VANILLA FUDGE - A Clinic No Musician Should Miss
by Martin Popoff

LED ZEPPELIN backed them up, so did CREAM, and they've played with THE DOORS and HENDRIX. Well, the original lineup of this late '60s legend - Vince Martell, Tim Bogert, Mark Stein and Carmine Appice - are together and touring, having just played a magnificent show at The Docks in Toronto.

VANILLA FUDGE are also well known for their influence on DEEP PURPLE and their organ-heavy sound, but in terms of influencing metal in general, bass icon Tim Bogert becomes reticent.

"Gee, I don't know what we were. I don't read the trade publications, honestly, and it's funny, legend grows in and of itself, once an event has occurred. And I don't know what legend has grown on our behalf. If there has been one, hey, cool! (laughs). It's like Woodstock is thought of as this wonderful occurrence. It was a mudhole! It was a mess! (laughs). It was like living in a dungeon for three days. But now it's just, 'Oh, how wonderful it was.' In retrospect, you forget all the punky things in that respect and you remember the good stuff."

Turning to new plans, Bogert offers that, "Yeah, we have three tunes that we've already done. Our manager is in the process of shopping a record deal. We will work from time to time because we all enjoy it. I'm a retired schoolteacher, so I enjoy doing this part-time. It's a whole lot of fun. It's terrific. Out with THE DOORS OF THE 21ST CENTURY right now - they are nice people. We have all got along. I don't think there's been a single harsh word on the entire tour. The school where I used to teach, a place called The Musician's Institute in Hollywood, three guys on their crew are from there. So it's all very much home week for me. And I'm having a ball. We're having such a good time."

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