Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

VANILLA FUDGE

US heavy metal band formed '67 as the Pigeons: Vince Martell (b 11 Nov. '45, NYC), vocals and guitar; Mark Stein (b 11 March '47, NJ), keyboards; Tim Bogert (b 27 Aug. '44), bass; Carmine Appice (b 15 Dec. '46, Staten Island, NY), drums. Stein and Bogert had played together in the Showmen, picked up Appice, then Martell. Stein had first recorded for Cameo in a high school band '59. Played first date '67, down a bill under the Byrds; signed by Atlantic, quickly made eponymous two-disc set that relied on cover versions ('People Get Ready', 'Ticket To Ride', 'Bang Bang' etc): the gimmick was playing them very slowly, imitating the time- distorting effect of drugs, also quasi-gospel harmonies, classical keyboards and elaborate production: in an age of innovation this passed for progress. Cover of Supremes' 'You Keep Me Hangin' On' demonstrated formula well; became sleeper hit (no. 6 USA/18 UK) a year after release; 'Take Me For A Little While' no. 38 was a follow-up. Other albums were Renaissance, The Beat Goes On (about the history of the world), Near The Beginning, Rock'n'Roll '68--70, plus Star Collection '73, but Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin etc had taken up the torch and Fudge split '70. Stein formed unsuccessful Boomerang; Bogert and Appice went to Cactus, then Jeff Beck. With Iron Butterfly and others, Fudge laid the foundation of heavy metal when record companies thought that 'underground' music was the wave of the future; the stress on technique over songwriting and originality brought temporary success which soon faded.