th studio album "Help!" Aug 6, '65)and ends with "Eleanor Rigby"(The Beatles 7th studio album "Revolver" Aug 5, '66)arranged in a very long busy psychedelic "Vanilla Fudge" twist."STRAWBERRYFIELDS" spelled out on the album(The Beatles 9th studio album "Magical Mystery Tour" Nov 27, '67 US Dec 8, '67 UK).I truly believe that Carmine influenced John Bonham.According to Carmine, John Bonham's "Good Times Bad Times" triplet lick idea on "Zeppelin 1" came from Carmine Appice.One of many examples!Enough said!According to an interview in Sept '98 Carmine purchased the bass drum at a pawn shop in New York for $5 which was re-wrapped to red sparkle(according to the album credits in Vanilla Fudge's CD reissue of their 3rd June 14, '68 album "Renaissance").My theory is that Carmine used a 24" or 26" either a Slingerland, Ludwig, or even a Gretsch(round badge seen on the rack tom seen on the Jan 14, '68 "Ed Sullivan Show" appearance of "Fudge" playing "You Keep Me Hanging On")red sparkle kit with the rack tom on a snare drum stand, 16" or 18" floor tom, chrome snare drum(not sure what brand or model), 2 crash's, 1 ride, hi-hats(maybe Zildjian cymbals).I had the honor to meet the guitarist Vince Martell who is friends with one of my neighbors.I got to meet Vinnie twice(Sept 11, 2021 and Sept 25, 2021)privately where we jammed thru my neighbors "Music Man" half stack in the driveway, talk music, guitar gear, and enjoy 2 delicious meals on 2 separate occasions that my mother made(spaghetti and meatballs on 9/11 and Hot Roast Beef Sandwiches on 9/25).Meeting, discussing music with his very nice wife Peg as well.I found myself asking any question that came to my mind like gear, recording sessions, "Beat Club"(studio versions over live, why? Peg says it had something to do with the sound quality.), Carmine's friendship with John Bonham and Carmine getting Bonham to be endorsed by Ludwig Drums and Carmine getting John turned on to the big fat sound of the Ludwig thermo gloss maple kit(Carmine Appice and John Bonham had the same Ludwig kit model with Carmine using two bass drums in later Fudge years while Bonham started to use 2 kicks but later turned it down to 1 kick drum according to Jimmy Page's orders with Zeppelin).Peg told me it was the red sparkle kit used on Fudge's '67 debut.Not sure if it was a Slingerland, ludwig, or Gretsch kit.Again, red sparkle kit can be seen on the Jan 14, '68 "Ed Sullivan Show" and can be seen in multiple photos seen on the internet.Peg also said that Vinnie used his cherry Gibson ES-335 on the debut album and can be seen on the "Ed Sullivan Show" as well in '68 playing their hit arrangement of "You Keep Me Hanging On".After Vince gave my neighbor and myself some guitar lessons I grabbed my Gibson/Epiphone SG Special(with my John Lennon Vox Python guitar strap)plugged it in and woke the neighbors up to rock \m/.Vince with a very simple pedal board(Boss Chorus, Boss BD-2 Blues Driver), both a ES-339 or ES-335 style guitar in a dark sunburst(one being and Epiphone), and a unfamiliar hollow body natural finish.On the 2nd occasion I used my Gibson/Epiphone Les Paul Custom SG with my Jimi Hendrix/Elvis Presley strap.
Vanilla Fudge
Carmine Appice—drums vocals
Tim Bogert—bass vocals
Vince Martell—guitar vocals
Mark Stein—vocals keys
Gear
RolandTDK-4PV-Drums
RolandmicoCubeGXAmp(JCClean/Reverb)
ZildjianLV8020"Ride
LudwigClassicMapleBlackOysterPearlSnare
LudwigSpeedKing
LudwigThrone
BossBD-2BluesDriver(WazaCraftStandardmode)
VicFirth
VanillaFudge1967DebutT
8:57
6:42
15:59