“Marcie Free told me a couple month’s ago… that she’s ahh, very pissed off that she did that. Cuz, there’s no life in that… you can’t find a partner.”
— Carmine Appice on The Hair Metal Guru / June 2025

THE HAIR METAL GURU — In the latest episode of The Hair Metal Guru‘s podcast on YouTube, the subject is drum legend Carmine Appice.

Appice‘s resume is possibly longer, and more inclusive than 99% of the musicians alive today, with his career taking off as an original member of the 60’s group Vanilla Fudge.

By 1967 the band signed to Atlantic Records, and Appice has been active ever since.

Appice has shared the stage, dressing room and one can only imagine what else he’s shared over the past 60 years working with, recording with and touring with names like; Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant from Led Zepplin’, Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck.

Appice even appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show with Vanilla Fudge in February of 1969.

Now, The Hair Metal Guru has grabbed Appice for a solid hour plus interview that covers a ton.

The subjects are endless, and in addition to all of those projects, bands and players he has worked with… Appice also mentions several close calls with some of rocks biggest names.

Appice tells The Guru that when Keith Moon died in September of 1978, there were rumors circulationg about the possibility of him playing with The Who and the same happened a few short years later when John Bonham passed away in September of 1980, and his name was once again in the hat to possibly join Led Zepplin’, or so said the rumor mill.

Similar is mentioned when Peter Criss split with Kiss, and Appice says he spoke with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley about those possibilities but in the end, Simmons suggested they bring in someone new.

Appice tells a fun story about hanging out with Paul Stanley (Kiss) in Los Angeles and how they went to see the band Angel in concert at the Long Beach arena.

During the show some fans were staring and went up to the pair, and Appice suggested to Stanley; “I notice that these fans are like, looking over at us, you know and I said, ‘Oh man, I think they recognize you Paul'”, but in the end, ‘they recognized me‘, and not Stanley laughs Appice… as it was during this period when Kiss were rarely if ever seen without their make-up.

It might be easier to list who Appice has NOT played with as the hour winds… but the subjects included;Ozzy Osbourne, King Kobra, Blue Murder, his Drum Wars project with his brother Vinnie Appice and several other hits, misses and close calls over the 80’s and 90’s are all covered.

One subject that is sure to turn heads, is when The Guru brings up Marcie Free, previously known as Mark Free the singer for King Kobra.

Before The Guru could utter a solid question, Appice pipes in quickly with; “Marcie Free told me a couple month’s ago… that she’s ahh, very pissed off that she did that. Cuz, there’s no life in that… you can’t find a partner.”

Appice also shares his side of the story regarding some dust-ups with Vinnie Cusano (pka Vinnie Vincent) past and present, Sharon Osbourne, a recent battle with Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx, who Appice talked about in his original 20 Questions with Metal Sludge back in May of 2000 telling our readers; “I like Nikki.”

Watch the full interview with Carmine Appice below from The Hair Metal Guru.

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