Vanilla Fudge

Vanilla Fudge

Company type	Rock group
Industry	Music
Founded	1967 in New York City, United States
Founder	Mark Stein, Tim Bogert, Vince Martell, Carmine Appice
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Mark Stein, Tim Bogert, Vince Martell, Carmine Appice, Pete Bremy
Products	Rock music albums and live performances

Vanilla Fudge is a rock group originating from New York City, established in 1967 and initially active until 1970, during which time they released five albums. They became known for their hard rock reinterpretations of popular contemporary songs, most famously their 1968 rendition of the Motown classic "You Keep Me Hangin' On" by the Supremes. After occasional reunions throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, the band resumed full-time activity in 1999.

The founding members from 1967 to 1970 included vocalist/organist Mark Stein, bassist and vocalist Tim Bogert, guitarist and vocalist Vince Martell, and drummer/vocalist Carmine Appice. When Bogert retired from live shows in 2009, Pete Bremy took over bass duties; Bogert passed away in 2021. Presently, Vanilla Fudge tours with Stein, Martell, Appice, and Bremy, with performances scheduled through 2026.

The band is acknowledged as a pivotal American bridge between psychedelia and early heavy metal, and is also recognized as an early influence on proto-progressive rock.

History

In 1965, Mark Stein and Tim Bogert—previously with Rick Martin & the Showmen—formed a band inspired by the organ-driven sound of the Rascals. They were joined by guitarist Vince Martell and drummer Mark Dolfen (who was soon replaced by Joey Brennan), initially adopting the name Electric Pigeons, later shortened to the Pigeons. After Brennan's departure in December 1966, Bogert brought in drummer Carmine Appice. In his 2016 memoir Stick It!, Appice recounted that the name change to Vanilla Fudge occurred after signing with Atlantic Records in April 1967 when label president Ahmet Ertegun requested a new band name. Inspired by a woman named Dee Dee who described their music as "white soul," they settled on Vanilla Fudge.

A track recorded under the Pigeons name, "While the World Was Eating Vanilla Fudge," was released by Scepter/Wand in 1970.

Vanilla Fudge was managed by Phillip Basile, who had ties to the Lucchese crime family and ran several New York nightclubs. Their first three albums—Vanilla Fudge, The Beat Goes On, and Renaissance—were produced by Shadow Morton, who had connections through the Rascals. During Led Zeppelin's early 1969 US tour, they served as an opening act for Vanilla Fudge on select dates.

Their most notable commercial achievement was a slowed-down hard rock version of "You Keep Me Hangin' On", originally performed by the Supremes. Characterized by Stein's psychedelic organ introduction and Appice's powerful drumming, this cover reached the Top 10 charts in Canada, the United States, and Australia, and secured a Top 20 position in the UK in 1967.

Influenced by the Beatles, Vanilla Fudge recorded covers of several of their songs including "Ticket to Ride", "Eleanor Rigby", and "You Can't Do That". Their debut album concludes with a reference to "Strawberry Fields Forever".

Members of British band Deep Purple, specifically Ritchie Blackmore and Jon Lord, have credited Vanilla Fudge’s organ-centric sound as a major influence. Blackmore remarked that Deep Purple initially intended to emulate Vanilla Fudge’s style closely.

Breakups and Reformations

Vanilla Fudge held their final concert on March 14, 1970. Soon after, Bogert and Appice departed to establish Cactus and subsequently collaborated with guitarist Jeff Beck in 1972 to form Beck, Bogert & Appice. Meanwhile, Stein endeavored to sustain Vanilla Fudge by recruiting Sal D'Nofrio and Jimmy Galluzi but ultimately launched a new band named Boomerang.

The group has reunited on several occasions since 1970. In 1982, they reconvened to promote the Atco Records compilation Best of Vanilla Fudge, which led to the 1984 release Mystery. This album did not feature Martell, who was substituted by Ron Mancuso and guest artist Jeff Beck ("J. Toad"). Reunion tours took place during 1987 and 1988 with Paul Hanson on guitar; additionally, Lanny Cordola performed guitar for Atlantic Records' 40th anniversary celebration in 1988. Following these events, members pursued individual endeavors.

In 1991, Appice revived the Vanilla Fudge name for a tour alongside former Ted Nugent bandmates, resulting in the live album The Best of Vanilla Fudge – Live. Later, in 1999, Appice, Bogert, and Martell reunited with Bill Pascali filling in for Stein on the 2001 album The Return / Then And Now, which combined re-recorded classics with new material. Due to Bogert’s illness in 2002, Pete Bremy and T. M. Stevens stepped in as substitutes; the live recording The Real Deal – Vanilla Fudge Live was issued in 2003, capturing a 1987 tour featuring Paul Hanson on guitar with Martell adding overdubs afterward. Between 2003 and 2005, Teddy Rondinelli acted as Martell’s touring replacement.

All original members came together again in 2005 for a tour that included musicians from the Doors and Steppenwolf. During some performances, Pascali substituted for Stein before becoming part of the New Rascals. October 2006 saw the band inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.

In 2007, their rendition of "You Keep Me Hangin' On" was featured in the finale of HBO's The Sopranos. That same year they recorded Out Through the In Door, an album covering Led Zeppelin songs initially released exclusively in Europe. Stein and Martell appeared on PBS’s My Music: My Generation – The '60s in 2008.

