Tim Bogert of Vanilla Fudge and Cactus Passes Away at 76

2021-01-14

Vanilla Fudge, Cactus and Beck, Bogert & Appice bassist Tim Bogert has passed away.

“The Best of Vanilla Fudge” album cover – Story by Scarlett Hunter

Original Vanilla Fudge bass player Tim Bogert has passed away. Bogert — who was also an original member of Cactus and the supergroup Beck, Bogert & Appice — passed away on Wednesday (Jan. 13) following a fight with cancer at age 76.

Drummer Carmine Appice, who performed with Bogert in all three of his main bands, took to Facebook to honor his friend and longtime collaborator. In the post, he called him a “true friend” and a “very intelligent person.”

“He was like a brother to me. He was my friend for over 50 years,” Appice said. “Tim was a one of a kind bass player. He inspired many, many bass players worldwide. He was as masterful at shredding as he was holding down a groove, and Tim introduced a new level of virtuosity into rock bass playing.”

“I loved Tim like a brother,” Appice added. “He will be missed very much in my life. I will miss calling him, cracking jokes together, talking music and remembering the great times we had together, and how we created kick-a** music together.”

Vanilla Fudge got together in 1966. The band quickly gained momentum with their lengthy, jam-infused rock arrangements of songs by other artists. Vanilla Fudge broke into the mainstream in 1968 with the band’s cover of The Supremes’ “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” which reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Vanilla Fudge parted ways 1970, and Bogert and Appice went on to launch Cactus, which released four full-length albums. Two years late, Bogert and Appice teamed up with Jeff Beck for the supergroup Beck, Bogert & Appice, which released two albums, a studio and live set, before breaking up in 1973.

Over the years, Vanilla Fudge performed a handful of reunion shows with Bogert in the lineup. Bogert also performed with a new version Cactus in the 2000s and played in a range of of bands, including Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead’s side band, Bobby and the Midnites.

Scarlett Hunter
Posted by Scarlett Hunter | Music, Rock, Rock News