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| Vinny Appice | |
|---|---|
| Name | Vinny Appice |
| Birth date | 1957-09-13 |
| Birth place | Naples, Italy |
| Origin | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Heavy metal, hard rock, blues rock |
| Occupation | Drummer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1970s–present |
| Associated acts | Dio, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, Last in Line, Kill Devil Hill, Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne, John Lennon |
Vinny Appice Vinny Appice is an American rock drummer known for his work in heavy metal and hard rock. He gained prominence in the late 1970s and 1980s through key collaborations with prominent musicians and bands, contributing to landmark albums and tours. Appice's career spans work with Ronnie James Dio, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne, and numerous session and live projects.
Appice was born in Naples, Italy, and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, where he grew up amid the cultural scenes of Coney Island, Flatbush, and Borough Park. He was exposed to artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Who, and Jimi Hendrix through local radio stations like WNEW (AM), and he absorbed influences from drummers including John Bonham, Neil Peart, Ginger Baker, and Buddy Rich. Appice's formative years intersected with venues and institutions like CBGB, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, and school programs that brought him into contact with touring acts associated with labels such as Atlantic Records, Columbia Records, and Capitol Records.
In the late 1970s Appice worked with regional bands before joining established acts; early associations included touring lineups connected to Rick Derringer, John Lennon alumni, and musicians who had played with Eric Clapton, Peter Frampton, and Steve Marriott. He entered the national spotlight when recruited by Ronnie James Dio to form the band Dio, joining forces with artists who had histories with Rainbow and Black Sabbath. Appice performed on Dio albums and toured internationally, sharing stages with contemporaries like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motörhead, Scorpions, and Megadeth on major festivals and bills promoted by firms such as Live Nation and AEG Presents.
Appice stepped into Black Sabbath during a transitional era following lineup changes involving Bill Ward and Ozzy Osbourne. He recorded with Black Sabbath on albums contemporaneous with releases by artists linked to Warner Bros. Records, Vertigo Records, and collaborated with members who had histories in projects with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Ronnie James Dio. Later, the reunion-era project Heaven & Hell, featuring musicians from the Sabbath/Dio lineage, played arenas and festivals alongside acts like Metallica, AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, and KISS, and engaged with producers and managers associated with Phil Carson, Martin Birch, and Mike Clink.
Appice pursued solo and side projects while maintaining connections across the rock world. He worked with guitarists and songwriters who had affiliations with Vinnie Vincent Invasion, Ritchie Blackmore, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, George Lynch, and Kerry King. Collaborations extended to studio sessions and live work with artists from labels such as MCA Records, Geffen Records, and Epic Records, and he appeared on releases alongside performers tied to Phil Lynott, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, Deep Purple, Bad Company, and Foreigner.
Appice contributed to charity and compilation efforts like Hear 'n Aid alongside contemporaries including Ronnie James Dio, Rob Halford, Lemmy Kilmister, and Geoff Tate. He co-founded Last in Line with former Dio members and toured with ensembles that performed at festivals promoted by organizations behind Download Festival, Wacken Open Air, Rock in Rio, and Monsters of Rock. He was also a member of Kill Devil Hill with musicians connected to Pantera, Vinnie Paul, Dimebag Darrell, and worked on one-off reunions and guest appearances with figures such as Tony Martin, Ian Gillan, Glenn Hughes, John Sykes, Adrian Smith, Dave Murray, K.K. Downing, and Rob Halford.
Appice's drumming style blends blues-based pocket grooves with heavy metal power, reflecting influences from John Bonham, Ginger Baker, Neil Peart, and Cozy Powell. He is known for solid backbeat, triplet feel, and ride cymbal patterns heard alongside guitarists like Tony Iommi, Ritchie Blackmore, Vivian Campbell, Dio alumni, and producers such as Martin Birch and Mutt Lange. Appice has used drum kits from manufacturers including Ludwig, Pearl, Tama, and DW Drums, cymbals by Zildjian and Sabian, and hardware components by Remo, Vic Firth, and Evans Drumheads in studio and live settings associated with major touring rigs, sound engineers, and FOH teams linked to Clearwing Productions, Fender, and Marshall Amplification.
Appice's family background ties to the wider Appice musical lineage that includes musicians who performed with artists such as Cactus, Bachman–Turner Overdrive, and solo acts associated with David Coverdale. His legacy is recognized by peers in halls of fame and retrospectives that feature members of Black Sabbath, Dio, Rainbow, Deep Purple, and Judas Priest. Appice continues to influence drummers who cite him alongside John Bonham, Neil Peart, Buddy Rich, and Ginger Baker in publications and documentaries produced by outlets like MTV, VH1, Rolling Stone, Kerrang!, and Classic Rock.
Category:American drummers Category:Heavy metal drummers Category:Italian emigrants to the United States