Cactus
Cactus is an American rock band that was formed in 1969. The original lineup consisted of drummer Carmine Appice, vocalist Rusty Day, guitarist Jim McCarty, and bassist Tim Bogert. The band's style was heavily influenced by the blues and hard rock, and they were known for their energetic live performances.
Cactus released their self-titled debut album in 1970, which featured songs such as "Parchman Farm" and "Evil." The album received critical acclaim and helped establish the band as a force in the emerging hard rock scene. They followed up with several more albums throughout the 1970s, including "One Way...Or Another" and "Restrictions."
Despite their success, Cactus underwent several lineup changes and eventually disbanded in 1972. However, the band has been reformed several times over the years, with various members coming and going. As of 2021, the current lineup consists of drummer Carmine Appice, bassist Jimmy Caputo, guitarist Paul Warren, and vocalist Jimmy Kunes.
Cactus has been cited as an influence by many hard rock and heavy metal bands, including Van Halen, Metallica, and Black Sabbath. Their music continues to be celebrated by fans of classic rock and heavy metal to this day.
Cactus I (1970 - 1971)
Albums:
- "Cactus"
(1970) - Singles: "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover", "Bro.
Bill"
- "One Way...Or Another" (1971) - Singles: "Long
Tall
Sally",
"Rock n' Roll Children"
- "Restrictions" (1971) - Singles: "Evil",
"Alaska"
- "Fully Unleashed: The
Live Gigs" (live) (2-CDs) (2004)
Cactus II (1971)
- Tim Bogert -
bass/vocals
- Carmine Appice -
drums/percussion/vocals
- Jim McCarty - guitar
- Rusty Day - vocals/harmonica
- Ron Leejack - guitar
Cactus III (1971
- 1972)
Jim McCarty forms Rockets
and,
later, The Detroit Blues Band. Rusty Day joins Mitch
Ryder's Detroit.
Cactus IV (1972)
Album:
- "'Ot
'N' Sweaty" (1972)
Tim Bogert and Carmine
Appice form Beck, Bogert and Appice (with Jeff Beck).
Tim Bogert later joins Boxer.
Cactus V / The New
Cactus Band (1972
- 1973)
- Duane Hitchings - keyboards/flute/vocals
- Mike Pinera - guitar/vocals - b. September 29,
1948,
Tampa, Florida
- formerly with Blues Image, Iron
Butterfly, and Ramatam.
- Manuel Bertematti - drums/vocals - formerly with Blues
Image.
- Jerry Norris - drums/vocals
- Roland Robinson - bass/vocals
Album:
- "Son of Cactus" (1973)
Group disbands. Mike Pinera later forms Thee Image,
plays with Alice Cooper's band, and joined The Classic Rock
All-Stars [with Pete
Hoorelbeke (aka, Pete Rivera) (formerly with Rare
Earth), Jerry Corbetta (formerly with Sugarloaf),
and Dennis Noda (formerly with Cannibal and the Headhunters)].
Cactus VI (1976
- 1979?) (reformed)
- Rusty Day - vocals
- Various musicians, including guitarists Steve Dansby
and Ron
Sanders, bassists John Sauter (formerly with Ted Nugent)
and Mondo Thomas, and drummers Gary Moffatt (formerly
with Pat
Travers) and Frankie Robbins.
Rusty Day forms Uncle Acid & The Permanent Damage
Band.
Compilations:
- "Cactology:
The Cactus Collection" (1996) - Since almost all of the
Cactus
albums are not currently available on CD, this is all we have...and
what
a great selection of music it is! This anthology concentrates on
the first three albums, which contain the best of their material.
The music is high energy and still sounds fresh today. Virtuoso
musicianship
all-around with INCREDIBLE guitar work from Jim McCarty.
Hard-rock/boogie/blues
just doesn't get any better than this. Highly recommended.
- "Barely Contained: The
Studio Sessions" (2-CDs) (2004)
Tim Bogert solo:
- "Progressions" (1981)
- "Master's Brew"
Carmine Appice solo:
- "Guitar
Zeus" (1996)
- "Channel
Mind Radio (Guitar Zeus II)" (1997)
Links:
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Last Revised: October 16, 2005
© 2000, 2005 by
Gary S. Hartman. All
rights reserved.
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