Vanilla Fudge

Out of Long Island, new York, Vanilla Fudge was recording music by 1967. Members are Mark Stein (organist), Tim Bogart (bassist), Vince Martell (vocals), and drummer Carmine Appice.

Former members - Lanny Cordola, Paul Hanson, Bill Pascali, Pete Bremy, Teddy Rondinelli, Derek St. Holmes, and T.M. Stevens

The band has been cited as, "one of the few American links between psychedelia and what soon became heavy metal.

Perhaps one of the most popular cover bands ever, they also recieved the expected criticism of being a cover band. There were also the issues of royalties from covering other bands.

Vanilla Fudge was discovered by a reputed Luchese crime-family member, Phillip Basile who operated a few Long Island clubs.

In 1970 the band members went their seperate ways, On March 14, 1970, Vanilla Fudge played a farewell concert at Phil Basille's Action House. After that, Bogert & Appice departed to form another group, Cactus (In 1972, they left Cactus and formed Beck, Bogert & Appice with guitarist Jeff Beck). Stein, left on his own, tried to keep the group going with two new players, Sal D'Nofrio (bass) and Jimmy Galuzzi (drums) (both of whom had been members of a Poughkeepsie, New York group known as "Dino & The Cavemen"). But when nothing came from this, Stein ended up forming a new group,

Vanilla Fudge has reunited many times after that. In 1984 after being reunited they released the album Mystery. They also reunited for a couple of tours in 1987/88. In 2005, Vanilla Fudge reformed with all the original members for a tour with members of The Doors (now touring as Riders On The Storm) and Steppenwolf. Pascali returned in place of Stein for some 2006 shows before leaving to join the New Rascals. In the summer of 2007 HBO's final episode of The Sopranos featured "You Keep Me Hangin On" (this version includes Bill Pascali's lead vocals) as a theme for their cliff hanger, it was a featured sound track on 3 places of the episode., and then in 2007 they released "Out Through The Indoor" which was a Led Zeppelin (who opened for Vanilla Fudge in 1969) cover album that was only released in Europe. For the 2008 PBS Pledge Drive, Vanilla Fudge performed "You Keep Me Hanging On". The band has reunited in various configurations over the years, and is currently operating with its four original members.