Formed in 1969, the original Cactus comprised Rusty Day (Russell Edward Davidson, USA, d. 6 March 1982, USA; vocals), Jim McCarty (guitar, ex-Mitch Ryder and Buddy Miles' Express), and two former members of Vanilla Fudge, Tim Bogert (b. 27 August 1944, Ridgefield, New Jersey, USA; bass) and Carmine Appice (b. 15 December 1946, Staten Island, New York, USA; drums). Their exciting, uncompromising brand of hard rock was best displayed on their second album One Way ... Or Another (1971), but internal disputes hampered their progress. Day and McCarty left to join Detroit in 1971, but although a reshaped line-up featuring Werner Fritzschings (guitar), Duane Hitchings (keyboards) and Peter French (vocals) completed the part live "Ot 'N' Sweaty, the initial rhythm section abandoned their creation to form Beck, Bogert And Appice. Hitchings then instigated the New Cactus Band with Mike Pinera (b. 29 September 1948, Tampa, Florida, USA; guitar, ex-Iron Butterfly), Roland Robinson (b. 1949, USA, d. 8 Nobember 2004, Memphis, Tennessee, USA; bass) and Jerry Norris (drums), but the group disintegrated in 1973.
Original vocalist Rusty Day revived the Cactus name in the late 70s for touring purposes, but his death from gunshot wounds in 1982 led to the unit's disbandment. Appice, Bogert and McCarty reunited over two decades later, with vocalist Jimmy Kunes, to record a new studio album.
