Raw Cuts: Volume V

Written By Mike Greenblatt

As we wait for Director Fulvio Cecere's upcoming The Jersey Sound documentary, here's snippets of four "Raw Cuts" of interviews Fu conducted with Carmine Appice, Tom Austin of The Royal Teens, John Scher, and Joe Nevolo of Phantom's Opera.

Carmine Appice

This legendary drummer/showman/composer/educator, at 74, is still influencing hard-rockers ever since his powerhouse style first propelled Vanilla Fudge in 1967. His second band Cactus proved more influential than commercial as did his brief dalliance with Jeff Beck in BBA. From Rod Stewart to Ozzy Osbourne, from Pink Floyd to Edgar Winter, he was always the star, twirling his drum-sticks like a born entertainer. Pushing the boundaries of rock music to the max in bands like King Cobra and Blue Murder, it’s safe to say there has never been a drummer like Carmine Appice.

 

John Scher

In the history of rock’n’roll, legendary promoter (and Grateful Dead manager) John Scher, from West Orange, is right up there with Bill Graham [1931-1991] when it comes to changing the face of rock concerts in America. His Capitol Theater in Passaic lasted from 1971 to 1989, presenting a wide variety of mind-blowing genres, from Prince and the Ramones to the Police and The Stones .He then promoted national tours by no less than Frank Sinatra, Bette Midler, The Who, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, The Clash and Johnny Cash.

 

Tom Austin of The Royal Teens

They came out of Fort Lee to ask that musical question “Who Wears Short Shorts” and took it to #3 in 1958. The legendary Al Kooper was in the band when he was 14. So was Bob Gaudio who would go on to be the guiding force of The Four Seasons. On the road, they opened for Buddy Holly, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry.

 

Joe Nevolo of Phantom's Opera

Besides being the Music Director for Big Beat Music Studio in Neptune City for the last 30 years, Joe Nevolo was the powerhouse drummer for one of the greatest Jersey club bands in history, Phantom’s Opera, the prog-rock band that launched the careers of Bon Jovi’s Alec John Such and Tico Torres.

Mike Greenblatt

MIKE GREENBLATT has been writing for Goldmine magazine and New Jersey's Aquarian Weekly for more than 35 years. His writing subjects fill the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He's interviewed Joe Cocker, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, and members of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. He was 18 when he attended Woodstock in 1969.

In addition to writing about music, Greenblatt has worked on publicity campaigns for The Animals, Pat Benatar, Johnny Winter, Tommy James and Richard Branson, among others. He is currently the editor of The Jersey Sound.

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Raw Cuts: Volume IV