The Yardbirds line-up includes founding member Jim McCarty (drums, backing vocals), Ben King (guitar), Andy Mitchell (guitar), and Dave Smale (bass). The Vanilla Fudge line-up includes three of the four original members: Mark Stein (lead vocals, keyboard), Vince Martell (guitar, vocals), and Carmine Appice (drums), and joining them is Pete Bremy (bass).
The Yardbirds
The Yardbirds, the band that spearheaded the British Blues Boom of the 1960s, the band that brought the world Eric Clapton in 1963, Jeff Beck in 1965 and Jimmy Page in 1966 (who played in the band with Beck for four months), the band that continues to inspire artists worldwide, performs live in New Brunswick as part of their tour of the Northeast beginning February.
Known as much for their strict allegiance to the blues as for their international chart-topping hit "For Your Love," The Yardbirds have never lost their drive and jet-propelled beat, due mainly to McCarty. Their "Train Kept A' Rollin'" inspired Aerosmith to tackle the same song. Their early forays into heavy rock inspired Page to form his own band, originally named The New Yardbirds, but ultimately named Led Zeppelin.
The Yardbirds, electrifying, eclectic, and way ahead of their time, melded heavy rock, wild jams, and an improvisatory feel, and continue to influence generations of bands.
Vanilla Fudge
In 1967, American rock group Vanilla Fudge made their way onto the music scene, rocking the world with a new sound, and influencing a generation of musicians. They headlined concerts with groups and musicians such as Cream, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, and Jimi Hendrix. Vanilla Fudge hits include "You Keep Me Hangin' On" and "Where is My Mind."
Vanilla Fudge was one of the first American groups to infuse psychedelia into a heavy rock sound to create "psychedelic symphonic rock": an eclectic genre which would, among its many offshoots, eventually morph into heavy metal. Initially they were best known for their dramatic, heavy, slowed arrangements of contemporary pop songs which they developed into works of epic proportion. Originally they were a blue-eyed soul cover band called The Pigeons, formed in New Jersey in 1965. They built a following by touring up and down the East Coast, and by providing freelance in-concert backing for hit-record girl groups. They recorded a set of eight demos that were released several years later as While the World Was Eating Vanilla Fudge.
The East Coast, in particular, New York and New Jersey, created a sound all its' own. Inspired by groups such as The Rascals and The Vagrants, The Pigeons reworked many of their own existing arrangements of covers to reflect their unique interpretation of this "East Coast Sound." In 1966, the Pigeons drafted drummer and vocalist, Carmine Appice, a disciple of the renowned drummer Joe Morello. In early 1967, The Pigeons manager, Phil Basile, convinced producer, George "Shadow" Morton to see them live. Impressed by their heavy-rocking and psychedelic version of The Supremes' "You Keep Me Hangin' On," Morton offered to record it as a single. This resulted in a deal with Atco, which requested a name change, resulting in Vanilla Fudge. The band toured extensively behind its covers-heavy, jam-oriented debut album, Vanilla Fudge; which was released in 1967.
This concert is part of the State Theatre's winter festival, Hub City Carnivale, four weeks of performances, activities, and attractions for all ages.
For tickets or more information, call the State Theatre ticket office at 732-246-SHOW (7469), or visit us online at www.StateTheatreNJ.org. The State Theatre ticket office, located at 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick NJ, is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 10am to 6pm; Wednesday 11am to 7pm; Saturday 1pm to 5pm; and at least one hour prior to curtain on performance dates. For information on group outings and discounts, call 732-247-7200, ext. 517. Some additional ticket and transaction fees may apply.
State Theatre, a premier nonprofit venue for the performing arts and entertainment. The theater exists to enrich people's lives, contribute to a vital urban environment, and build future audiences by presenting the finest performing artists and entertainers and fostering lifetime appreciation for the performing arts through education. The State Theatre's programs are made possible, in part, by funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals. The Heldrich is the official hotel of the State Theatre. Magic 98. 3 is the official radio station of the State Theatre. The Star-Ledger is the official newspaper of the State Theatre. United is the official airline of the State Theatre.
