Here’s some trivia for you.  Name the Classic Drummer Hall of Famer who began his prolific career at 16 doing handclaps for John Lennon’s “Whatever Gets You Through the Night” and then backing him during his final live performance?  Hint . . . this is his Hall of Fame profile. You got it, none other than Vinny Appice.

 

Vinny Appice (pronounced A-pa-see, not to be confused with his Classic Drummer Hall of Fame brother Carmine A-peace) grew up with his brother’s kit in the house, began playing at 9-years old and grew up to become a powerful force in Rock.   He is perhaps best known as the drummer for Black Sabbath, Dio, Heaven & Hell and Big Noize.  However before that, he recorded 3 albums with Rick Derringer in the mid-seventies and formed his own band Axis which recorded an album in 1978.

 

His 1980 initiation into Black Sabbath came as an emergency replacement forced to learn their show on stage at a rainy outdoor concert in Hawaii.  He aced that test which led to him record multiple albums with the group before he branched off with vocalist Ronnie Dio to form the band Dio in the early 80s and rejoining him in the late 90s.

 

He has authored the instructional book "Rock Steady" and produced the "Hard Rock Drumming Techniques" instructional DVD.  He is an in-demand clinician and tours with brother Carmine performing in their popular “Drum Wars” shows.

 

His impressive career includes recording and co-writing on dozens of albums and CDs, many of which are certified as multi-platinum.  He has toured for decades performing live with dozens of acts and selling millions of records.