The original lineup toured across the United States early in 2008; however, Bogert and Appice departed mid-year to focus on Cactus. Stein and Martell continued performing under "Mark Stein and Vince Martell of Vanilla Fudge" with Pete Bremy returning on bass. The U.S. release of Out Through the In Door also occurred in 2008.

Tim Bogert retired from touring in 2009 and was replaced by Pete Bremy. In early 2011, Vanilla Fudge embarked on a farewell tour featuring Appice, Stein, Martell, and Bremy. They performed "You Keep Me Hangin' On" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. This formation has remained active since then.

The band issued Spirit of '67 in 2015, marking their first studio album in ten years.

By 2021, Vanilla Fudge continued to perform. Tim Bogert passed away on January 13, 2021, after battling cancer. Later that year in September, the group released a digital tribute cover of "Stop! in the Name of Love" dedicated to Bogert.

Current members

• Mark Stein – lead vocals, keyboards (1966–1970, 1982–1984, 1987–1988, 2005, 2006–present)
• Vince Martell – guitar, vocals (1966–1970, 1982–1984 (guest), 1999–2003, 2005–present)
• Carmine Appice – drums, vocals (1966–1970, 1982–1984, 1987–1988, 1991, 1999–2008, 2009–present)
• Pete Bremy – bass guitar, vocals (2002, 2010–present)

Past members

• Tim Bogert – bass guitar, vocals (1966–1970, 1982–1984, 1987–1988, 1999–2002, 2003–2008, 2009–2010; deceased 2021)
• Ron Mancuso – guitar (1982–1984)
• Paul Hanson – guitar and vocals (1987–1988)
• Lanny Cordola – guitar, vocals (1988)
• Derek St. Holmes – lead vocals and guitar (1991)
• Teddy Rondinelli – guitar and vocals (2003–2005)
• Martin Gerschwitz – keyboards and vocals (1991)
• Bill Pascali – lead vocals and keyboards (1999–2005, 2005–2006)
• T.M. Stevens – bass guitar (2002; deceased 2024)
• Joe Brennan – drums and vocals (1966)
• Mark Dolfen – drums and vocals (1966–1967)
• Jimmyjack Tamburo – drums and vocals (2008–2009)
• Steve Argy – bass guitar and vocals (2008–2009)
• Jack Corcoran – bass guitar (2021)

Studio albums

Album	Release Year	Highest Chart Positions					Certifications
		US	AUS	CAN	GER	UK
Vanilla Fudge	1967	6	—	12	—	31	RIAA: Gold
The Beat Goes On	1968	17	—	—	31	—
Renaissance		20	32	—	—	—
Near the Beginning	1969	16	—	10	—	—
Rock & Roll		34	—	24	—	—
Mystery	1984	—	—	—	—	—
The Return	2002	—	—	—	—	—
Out Through the In Door	2007	—	—	—	—	—

Compilations and live recordings

• Vanilla Fudge – The Fantastic Vanilla (1969) – double album issued exclusively in Italy to honor the band's Golden Gondola Award.
• Best of Vanilla Fudge (1982)
• The Best of Vanilla Fudge – Live (1991)
• Psychedelic Sundae – The Best of Vanilla Fudge (1993)
• Then and Now (2002)
• The Return – Live in Germany Part 1 (2003)
• The Real Deal – Vanilla Fudge Live (2003)
• Rocks the Universe – Live in Germany Part 2 (2003)
• Good Good Rockin' – Live at Rockpalast (2007)
• Orchestral Fudge (live) (2008)
• When Two Worlds Collide (live) (2008)
• Box of Fudge – Rhino Handmade release (2010)
• The Complete Atco Singles (2014)
• Live at Sweden Rock 2016: The 50th Anniversary (live) (2017)

Singles

Single	Year Released	Highest Chart Rankings				Associated Album
		US	AUS	CAN	UK
"You Keep Me Hangin' On" b/w "Take Me for a Little While"	1967	6	—	72	18	Vanilla Fudge
"Eleanor Rigby Part 1" (UK-only release) b/w "Eleanor Rigby Part 2"					53		-	"Where Is My Mind" b/w "The Look of Love" (Non-album track)	1968	73	—	—	—	The Best of Vanilla Fudge	-	"Season of the Witch, Pt. 1" b/w "Season of the Witch, Pt. 2"	65	—	52	—	Renaissance	-	"You Keep Me Hangin' On" b/w "Come by Day, Come by Night"(Non-album track)	6	—	2	—	Vanilla Fudge	-	"Shotgun" b/w "Good Good Lovin'"(Non-album track)	68	—	59	—	Near the Beginning	-	"Take Me for a Little While" b/w "Thoughts"(from Renaissance)	38	—	45	—	Vanilla Fudge	-	"Some Velvet Morning" b/w "People"(Non-album track)	rowspan=2 |1969	103	—	69	—	Near the Beginning	-	"Need Love" b/w "I Can't Make It Alone"	111	—	—	—	Rock & Roll	-	"Lord in the Country" b/w "The Windmills of Your Mind"	1970	—	—	—	—	Rock & Roll	-	"Mystery" b/w "The Stranger"	1984	—	—	—	—	Mystery