Vanilla Fudge’s Carmine Appice Names the Forgotten Drummer Who ‘Started Everything’

Vanilla Fudge drummer Carmine Appice can rightfully claim a foundational role in the evolution of hard rock drumming. Luminaries like Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham, Deep Purple’s Ian Paice, and Black Sabbath’s Bill Ward have all cited him as a key inspiration. During his late 1960s peak, Appice drove his kit harder and louder than most, a necessity born of the era’s primitive gear. “No PAs. That simple,” Appice tells Classic Rock in a new career-spanning interview. “I beat the hell out of the drums so I could be heard. The bass drum was so small, so I figured if I got a bigger bass drum it would be louder, and it was.”

Looking Past the Legends to Dino Danelli

Asked to rank iconic contemporaries like Bonham, Ginger Baker, Keith Moon, and himself, Appice shifts focus to another name entirely: Dino Danelli of The Rascals. Danelli co-founded the New York band, which landed a string of US hits between 1965 and 1969, including three number-one singles. Though The Rascals played lighter material than Vanilla Fudge, Appice argues Danelli’s contributions have been overlooked. “He started everything in rock drumming – the playing, the showmanship, the twirling,” Appice says of Danelli, who died in 2022. “He was a monster player and never got credit.”

Early Days with Led Zeppelin and Clearing Up Rumors

Appice’s career also intersected directly with Led Zeppelin’s rise. Vanilla Fudge helped give Jimmy Page and company their US live debut, supporting them in Denver, Colorado on December 26, 1968. Appice recalls hearing an acetate of the band’s debut album beforehand and immediately recognizing Bonham’s talent on “Good Times, Bad Times.” Later, Appice remembers advising Robert Plant to move around more on stage as the two bands became friends.

However, Appice puts to rest the persistent rumor that he was approached to replace Bonham following the drummer’s death in 1980. While he acknowledges hearing the speculation, Appice confirms he never received an offer. At the time, he was playing with Rod Stewart, who joked about leaning into rock rumors to help boost ticket sales.