Drummers - Vinnie Appice
Vinny Appice (born September 13, 1957 in Brooklyn, New
York) is a rock drummer, best known for his work with the bands Dio and
Black Sabbath. He is the younger brother of rock drummer Carmine Appice,
who was in Vanilla Fudge and Cactus. He is currently involved in Heaven
and Hell and 3 Legged Dogg.
Early years
Vinny took up the drums aged 9, taking lessons from the same teacher as
Carmine had had. At the tender age of 16, Vinny and his band BOMF met
John Lennon at The Record Plant in NYC, which led to Vinny appearing on
several Lennon projects. He then recorded and toured with Rick Derringer
on Derringer (1976), Sweet Evil (1977) and Derringer Live (1977), before
forming his own band Axis, releasing one album, It's A Circus World
(1978).
The Black Sabbath and Dio years
Appice joined Black Sabbath in 1980 during the Heaven and Hell tour, and
later appeared on the albums Mob Rules (1981) and the album recorded on
that tour, Live Evil (1982). In late 1982, before Live Evil had even hit
the shelves, he had left Sabbath with vocalist Ronnie James Dio, and
formed the band Dio. He appeared on the Dio albums Holy Diver (1983),
The Last in Line (1984), Sacred Heart (1985), Intermission (1986), and
Dream Evil (1987). In December 1989 Appice left Dio for reasons somewhat
unclear.
In 1990 Appice joined World War III and the band released an album. In
1992 Appice returned to Black Sabbath, with Ronnie James Dio, for the
Dehumanizer album and tour. When Black Sabbath, with Rob Halford singing
instead of Ronnie James Dio, opened as special guest on Ozzy's
(supposed) final two solo shows in Costa Mesa, CA in November 1992,
Appice still sat in the drum-stool. Thereafter, he rejoined Dio and is
present on Strange Highways (1993), Angry Machines (1996) and Inferno -
Last in Live (1998).
On the 1998 Black Sabbath tour he replaced original drummer Bill Ward,
who was absent while he recovered from a heart-attack. Ward returned to
the band in 1999. As of 2007, he is taking part in a reunion with Ronnie
James Dio and Black Sabbath members Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler to tour
under the name "Heaven and Hell" during 2007. Initially Bill Ward was
going to be the drummer for this project but once again Appice will be
taking over from Ward.
Other recordings
His recorded output is extensive, as detailed on his official homepage.
Recent sessions include those for Lana Lane, Mark Boals and, in 2003,
Erik Norlander's Music Machine CD. He has also released insructional
drumming videos and regularly appears at drum clinics, sometimes with
brother Carmine. Despite being known as one of rock's heaviest drummers
Vinny uses a single bass-drum.
He once said in an interview with a UK drumming magazine that the
correct pronunciation of the family name is 'a-PEACH-ee' but he
generally finds people pronounce it 'AP-a-sea' and doesn't lose sleep
over it. Certainly the pronunciation in interviews and onstage by Ronnie
James Dio was the latter way.
Vinny Appice also appeared on a Circle of Tyrants(Necro, Ill Bill,
Goretex, Mr Hyde) rap CD, where he collaborated with Alex Skolnick
(Guitars), Necro and Mr Hyde in the year of 2005.
Discography
with Axis
* It's A Circus World (1978)
with Black Sabbath
* The Mob Rules (1981)
* Live Evil (1982)
* Dehumanizer (1992)
* Black Sabbath: The Dio Years (2007)
with Dio
* Holy Diver (1983)
* The Last in Line (1984)
* Sacred Heart (1985)
* Intermission (1985)
* Dream Evil (1987)
* Strange Highways (1993)
* Angry Machines (1996)
* Inferno - Last in Live (1998)
with Rick Derringer
* Derringer (1976)
* Sweet Evil (1977)
* Derringer Live (1977)
with World War III
* World War III (1990)
From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinny_Appice
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