The American hard rock band Vanilla Fudge, formerly The Pigeons, were established in New York in the mid-1960s by singer and keyboard player Mark Stein, singer and guitarist Vince Martell, drummer Carmine Appice, bassist Pete Bremy and singer and bass player Tim Bogert. They became known for slowed-down, heavy rock covers of pop tunes, most notably The Supremes’ “You Keep Me Hanging On”. Their version went to Number 6 in 1968. They released five albums including 1967’s Vanilla Fudge, which reached Number 6; 1968’s The Beat Goes On, which topped out at Number 17; 1968’s Renaissance, which peaked at Number 20; and 1969’s Near the Beginning, their second best charting album at Number 16. After the 1970 album Rock & Roll, they played what were called farewell concerts but they have reformed several times over the years with different line-ups. Members played reunion concerts in the mid-1980s and the name Vanilla Fudge was used again with assorted players in the '90s. In 1999 Appice, Bogert and Martell linked up for a greatest hits album and in 2003 they released a concert album, The Real Deal - Vanilla Fudge Live. The original members teamed up for a 2005 tour and following a cover of Led Zeppelin numbers, Out Through the In Door, for release in Europe, they toured America in 2008. Bogert announced his retirement from live performances in 2010 and another farewell tour took place although the current members continue to perform concerts. Dates in 2017 included venues in New York, Florida, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. Bogert passed away January 13, 2021.
