Cactus

This band is considered one of the first hard rock bands. Most people don't know about them but they have a distinct biker blues rock sound similar to Blue Cheer. Carmine Appice and a guy from the Amboy Dukes was in this band.

http://www.cactusrocks.net/01_home.html

Really dig these guys. I just got the self-titled and Restrictions the other day. I've had V since it came out. I was surprised to know the song "Evil." I always thought that was a Monster Magnet song! Haha. Guess they covered it.

Anyway, I only have the three albums, but I really dig them.

Catcus wow, I have not thought about them in years. Carmine Appice formed this after Vanilla Fudge called it a day. The only album I owned by them was the first one, so bluesy and drug drenched heavy rock, you would get a contact buzz just by holding the album cover. The true originators of stoner rock.
Rusty Day would meet a tragic demise on a drug deal gone bad, Carmine Appice would go on meet a tragic demise of his own when helped write the wuss classic " Do ya Think am Sexy" for Rod Stewart.

I think Cactus kicks maximum a$$. Bad Stuff off of 'Ot 'N' Sweaty has a killer riff/guitar tone. I own them all.

My favorite Cactus related albums

1. Restrictions
2. Renaissance (by Vanilla Fudge)
3. Cactus
4. New Cactus Band- Son of Cactus (w/ Mike Pinera)

but for Blue Cheer fans, the early Cactus stuff is the best, yes.

One of the few bands from that era that I REALLY dig [but I am a Carmine freak]. I have the Jap version of s/t, and there is some stuff on there you have to crank to totally appreciate.

Long Live Carmine Appice - Rocks Greatest [but probably not most talented] Drummer Ever!!!

Never heard them, they sound like something I would like though. Guess I'll have to add another to my list, Just when I thought I finally had enough.

Cactus were pretty badass. The S/T is one must have in every collection.

skullsmasher wrote:

Never heard them, they sound like something I would like though. Guess I'll have to add another to my list, Just when I thought I finally had enough.

If you really want a good example and selection of their stuff, pick up "Cactology: The Cactus Collection" from Rhino.

skullsmasher wrote:

Never heard them, they sound like something I would like though. Guess I'll have to add another to my list, Just when I thought I finally had enough.

Awesome. Like I mentioned, I've also thought Monster Magnet's version of this was original! Haha.

DeathCult wrote:

If you really want a good example and selection of their stuff, pick up "Cactology: The Cactus Collection" from Rhino.

Ditto. It's got some of their more obscure rock stuff on there at the end (which is what I like most), in addition to most of their bluesrock classics. A nice comp!

That song is good. Do all of their songs have that gritty, dirty sound?

DeathCult wrote:

Cactus were pretty badass. The S/T is one must have in every collection.

I actually just sent for it from amazon. I love this style of music... Blue Cheer, Sabbath and Pentagram!

scottmitchell74 wrote:

That song is good. Do all of their songs have that gritty, dirty sound?

On the self-titled and Restrictions, yes. And an album came between those two, and one more just a year later. So I assume the first four have that same gritty sound. On V, not as much. V was released recently, last year or something, after like a 30 year hiatus. But it's also a good album; just probably not as good as their early studio albums.

http://www.myspace.com/cactusrocks

I also encourage everyone to try and find this band's sole EP (plus the digital EP):

http://www.myspace.com/parchmanfarm

I assume the name is inspired by the Cactus tune. Great band.

Quote :

I assume the name is inspired by the Cactus tune.

I have a feeling they're named after the Blue Cheer song. They have a song called Parchmant Farm Blues??

troublezone wrote:

Quote :

I assume the name is inspired by the Cactus tune.

I have a feeling they're named after the Blue Cheer song. They have a song called Parchmant Farm Blues??

Is Parchman Farm famous for some reason? Either way, they're a good band.

Eyesore wrote:

skullsmasher wrote:

Never heard them, they sound like something I would like though. Guess I'll have to add another to my list, Just when I thought I finally had enough.

Awesome. Like I mentioned, I've also thought Monster Magnet's version of this was original! Haha.

Ive heard it done by quite a few blues bands actually, never been able to find out who did it first.

scottmitchell74 wrote:

That song is good. Do all of their songs have that gritty, dirty sound?

The first three sound exactly like that (Cactus, One Way Or Another, and Restrictions) the last album they did in the 70's 'Ot 'N' Sweaty sounds slightly different due to Rusty Day's and Jim Mccarty's departure but still retains alot of the same edge.

The newest one V sounds different, but it just came out in 2006, so their early on energy is long gone.

All of the original 4 are available pretty cheap from Wounded Bird Records right now. But, if your not into spending a whole lot of bucks at the time, the Cactology comp I mentioned above would be the best place to start.

There was also another album put out in '73 by "The New Cactus Band" which was just Duane Hitchings (who joined on 'Ot 'n' Sweaty) with three new members, I myself have never heard it, but im sure theres samples out there.

As for "Parchman Farm" its originally by Mose Allison and was a pretty popular blues cover, but Cactus did the most ripping, and IMO the best cover.

I like this version of Parchment Farm alot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouWJrDDdcHQ

DeathCult wrote:

There was also another album put out in '73 by "The New Cactus Band" which was just Duane Hitchings (who joined on 'Ot 'n' Sweaty) with three new members, I myself have never heard it, but im sure theres samples out there.

New Cactus Band with Mike Pinera from Iron Butterfly. I like it, but it's not proper Cactus,not at all. It's run of the mill 70's hard rock.

The tune "Evil" reminds of what I would think if Mountain and Led Zep got together.

Cool, I do like it.

great band

I bought two of their albums yesterday.

Great music.

DeathCult wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

skullsmasher wrote:

Never heard them, they sound like something I would like though. Guess I'll have to add another to my list, Just when I thought I finally had enough.

Awesome. Like I mentioned, I've also thought Monster Magnet's version of this was original! Haha.

Ive heard it done by quite a few blues bands actually, never been able to find out who did it first.

I believe 'Evil' is an old blues tune by Chester Burnett aka Howlin' Wolf. Dee Snider covered it in Widowmaker too.

I've heard of them before, but never actually heard the music. I like what I'm hearing though. Might have to investigate further.