Vanilla Fudge

Vanilla Fudgeis an Americanrockband known predominantly for their slow extended heavy rock arrangements of contemporary hit songs, such as their hit cover ofthe Supremes' "You Keep Me Hangin' On".
The band's original line–up was vocalist/organistMark Stein, bassist/vocalistTim Bogert, guitarist/vocalistVince Martell, and drummer/vocalistCarmine Appice. They recorded five albums during the years 1967–69, before disbanding in 1970. The band has toured as recently as 2022 with three of the four original members: Stein, Martell, and Appice, withPete Bremyon bass. Bogert retired in 2009 and died in 2021.
The band has been cited as "one of the few American links between psychedelia and what soon becameheavy metal"and as aproto-progband.
Stein and Bogert had played in a local band called Rick Martin & The Showmen.  The pair were so impressed by the swinging, organ-heavy sound ofThe Rascalsthey decided to form their own band in 1965 with Martell and Rick Martin's drummer, Mark Dolfen, who was quickly replaced by Joey Brennan. Originally calling themselves The Electric Pigeons, they soon shortened the name to The Pigeons.In December 1966, Brennan moved on to The Younger Brothers Band and Bogert became impressed with a young drummer named Carmine Appice he had heard playing at the Headliner Club on 43rd Street in a cover band called Thursday's Children. Appice was asked to join The Pigeons and in his 2016 autobiography,Stick It!, Carmine explained the name change to 'Vanilla Fudge':
A recording of The Pigeons, "While the World Was Eating Vanilla Fudge", was released by Scepter/Wand in 1970.
Vanilla Fudge was managed by Phillip Basile, a reputedLucchese crime familymember, who operated several popular clubs in New York. Their first three albums (Vanilla Fudge,The Beat Goes On, andRenaissance) were produced byShadow Morton, whom the band met through The Rascals.WhenLed Zeppelinfirst toured the United States in early 1969, they opened for Vanilla Fudge on some shows.
The band's biggesthitwas itscoverof "You Keep Me Hangin' On," a slowed-down, hard rocking versionof a song originally recorded bythe Supremes.This version featured Stein's psychedelic-baroque organ intro and Appice's energetic drumming. It was a Top 10 hit in Canada, the United States, and Australia, and a Top 20 hit in the UK in 1967.
The members of Vanilla Fudge were great admirers ofthe Beatles, and covered several of their songs including "Ticket to Ride", "Eleanor Rigby", and "You Can't Do That".The self-titled debut album quotes "Strawberry Fields Forever" at the end, with the lines "Nothing is real; Nothing to get hung about".
According toRitchie BlackmoreandJon Lord, Vanilla Fudge's organ-heavy sound was a large influence on the British bandDeep Purple, with Blackmore even stating that his band wanted to be a "Vanilla Fudge clone" in its early years.
Vanilla Fudge played a farewell concert at the Phil Basile's Action House on March 14, 1970. After that, Bogert and Appice departed to form another group,Cactus,that they had been planning since late 1969. They ended up leaving Cactus and formedBeck, Bogert & Appicewith guitaristJeff Beckin 1972.Stein, left on his own, tried to keep Vanilla Fudge afloat with two new players, Sal D'Nofrio (bass) and Jimmy Galluzi (drums), both of whom had been members of aPoughkeepsie, New York, group known as The Dirty Elbows. But when nothing came from this, Stein ended up forming a new group, Boomerang, with Galluzi.
Since the band's breakup in 1970, Vanilla Fudge has reunited several times. They reunited in support of theAtco RecordsreleaseBest of Vanilla Fudgein 1982. This resulted inMystery, another album of new material, released in 1984.Martell was not included in this initial reunion and Ron Mancuso played guitar onMysteryinstead, along with Jeff Beck, who guested under the moniker "J. Toad". Two reunion tours followed in 1987/1988,withPaul Hansonon guitar. Lanny Cordola was guitarist when the band took the stage on May 14, 1988, for Atlantic Records' 40th anniversary celebration. After that, band members went their own ways once again to pursue separate projects.
In 1991, Appice revived the Vanilla Fudge name for a tour withTed Nugent's former band membersDerek St. Holmes(guitar, vocals), Martin Gerschwitz (keyboards, vocals), and Tom Croucier (bass, vocals), which resulted in the albumThe Best of Vanilla Fudge – Live.
Three of the original members, Appice, Bogert, and Martell, reunited in 1999 with vocalist/organist Bill Pascali replacing Mark Stein to record a "greatest hits" album,The Return / Then And Now(2001), with new recordings of previous songs and three new songs.2002 had Pete Bremy andT. M. Stevenssubbing on bass for an ill Bogert and 2003 saw a release of Vanilla Fudge's live album,The Real Deal – Vanilla Fudge Live, recorded on tour in 1987 with Paul Hanson on guitar.  Martell overdubbed his guitar and vocals later. In 2003–2005, the group toured with Teddy Rondinelli standing in on guitar for Martell.
In 2005, all four original Vanilla Fudge members reunited for a tour with members ofThe Doors(touring as Riders on the Storm) andSteppenwolf. Pascali returned in place of Stein for some 2005 and 2006 shows before leaving to join the New Rascals. Vanilla Fudge was inducted into theLong Island Music Hall of Fameon October 15, 2006,withBilly Joel,Joan Jett, and producerShadow Morton. Fellow Long IslanderFelix Cavaliereof The Rascals inducted them.
In the summer of 2007,HBO's final episode ofThe Sopranosfeatured "You Keep Me Hangin' On" (with Pascali's lead vocals) as a theme for their cliffhanger. The band also went back into the studio to recordOut Through the In Door, aLed Zeppelincover album released in 2007 only in Europe. Also, the band (Stein & Martell with Steve Argy on bass and Jimmyjack Tamburo on drums) performed "You Keep Me Hangin' On" for the PBS fundraising programMy Music: My Generation – The '60sfor the March 2008pledge drive.
In March 2008, the original lineup of Vanilla Fudge embarked on a tour of the United States (mostly in New England). But in the summer of that year, Bogert and Appice left to concentrate onCactus, which they had reformed in 2006. Stein and Martell continued on in 2008 and 2009 as Mark Stein and Vince Martell of Vanilla Fudge with a tour that was called "Let's Pray For Peace," with Jimmyjack Tamburo on drums and Pete Bremy returning on bass.Out Through the In Doorwas released in the US in 2008.Stein and Martell also performed shows during this period with Steve Argy and Jimmyjack Tamburo again as the rhythm section.
In 2009 Tim Bogert announced his retirement from touring and was replaced later byPete Bremy.
In early 2011, Vanilla Fudge embarked on what was announced as their farewell tour. The lineup for the tour included Carmine Appice, Mark Stein, Vince Martell, and Pete Bremy (bass). On March 29, 2011, the band appeared onLate Night with Jimmy Fallonand performed "You Keep Me Hangin' On". This lineup has continued to tour since.
In 2015 Vanilla Fudge released its first album in ten years,Spirit of '67.
As of 2021, Vanilla Fudge was still performing concerts regularly. On January 13, 2021, Tim Bogert died at the age of 76 after a long battle with cancer.The band did release (on September 6, 2021) a cover version of "Stop! in the Name of Love" as digital streaming content and with an official music video onYouTube, dedicated to Tim Bogert.