Carmine Appice's Guitar Zeus Worthy of the Greek God's Praise

“Carmine Appice – Guitar Zeus: 25th anniversary" is an aptly named new boxset worthy of high praise from the Greek God whooften appears with a lightning bolt. The 3 disc/4LP collection out now on Deko Records consists of songs composed by drum legend/curator Appice and a myriad of guest guitarists that provide the thunder and lightning. It’s the first of Appice’s Guitar Zeus series to be released domestically on a major label– previous albums were available only as Japanese imports or on small, independent labels here.

This album features great songs written by Appice and his band – guitarist Kelly Keeling and bassist Tony Franklin, and searing solos from guitarists that span the spectrum from Yngwie Malmsteen to Neal Schon, Paul Gilbert to King’s X’s Ty Tabor, and Slash to Zakk Wylde. At first look, you might think “Guitar Zeus" is a pure shred exercise; frenetic guitar solos with backing tracks. That’s certainly not the case. While the guitarists get the spotlight and provide mind-bending solos, Appice, best known for his work in Vanilla Fudge and with Rod Stewart, ex-Blue Murder six-stringer Keely, and renowned bassist Franklin have carefully crafted a collection of songs that stand on their own. The guitarists fit the mood of the songs, not the other way around. Appice also turns in a great vocal performance on Stewart hit “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy.”

Highlights are numerous and include Queen’s Brian May’s distorted groove on “Nobody Knew,” Neal Schon’s high-octane melodic solos and revved up rhythms on “Out of Mind” and “Safe,” Malmsteen and King’s X singer dUg Pinnick making for an unlikely perfect match on the soulful “Not This Time Around,” the psychedelic notes that Ty Tabor conjures on “Trippin’ Again” and “Killing Time,” and Paul Gilbert tearing it up on “Dislocated." There are also some “who knew he played guitar?” axemen such as tennis legend John McEnroe (with Stevie Salas on the funk rock raver “Stash”) and movie star Steven Seagal (with Seymour Duncan on “GZ Blues.”)

We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Carmine Appice on all things “Guitar Zeus.”

Q. What was the genesis of the original Guitar Zeus and the 25th anniversary boxset?

Back in the early 1990s I was putting a band together with Joe Lynn Turner, Bob Daisely and Jeff Watson. I had a solo album out in 1982 and it was 1992 and I was trying to get a deal. I had been trying to get a deal for years. My friend Jeff Watson came out of Night Ranger and immediately gets a deal with Shrapnel Records and I had been trying for years. I said, ‘you guitar players have it so easy. Maybe I’ll do an album with all my guitar player friends.’ I was kidding around at first. But then you’re lying in bed and your mind keeps working. I thought, ‘That’s a good idea. We’d get interviews with drum, guitar and rock magazines.' I didn’t realize how hard it was going to be to still get a deal.

Labels would want me to get letters from guitarists pledging to sign onto the project. That’s embarrassing. It took me three years to find someone to put it together. The album was released in Japan. That first album did really well in Japan and Asia and Europe but was never released in America. When we finished the first one I thought it was one of the best things I’ve done in my career, from the concept to writing the songs to recording it. Some of the best songs I’ve been a part of. The whole concept was Soundgarden meets Blue Murder meets the Beatles.

Guitar Zeus the 25th anniversary came out of wanting to finally release it in America on a big label. We had done one in 2005 in America on a smaller label. I have a great band with (bassist) Tony Franklin, who I love, and Kerry Keeling from Blue Murder, a great songwriter. I started working with Deko Records. I said, ‘you know what, some tracks have never been released for 25 years and we could do new tracks. Maybe we should do a special boxset.’ They agreed. It took a while to put together. We did this in the middle of Covid and it took forever.

Q. How did you line up all of the guitar players?

Brian May and I had done a clinic and I approached him and he agreed. I also knew Ted Nugent and the guys from King’s X really well. It was a good start and I started soliciting other people. It became a domino effect. Yngwie Malmsteen signed on and wanted to play on a track with dUg Pinnick. I had played a charity event with Richie Sambora and he signed on. Then I ran into John McEnroe and he can play so I recruited him.

Q. It’s important to note that while the guitarists’ performances are awesome, this isn’t a pure shred album. It’s based on great songs that you and your bandmates wrote. The guitars fit the song, not the other way around.

You’re correct. It also has guys playing in styles you may not be used to. We gave Brian May five songs to pick from and he picked “Nobody Knew.” You never really hear Brian May playing with a wah wah solo so that’s really great. Yngwie played a lot more bluesy. Mick Mars wanted to play with Edgar Winter and really stands out with his slide playing.

Q. In the album booklet the players refer to you as a legend and drum God. How does it feel to hear that high praise?

It’s great. I really appreciate it and I say thanks. I guess if nobody said anything I’d kind of get weird about it. It’s amazing that people are looking at me like that after all these years. I’ve been doing this for 55 years. I love creating music. It’s my life. Right now I’m doing a new King Kobra record with Rowan Robertson (ex-Dio) and Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot) on guitars. Some people would say what’s the point of doing a new album, that you’ll put in so much effort and nobody beyond the core fan base will listen to it. To me it’s all about the legacy. I also released an album with an amazing guitarist and multi-instrumentalist named Fernando Perdomo. It’s the Appice-Perdomo project. Definitely worth checking out.

Q. Would you like to someday do a one-off Guitar Zeus show?

Absolutely. The only time I did one was at a NAMM show and the audience response was great. It’s hard, everyone is spread out across the country and then there’s Covid. But yes, I hope to one day do a Guitar Zeus concert.